Harbour Highlights: Independence Day

“Today we celebrate our Independence Day!”

Welcome to Earth – and to Harbour Highlights, a series of cult and classic films all handpicked by the staff of Harbour Lights.

This month, in the run up to 4th July itself, Jamie takes us back to the summer of 1996 and the explosive thrills of Independence Day.

Taking his cues from classics such as The War of the Worlds and updating them with every tool in the 90s blockbuster kit, director Roland Emmerich took the box office by storm with this giddy mix of star power, huge set pieces and special effects that mixed the new of CGI with the old of practical effects and model making, creating one of the great examples of summer movie escapism.

The film cemented Will Smith’s star persona, gave the world Bill Pullman as one of cinema’s iconic presidents and continued Jeff Goldblum’s unlikely run as a box office star.

It’s a film packed full of iconic moments and lines – that speech! Those dogfights! The White House explosion! – that have become synonymous with blockbuster entertainment and the thrilling pleasures they can be. It may have spawned many imitators – and one forgettable sequel – but the original remains one of the classic big screen experience.