Independence Day 2

So my wife, Tod-d, and I just saw Independence Day 2. This post may have a few spoilers, but nothing serious. And let's be honest, we know what the story is. In 1996, Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum fought with aliens. Will Smith punch one and the world was saved. Now it's 2016 and the aliens are back for vengeance. Will Smith is more famous though, so he couldn't be bothered to be in this movie.

Speaking of Will Smith, his love interest from the first movie is in the second one. I didn't think it was the same actress, but it was. I must say, I was surprised. It should also be noted that the character became a doctor. It just goes to show that after an alien attack, near global annihilation, and twenty years, a stripper can eventually become a doctor. That's right, she traded in clothes that can be ripped off for a lab coat and three or four lines in the sequel.  

Speaking of plastic surgery, the movie pandered a LOT to China. Why do I say that? Because half the shit in the movie was Chinese. They used a Chinese video chat, "QQ". There's a scene where the video chat is interrupted, it shows the "QQ" logo, and my wife says, "Of course it failed. Everyone knows QQ sucks!" One, I did not know that QQ sucks. Two, I did not know QQ is a thing. Three, what happened to FaceTime, Skype, or any of the other, better video conference technologies? They evidently did not invest in the film production. China, however, invested a lot into the movie. And what does that have to do with plastic surgery? Nothing. The Chinese actress that they hired, however, does.

I don't know her Chinese name, but it translates to AngelaBaby. Now one, speaking of strippers, I feel like that name is not far from a good stripper name. But that is not why I am mentioning her. I mention her because she has had a LOT of plastic surgery. I mean, goddamn. How do I know? Because her face is in a perpetual smile. I am flying a plane, smile. We are under attack, smile. I am angry towards aliens, smile. When the actress is mourning over a character dying, she tries so hard to look so devastated. But with the plastic surgery, her face contorted into a fucked up Joker smile. She worked so hard to fake real tears, and instead looks like she is preparing to spring a trap for Batman.

It's a real shame, too, because the actress seems to have the capacity to be great. But how do you take someone seriously when they are perpetually happy? Speaking of serious, baby Thor (Whoever Hemsworth) showed that to key to flying a jet is to yell, as though he is passing a kidney stone or difficult bowel movement. Somewhere, Thor Odinson is looking down, wondering why his brother is such a big baby.

But! With all of the jokes and downfalls of the movie, I actually enjoyed it. Was it as good as the first? No. But to be fair, the first Independence Day movie is considered to be one of the best movies to come out of the 1990's. Anybody who compares the two will be disappointed. But if you take this movie as an independent film, it's pretty decent. If you read this before seeing the movie, then pay attention to the Chinese pilot. If you read the after seeing the movie, go back, watch it again, and pay attention to the Chinese pilot.