You were never alone on that. Mars Attacks is superb. Also, it has Jack Black in it.

I enjoyed ID4. It's one of those brainless action flicks, like Enemy of the State. I can kinda see the limited range of Smith's acting but at the same time IMO he makes those roles his own. I think what you're referring to is his blackness.

Just as you know my feelings about ID4.

Mark

It's not often I agree with Mark, but on this occasion...+1

To suggest ID4 even approaches The Matrix is heresy.

I'd go further than that, as a big-screen, no-brain-required, silly, fun, action film in many ways it's better than The Matrix, the only film I'd say that competes with Independence Day to deliver the same package, in the cinema, is Avatar. Films like Transformers and Day After Tomorrow have tried and failed. ID4 set the benchmark for summer blockbusters that make you feel like an excited 10 year old boy. (well i was an excited 10 year old boy the first time I saw it)

To Will Smith's defence, his comedy characters all seem pretty similar - West, Lowery, Jay - but in the more serious films - Ali, Pursuit of Happiness, Enemy of the State - he often delivers a good performance. There are exceptions, like Hitch, Hancock etc. where his acting is almost as bad as the script...

The comedies (Bad Boys, for example) tend to work, because, regardless of his comedy acting skills, the action and the script manage to save the film.

ID4 is somehwere in the middle, he isn't brilliant, but he has his moments, but the supporting cast carry the film.

Jumping the shark? How about that the alien ship can be interfaced with a Mac and infected with a virus so easily...

I go to bed and all hell breaks loose. WTF is going on in here??!

Enemy of the State is not a brainless action flick.

Will Smith CAN act and has been really rather good in a number of movies already listed, but also Hancock, Seven Pounds and actually he was pretty good in I Am Legend as well (although his dog really helps).

Avatar is not a no-brain action flick (or at least was not intended as one, although I'm not gonna labour that HERE for obvious reasons)
The Matrix is MOST DEFINITELY not a mindless action flick and bears no comparison to ID4.

ID4 is a summer tentpole in the style of the 90s. Fun, fast, exciting and largely ludicrious. It's nothing more, but that doesn't make it rubbish or great. It's just good.

+1

On Legend, they really should have just kept the tension going, maybe Smith not knowing if he could trust the woman, kid or not. Anything would have been better than a complete midway tone change where the 'vampires' who headbutt stuff require an ending that makes little sense

Not at all. I think he's a good comedy actor and it's his performance that makes Fresh Prince still worth a look after 20 years. I haven't seen much of his recent work but I think Ali sounds good so I'll try that.

I would not be happy if I thought my comments came across as racist in some way.

Yeah it pretty much is, it's just so much more polished and prettier than most.

Yes, but it's not total no-brain if you don't want it to be. Whereas with ID4 you had no option, but to check your brain at the door.

What about Armageddon? lol

Changing the subject...
@Mark if I said to you "I'm not even supposed to be here today!" what film did I see at the weekend?

Clerks.
And a bloody brilliant film it is, too.
(8+D

Mark

Yes you're right there and I will be watching the 2nd one. Still laughing at the speech on contractors on the death star... "Do you think the average storm trooper knows how to install a toilet main? All they know is killing and white uniforms."

LOL

Mallrats ftw