@gspgreases As the Hollywood adage goes, it's not a Roland Emmerich movie until the White House blows up.

I greatly enjoyed that moment in the film.

@Satch_the_man And of course the fight scene between Will Smith, Harry Conick, Jr. and the alien fighters was awesome.

IMHO, the marketing people for ID4 made a mistake. They shouldn't have included the White House's destruction in the many promos. Had they kept it until the actual film, it would have much more impact.

What a difference a couple decades make. In 1996, when aliens destroyed the White House it was a horrifying spectacle. In 2018, that scene would probably elicit cheers from most of the audience.

@AlienFanatic said:

What a difference a couple decades make. In 1996, when aliens destroyed the White House it was a horrifying spectacle. In 2018, that scene would probably elicit cheers from most of the audience.

I remember hearing or reading an interview shortly after the film's release that they didn't have a trailer full of model White Houses, either. They had made just one, and they had to blow it up just right, the first time. No second chances.

Oh, how I pine for the days of cinematic model-making, before CGI just about completely took over and attention to hand-crafted, fine detail went out the window:(

@northcoast said:

I remember hearing or reading an interview shortly after the film's release that they didn't have a trailer full of model White Houses, either. They had made just one, and they had to blow it up just right, the first time. No second chances.

Oh, how I pine for the days of cinematic model-making, before CGI just about completely took over and attention to hand-crafted, fine detail went out the window:(

Same. I know that CG can be more realistic and it's certainly cheaper now that there are dozens of cheap overseas FX companies. But the old model makers were insane craftsmen and found ingenious ways to make them look realistic and cinematic.

@AlienFanatic said:

@northcoast said:

I remember hearing or reading an interview shortly after the film's release that they didn't have a trailer full of model White Houses, either. They had made just one, and they had to blow it up just right, the first time. No second chances.

Oh, how I pine for the days of cinematic model-making, before CGI just about completely took over and attention to hand-crafted, fine detail went out the window:(

Same. I know that CG can be more realistic and it's certainly cheaper now that there are dozens of cheap overseas FX companies. But the old model makers were insane craftsmen and found ingenious ways to make them look realistic and cinematic.

No CGI can replace this. Models on wires that look 100% real.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KSfqkAexJM

@Jetfire59 :I totally agree. BTW, on Wednesday, May 30th, I'm going to have surgery for a fractured right hip. Just thought you'd like to know.

Thank you for the heads up, Maria. Hope the surgery goes well. You weren't being sarcastic, were you?

@Jetfire59 said:

No CGI can replace this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KSfqkAexJM

I'll admit that watching June Lockhart in a form-fitting mylar suit is quite appealing. That's what you meant, right?

Yes, Ms. Lockhart is quite sexy in her silver suit as is Marta Kristen. However, I was referring to the Jupiter 2 footage.

@Jetfire59 :About the surgery, no.