What better way to experience the dumbest blockbuster of the '90s?
There are many, many movies that probably wouldn't work in today's world of interconnected social media.
'Independence Day', directed by Roland Emmerich, is one that probably fits that description. You just know that if aliens really did land over major population centres and started blasting recognisable symbols of human achievement, there'd be all sorts of crap going on via Twitter about it.
You'd have idiots saying that the footage was faked, that it was actually a good thing that the White House was destroyed (depending on President Bill Pullman was a Democrat or Republican) and here in Ireland, we'd probably looking on at all of this, aghast and glad that no alien craft has attempted to destroy Dublin or Cork. As much as we as a nation all love Michael D. Higgins, can you imagine him jumping into a fighter jet to lead the remnants of humanity in a last-ditch battle?
President Whitmore is planning on addressing all parties, both military and civilian, at Area 51 shortly before dawn.
— ID4 in Real Time (@1996ID4) July 4, 2020
BREAKING: The alien craft intended to dock with the mothership will be piloted by USMC Captain Steven Hiller. Capt. Hiller is the pilot who welcomed an alien to Earth by capturing it and handing it over to military personnel at Area 51.
— ID4 in Real Time (@1996ID4) July 4, 2020
Well, you can experience all of that silliness via the Twitter account, @1996ID4, which is tweeting the events of 'Independence Day' like it's happening in real-time. Seeing as yesterday was Independence Day, the end credits have rolled, but you can look back over and see where and when certain scenes in the movie happened.
BREAKING: President Whitmore will climb into the cockpit and lead American pilots in today's mission. The Desert Storm veteran flew 27 missions over Iraq in 1990 and 1991, but his toughest assignment yet may be today over the friendly sands of the Mojave.
— ID4 in Real Time (@1996ID4) July 4, 2020
We are getting numerous reports across North America of a massive meteor shower all over the sky. We are told that the mothership in orbit was obliterated and these are the pieces of the ship colorfully burning up in the Earth's atmosphere. Talk about Fourth of July fireworks!
— ID4 in Real Time (@1996ID4) July 4, 2020
For example, there's a tweet-by-tweet breakdown of when Washington was attacked, or when the alien craft came over the Empire State Building. It's pretty impressive stuff for, if nothing else, the level of commitment it goes into.
Doubt they'll cover 'Independence Day: Resurgence', though.