Analysis of the film Independence Day

Analysis of the film Independence Day

The producer of Independence Day has used lots of different visual

methods of introducing us to his film. There are some eye-opening

visuals to take in just in the first five minutes. The film titles

even give us a picture of the genre and message of the film. These

titles zoom onto the screen before exploding away from our view. The

actual film begins normally on the moon. There is a typical blue

shadow over the moon. Soon we visibly see shaking and then a small

model, which could possibly have been left from the first ever moon

landing. Also in the shot is an American flag this shows great

patriotism, but cunningly is also real as there is an American flag

situated on the moon. Then we see a footprint, which has been left

untouched since 1966 shaking and losing its formation. Then we see a

placard with the names of the first ever people to land on the moon

written on it. Then, dramatically we see a shadow slowly covering the

whole of the moon. This is a very good lighting affect which leaves

you half wondering about the next movement, which is a spaceship

flying above the moon. The spaceship appears from the top of the

screen, as you would see it if you were standing on the moon at that

very moment. The last action of this scene is when the camera angle

moves upwards and we are able to see the spaceship and it's

destination, Earth. The whole of this scene would have been done using

computer, as they would have been unable to actually film the shots

from the moon.

The next scene is at a scientist's laboratory, there is a scientist in

normal clothes, not a stereotype (e.g. Not wearing a white apron). The

scientist has a bored expression on his face, but is not wearing any

noticeable make-up mainly because they don't need to try and show any

realism yet. The scientist is playing a golf putting game that he has