With Roland Emmerich set to return with his, um, Emmerichest film yet - Moonfall - this week, we take a look at some of the highlights from his most iconic movies so far...
From mind-blowing apocalyptic events that may well destroy humanity as we know it to… mind-blowing apocalyptic events that may well destroy humanity as we know it, legendary writer-director Roland Emmerich has produced some of cinema’s most beloved blockbusters over the years.
Ahead of the release of what promises to be his craziest film yet, Moonfall - in which the Moon is knocked from its orbit and starts heading towards Earth (yep) - we look at some of the greatest moments from Emmerich’s most entertaining movies…
Nuke ‘Em - Independence Day
With an alien invasion threatening to wipe civilisation off the face of the earth, Bill Pullman’s President J. Whitmore - once described as “America's worst (fictional) president” by Mic - comes up with a genius solution: sending a nuke right into a City Destroyer that is hovering menacingly over Houston. Unfortunately for Whitmore, though, the plan backfires, with the aliens’ spaceship remaining unscathed, while the beloved Texan city is blown to smithereens. No wonder Mic still hold such a grudge…
Whitmore Is No More - Independence Day: Resurgence
If President Whitmore was a worthy competitor for worst leader of all time in the first Independence Day, he gets one hell of a redemption arc in 2016’s Resurrection. Trying to shake off the guilt of eradicating an entire community with his nuclear gaffe, Whitmore gets the chance to even things out by going toe-to-toe with the Alien Queen, exploding himself and his enemy’s ship in an attempt to stop the extra-terrestrials’ attack. Naturally, his plan doesn’t work - with the Queen managing to survive - but he sure gives it a good old college try. What a line to go out on, too.
Understatement of the Year - 2012
Scrambling from one world-threatening event to another, John Cusack’s Jackson Curtis and his crew take flight towards Hawaii - only to find that it’s struggling with a pretty hefty volcanic eruption, plunging the entire set of islands into an ashy, molten mess. It’s safe to say 2012 has more than its fair share of spectacular moments, but what makes this such a stand-out is the comprehensive summary of the situation from Yuri Karpov, who declares in a thick Russian accent that this is “not good”. You know what? He’s not wrong.
Off Target - Godzilla
Accidental destruction is a running theme throughout Emmerich’s movies - as evidenced by his 1998 take on Godzilla. As a group of Apache helicopters try to close in on the giant beast as it tears its way through New York, one of the men in pursuit gets a little too eager to become a hero. Lining up what he hopes will be a killer blow, the thoughtfully-named Apache Pilot takes aim and fires. Boasting the aim of a Stormtrooper, though, he misses the attack and launches two rockets straight into the famous Chrysler Building, sending its top half tumbling to the ground. Beansed it.
Presidential Put-Down - White House Down
As well as chaos and carnage, our Emmerich loves himself a president - and Jamie Foxx’s President Sawyer is one of the best. As the leader’s makeshift bodyguard, Cale (Channing Tatum), defies death - and logic - when a terrorist comes at him with a machine gun, Sawyer is in a tangle of his own, with another terrorist (assumed dead) grabbing hold of the president’s foot as he tries to flee. In a fit of rage, with the aggressor’s bloody hands threatening to mark his fresh white creps (does anyone still say creps?), Sawyer lashes out, kicking the living daylights out of his attacker. Never touch the Jordans, terrorists.
Moonfall is coming to Nottingham cinemas on Thursday 3 February.
We have a favour to ask
LeftLion is Nottingham’s meeting point for information about what’s going on in our city, from the established organisations to the grassroots. We want to keep what we do free to all to access, but increasingly we are relying on revenue from our readers to continue. Can you spare a few quid each month to support us?
