The movie 'Independence Day: Resurgence' is a typical Hollywood movie and it is not a bad choice to watch on Independence Day in the US.
The title follows the first installment 'Independence Day' which was shown in the cinemas in 1996. I was in year 4 at that time and I did not know any English at all, besides the song "ABCDEFG...". I watched it at my aunt's place. She borrowed a video cassette of the movie from her friend.
With the help of Chinese subtitles, I understood 40% of the movie without understanding any of the English conversations. Even though I wasn't quite sure what was the movie is all about, other than that human beings defeated the aliens. I told myself that I would watch it again to understand it better, as it was the first English speaking movie I had ever watched.
I didn't get a second chance to watch the movie again. My aunt returned the video cassette. However, I had hoped to see it again.
In 2006 I went to Malaysia to study my Bachelor Degree. I arrived the campus during the last few days of the semester break, there were only a few students and staff in campus, the only thing to do was staying in the hostel. There was a share drive in the campus' internal network, where students can share their study materials, songs and movies with each other.
I searched for 'Independence Day' in the shared network and I found it - I was not the only one like that movie. I downloaded a HD version with English and Chinese dual subtitles, which would help me understand the movie better while practicing my English. I couldn't remember how many times I watched this movie, all I could remember was I was watching it when I had free time.
Every time I finished watching Independence Day, I understood it better. Even now when I watched it, I could recall most of the conversations between different characters. If you asked me which part of the movie gave me the greatest impression, I would say the Speech that President addressed at the 'Area 51' before the counter attack.
The President said:
Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in this history of mankind.
Mankind – that word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps its fate that today in the 4th of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom, not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution – but from annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live, to exist.
And should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice:
We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We are going to live on! We are going to survive! Today, we celebrate our Independence Day!
What an encouraging speech! In 'Independence Day 2,' all nations are joined together to manage the earth and fighting an invasion of aliens as a whole – all human beings as one.
The bible says there will come a day when the 'great cloud of witnesses' will be as one in rejoicing in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Oscar Duan is from China, he has an accountancy degree from University of Hertfordshire (UH) International campus in Malaysia, and has undertaken further accountancy studies in Australia for accreditation here. He is married to Heyley.
Oscar Duan's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/oscar-duan.html