Independence Day - How does the opening of the film show the genre of science fiction?

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James Howie

Independence Day – How does the opening of the film show the genre of science fiction?

Films normally have a certain type of genre. A genre is formed when certain elements from a type of film or book become essential to that type of film or book. There are different type of genre likes Horror, Romance and Comedy. The film, which I am studying, is called ‘Independence Day’. The genre for this film is science fiction. This means people are expecting to see space ships, good or evil aliens, machines, future technology. The audience would also expect to hear or see special effects. Significant objects would be spacecraft and associated objects, laboratories and scientific items. Characters would be normally men and women, who are often playing the role as scientist and researchers. The location of the film is normally either out of this world, an alternative futuristic environment or in a laboratory. This is suppose to show significance of science fiction so the audience would except to see in the future.  The Director chose the film to be a science fiction genre is because the story line and the type of story could show that it was a science fiction genre.

The theme is often reflected in the title. In this type of genre it would normally show the importance of freedom and the use of political power to protect countries. So in Independence Day the theme is ‘a superior power that has come to destroy planet earth and the Americans have to use their political power and their weaponry to protect the earth.’ This would lead in to a narrative piece, which is typically ‘Planet earth is under treat from alien invasion. Only a few people have the knowledge or the power to save the world. Will they achieve their mission?’  This narrative piece is a typical example of what is said in science fiction films.

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At the start of the film, five subtitles come up. The subtitles in order are ‘Twentieth century Fox’, ‘A centropolis entertainment production’, ‘ presents’, ‘Independence Day’, ‘July 2’. The font of the metallic capital lettering is stencil and in bold with a shadow. The top of the letters are on a black background so the audience attention is on the lettering. The subtitles only stayed for a brief period of time. Then the words in the middle of the screen, all the lines except the middle line disappears and then the text left shatters and float off towards the ...

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