BROADCASTS.com

b'This pairing is dedicated to a very American conceit: That in times of turmoil, it will be the United States of America alone who will save the world! To that end, we\'re looking at two films that take that idea and energetically and emphatically run with that idea. First up, Roland Emmerich directed a look at how we would respond, as a planet, to extra-terrestrial invaders who come to destroy our planet, and only a motley group of Americans can figure it out and lead the world to victory in 1996\'s "Independence Day!" The film covers 72 hours, from first detection, through rampant destruction, to a cockamamie scheme to save the world using a Mac laptop. Take one hotshot fighter pilot, Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith), one nerdy satellite engineer, David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum), an ex-fighter jock turned President of the United States Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman), and an ex-vietnam pilot turned drunken crop duster, Russell Case (Randy Quaid). Mix them together with a stellar supporting cast including Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirsch, Robert Loggia, Vivica A. Fox, James Rebhorn, Harvey Fierstein, Adam Baldwin, and Brent Spider, and you have what some have described as the ultimate popcorn movie where, as advertised, the USA saves the world!'