MovieChat Forums > Men in Black (1997) Discussion > Anyone else think this holds up better t...

Anyone else think this holds up better than Independence Day?

posted 12 years ago by Flying-DeLorean
14 replies | jump to latest

When I first saw the trailers for this back in '97 (I was 13 at the time), I immediately thought to myself, "ANOTHER movie with aliens and Will Smith? This is going to suck." Mind you, at the time I loved Independence Day and I thought Men in Black looked like it was going to be a cheap knockoff (I remember the trailer showing the World's Fair spaceship crashing to the ground and exploding, which looked awfully familiar).

Then in 1998 or somewhere around there, I finally watched it on VHS at a friend's house. I was blown away. Loved it.

Now 15 years later, Men in Black has become one of my favorite films of the 90s. It's just so well-made, and it's one of the few films that I will watch all the way through and won't skip any scenes.

I wish I could say the same about ID4. It seems to get worse every time I see it. Corny dialogue, stereotypical action movie plot, and not to mention very dated. It also has a "cheap" feel to it, like I'm watching a TV movie.

Maybe it's just maturity, I don't know, but does anybody else feel the same about the two films?

[–] kenburke0627 10 years ago

Granted Men in Black has had two sequels, but I still feel comparing the two movies is improper. Men In Black entertains the audience one way, Independence Day the other. It's the old "apples and oranges" debate and then some.

[–] detroit-velvet-smooth 10 years ago

Except it isn't.

Men in Black is just a better movie regardless of what sensible metric you use. Independence Day is a really dumb movie. Its not very sophisticated whereas MiB is much more memorable, witty, and tightly written.

Apples and Oranges... well you know you can still say this is a better apple than that is an orange.

Even in the realm of action sci-fi I'd say that Independence Day is shallow and unimpressive as its aged. I'd say a more appropriate contender for timeless 90s sci-fi action would be Stargate. That film stands up well. That would also be a proper apple to oranges comparison with MiB.

Independence Day.. don't embarrass yourself defending that turd. The only reason it gets mentioned is Will Smith.

[–] catbookss 10 years ago

Much better. I liked Independence Day okay, but Men in Black (all of them) have become true classics, in my view.

I didn't watch Men in Black when it came out because there was so much hype about it, and that put me off. Little did I know it would become one of my favorite movies. Will Smith was hilarious! His timing and expressions showed him to be a brilliant comic actor in it. Even Tommy Lee Jones, who I'd never seen in a comedic role before, was very funny.

[–] Billy_Rambo 10 years ago

Independence Day is awful!!! I actually liked is as a kid, but I watch it recently & realize how cheesy it is. But MIB1 is always a classic. Still watch it today & its epic!!!

"N.Y.P.D!!! That means I will Nock Yo Punk-@ss DOWN!!!!"

[–] hachmom-1 10 years ago

I like Independence Day, and watch it from time to time, but for multiple viewings, total quotability, and appeal to everyone in the house the only films that rival Men in Black is the Lord of the Ring trilogy.

It is not our abilities that show who we truly are...it is our choices

[–] JellyFish19 10 years ago

Well of course, no comparison with these two very different movies. The end credits song sounds kinda outdated today though.