Back in 1996, I was in kindergarten. Until the ripe old age of 12, I was forbidden from watching PG-13 movies, and weird-looking aliens would have definitely tripped my mother's mom-radar. Sometime around then, I picked up a copy of MAD Magazine that had their parody of Independence Day, and I can still remember some of the gags.

Two years later, I bought 3001: The Final Odyssey, and Arthur C. Clarke lamented in the author's notes that he and Independence Day thought up the same alien-defeating superweapon... independently. I can't account for the time between 2004 and 2007, but shortly after the release of I Am Legend, I realized that the only non-horrible science fiction movie I'd seen that starred Will Smith was Men In Black. Also, I thought that the two Roland Emmerich movies I'd seen at the time were a bore.

So when the rare chance to see Independence Day came up, I passed.

: Of course you should watch it! It
: was the biggest movie of 1996, and IMO for good reason. It was one of my
: favorite movies from my teenage years. I just about wore the VHS out. You
: should be able to find a copy on DVD or Blu-ray for pretty cheap now.

Alright.

: Definitely go pick it up and watch it. There's a sequel coming this summer
: as well,

I'd heard about that. Haven't seen any trailers yet, though.

: just in time for the 20th anniversary of the HOLY SHIT! IT'S BEEN
: 20 YEARS!?!?!

: Aww. Now I feel old. But yeah. Go watch it ASAP.

Indeed I shall.