INDEPENDENCE DAY [1996]

Director Roland Emmerich changed the anticipation of Summer blockbusters for better or worse with his sci-fi thriller joyride Independence Day.
Rather than sneak up on the puny earthlings, an alien race makes no attempt to hide the fact that they mean to invade Earth, leaving it to America and Will Smith to save the day.
By combining elements of an ensemble cast disaster pic with the alien invasion genre, Emmerich crafted what would be a benchmark for popcorn blockbusters with barely any brains.  The dialogue is absolutely abysmal that is occasionally forgivable due to some entertaining cast members.  It's bloated with pompous American patriotism that would assure big ticket sales with it's target audience.   As stupid as it is, ID4 can't help but be BIG DUMB fun.  

2½ victory cigars out of 5

The Devil's Own (1997)

Provisional IRA member Frankie McGuire shaves his Irish beard and goes to America to buy weapons that’ll help him murder more people than he already has. Thankfully, it doesn't ask us to sympathise too much with a killer, but then it doesn't ask very much of us at all.
Harrison is his usual dreary self, exhibiting his default emotional state that’s good for little other than being Dekard.
Brad half-heartedly plays a flimsy version of Brad with a well-spoken Irish lilt to his voice. It’s not a role that'll feature in a list of Best Brad roles.
Natascha McElhone fares better with her accent, but her character doesn't get very much to do in a politically-arse movie from Follywood.

2 earthly works out of 5