‘Independence Day’ Is the Ultimate Sci-Fi Film

Film tropes and conventions are like fire: dangerous in the hands of someone with insufficient skill or respect, but a powerful tool for those who truly understand them. Mockery of said tropes falls along similar lines. Done lazily, it can be even more predictable and less entertaining than a half-hearted execution or repetition of those same conventions. It’s not enough to point out familiar plot points or aesthetic choices—a filmmaker has to interrogate the foundational elements of whatever genre (sci-fi, horror, crime thriller) they’re diving into.