海角大神

The first 鈥淚ndependence Day鈥� movie, released in 1996, centers on an alien invasion of Earth. Characters from different American cities mobilize against the threat and join forces to (spoiler alert!) defeat the alien invaders. Stars of the film included Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Mary McDonnell, Vivica A. Fox, and many others.

And after 20 years, it's time for a sequel: 鈥淚ndependence Day: Resurgence.鈥�

Director Roland Emmerich, who directed the first film and is returning for the sequel, discussed the thinking behind the title at a recent . 鈥淲e call it, in the film, the War of '96,鈥� he said of the first movie鈥檚 events. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like a 鈥� generation that鈥檚 unified, and that鈥檚 amazing to see a world come together with a common enemy. That鈥檚 a resurgence.鈥�

posted an official synopsis of the new movie: 鈥淚ndependence Day was just the beginning. We always knew the [aliens] were coming back鈥�. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens鈥� advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction.鈥澛�

Returning cast members include Mr. Goldblum, Mr. Pullman, Ms. Fox, and Brent Spiner, while newbies include Liam Hemsworth of the 鈥淗unger Games鈥� films, Maika Monroe of 鈥淚t Follows,鈥� and 鈥淲hen the Game Stands Tall鈥� actor Jessie Usher. Mr. Usher is playing the son of Fox, according to Cinema Blend, while Ms. Monroe plays Pullman's daughter and Mr. Hemsworth is a fighter pilot who now works on the moon.

鈥淚ndependence Day: Resurgence鈥� is scheduled for release in June 2016.

The original film was the highest-grossing movie of 1996, according to , but it wasn鈥檛 well-received by critics 鈥� it currently holds a score of 59 out of 100 on the review aggregator website . So what kept the movie in the public鈥檚 mind over the last 20 years? Matt Barone of called it 鈥渢remendously ludicrous yet undeniably awesome 鈥� every self-respecting movie buff succumbs to cinematic junk food once in a while. 'Independence Day' is a king-size Butterfinger bar.鈥澛�

writer Rachel Abrams agreed that the movie is simply enjoyable, calling it her 鈥渇avorite movie of all time.鈥� I鈥檝e never had more fun in a movie theater than I did during 鈥業ndependence Day.鈥� 鈥�

Daniel D. Snyder of the , who聽describes 鈥淚ndependence Day鈥� as 鈥渢he best Fourth of July movie," wriites, "Of course, in 1996 it was still just mindless fun, but watching it now, it somehow feels even more outlandish....Watching 'Independence Day' today is like peering back through time to an era where we could overcome any obstacle simply by hurling a bunch of fighter jets at it and drop a few bombs. Of course, there was never a time when things were that simple, but there certainly a time when we thought they could be."