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[[folder:Miscellaneous]]
* Hiller accidentally drives the UFO in reverse, then apologises and turns the instructions upside down. Great for RuleOfFunny, but after thought you realize that now he's sacrificed left and right being on the correct sides for having front and back being correct.
** You mean normal people need to be reminded that left is left and right is right? Just because up and down are reversed with regard to human planes (themselves reverse with regard to, say, a computer mouse) doesn't imply, much less mean that left and right are.
* Typically reviews of the film will point out the 'gaping hole' in the film regarding Smith's character stealing a chopper and heading out to find his girlfriend and son because 'he can't have any idea where they are', except the film quite blatantly shows him telling her to ''come and stay with him at his base'' before the attacks occur. ''That's'' where she heads after the attack, only to find it in ruins. She then stays there until he comes to find her.
* When David is explaining the countdown signal to Marty, there's a news graphic of alien ships appearing over London, Rome, Moscow, and "Germany" rather than Berlin. Considering these networks are trying to cover the arrival of an alien fleet, which includes rapidly changing information (which may have not included at first what city in Germany was that particular destroyer's destination), someone probably mistakenly typed that in.
* The aliens taking over our satellite network is often derided by critics, but it actually makes total sense. 1) they're trying to wipe out humanity, and one of the essential ways to do that is to cripple/hijack our primary communications. 2) while David discovers their countdown signal, they still would have needed a means of sending status reports, updated orders, etc. 3) why deploy your own communications infrastructure when the enemy already has their own that you can take over, especially if they lack the technology for a sufficient counterattack?
* Might it be the case that Russell's near-accident with his missile before takeoff damaged something enough to cause the later problem he has with it?
* The final battle over Area 51 might be considered a wall-banger since a giant city-sized spacecraft is being attacked with air-to air missiles, which are designed for smaller, more nimble targets like the alien attackers. However Area 51 is meant to be a testing ground for aircraft, and is not officially an active military base. Thus their munitions stores would reflect that; they only really would have air to air missiles to arm what aircraft they have (and even then that would be pushing it), and more powerful weaponry like bunker busters and laser-guided bombs would be stored at bases elsewhere (which, in all likelihood, had already been destroyed by the invaders).
* It’s odd that the aliens didn't target Whiteman Air Force Base, which is home to America’s only nuclear armed B-2 squadron. However, they do seem to fight reactively. After the initial "shock and awe" strike against the cities, they didn’t launch their fighters until the Black Knights fired a second volley of missiles. They probably decided to wait and see if humans would be desperate enough to use nukes. If we tried it multiple times, they probably would have begun targeting nuclear assets.
** It seems likely that the aliens didn't know about it. They first seemed to target population centers and centers of governments - things that are fairly easy to discern from either abducting people or intercepting TV or radio signals. What percent of the population knows where we keep a specific part of our nuclear arsenal?
* David creates the virus on the morning of July 4th after his father inadvertently gives him the idea. How did he manage to do that in such a short space of time ''especially considering he was heavily drunk?''
** There's nothing saying he didn't co-opt some help from the staff at Area 51 to assist him. Indeed, a young black scientist seems to be aiding David when Whitmore and the others arrive for the demonstration.
** David had actually been working on the virus since the aliens arrived. This is more clear in the uncut version. When the aliens start sending out their signal, David quickly found it and told his boss that he could find a way to filter it out. Later, Okun takes him on a tour of the captured fighter and David sees how the aliens communicate between their ships. He had all the tools and method for defeating the aliens already; he just needed a little inspiration to connect the dots and formulate a plan.
* Given that Russia is referred to as "the Russian Republic" instead of the Russian Federation, Soviet Central News is reporting on the Siberian fireball, and the map appears to be of the USSR before its collapse, it's entirely possible that this film takes place in a universe where the USSR barely survived the August Coup and reformed.
[[folder:Miscellaneous]]
* Hiller accidentally drives the UFO in reverse, then apologises and turns the instructions upside down. Great for RuleOfFunny, but after thought you realize that now he's sacrificed left and right being on the correct sides for having front and back being correct.
** You mean normal people need to be reminded that left is left and right is right? Just because up and down are reversed with regard to human planes (themselves reverse with regard to, say, a computer mouse) doesn't imply, much less mean that left and right are.
* Typically reviews of the film will point out the 'gaping hole' in the film regarding Smith's character stealing a chopper and heading out to find his girlfriend and son because 'he can't have any idea where they are', except the film quite blatantly shows him telling her to ''come and stay with him at his base'' before the attacks occur. ''That's'' where she heads after the attack, only to find it in ruins. She then stays there until he comes to find her.
* When David is explaining the countdown signal to Marty, there's a news graphic of alien ships appearing over London, Rome, Moscow, and "Germany" rather than Berlin. Considering these networks are trying to cover the arrival of an alien fleet, which includes rapidly changing information (which may have not included at first what city in Germany was that particular destroyer's destination), someone probably mistakenly typed that in.
* The aliens taking over our satellite network is often derided by critics, but it actually makes total sense. 1) they're trying to wipe out humanity, and one of the essential ways to do that is to cripple/hijack our primary communications. 2) while David discovers their countdown signal, they still would have needed a means of sending status reports, updated orders, etc. 3) why deploy your own communications infrastructure when the enemy already has their own that you can take over, especially if they lack the technology for a sufficient counterattack?
* Might it be the case that Russell's near-accident with his missile before takeoff damaged something enough to cause the later problem he has with it?
* The final battle over Area 51 might be considered a wall-banger since a giant city-sized spacecraft is being attacked with air-to air missiles, which are designed for smaller, more nimble targets like the alien attackers. However Area 51 is meant to be a testing ground for aircraft, and is not officially an active military base. Thus their munitions stores would reflect that; they only really would have air to air missiles to arm what aircraft they have (and even then that would be pushing it), and more powerful weaponry like bunker busters and laser-guided bombs would be stored at bases elsewhere (which, in all likelihood, had already been destroyed by the invaders).
* It’s odd that the aliens didn't target Whiteman Air Force Base, which is home to America’s only nuclear armed B-2 squadron. However, they do seem to fight reactively. After the initial "shock and awe" strike against the cities, they didn’t launch their fighters until the Black Knights fired a second volley of missiles. They probably decided to wait and see if humans would be desperate enough to use nukes. If we tried it multiple times, they probably would have begun targeting nuclear assets.
** It seems likely that the aliens didn't know about it. They first seemed to target population centers and centers of governments - things that are fairly easy to discern from either abducting people or intercepting TV or radio signals. What percent of the population knows where we keep a specific part of our nuclear arsenal?
* David creates the virus on the morning of July 4th after his father inadvertently gives him the idea. How did he manage to do that in such a short space of time ''especially considering he was heavily drunk?''
** There's nothing saying he didn't co-opt some help from the staff at Area 51 to assist him. Indeed, a young black scientist seems to be aiding David when Whitmore and the others arrive for the demonstration.
** David had actually been working on the virus since the aliens arrived. This is more clear in the uncut version. When the aliens start sending out their signal, David quickly found it and told his boss that he could find a way to filter it out. Later, Okun takes him on a tour of the captured fighter and David sees how the aliens communicate between their ships. He had all the tools and method for defeating the aliens already; he just needed a little inspiration to connect the dots and formulate a plan.
* Given that Russia is referred to as "the Russian Republic" instead of the Russian Federation, Soviet Central News is reporting on the Siberian fireball, and the map appears to be of the USSR before its collapse, it's entirely possible that this film takes place in a universe where the USSR barely survived the August Coup and reformed.
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* It feels like a missed opportunity, but the (and as Dave Barry would say, I'm not making this up) Area 51 Alien Center, Gift Shop and Brothel is right next door to the military base and Nevada State Route 375 is called "The Extraterrestrial Highway." A nod to those who insist the government has UFOs long before this movie came out would be nice. Granted both would have been vaporized if the aliens destroyed Nellis but if that were the case Area 51 itself would have been destroyed in the blast wave.
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* It feels like a missed opportunity, but the (and as Dave Barry would say, I'm not making this up) Area 51 Alien Center, Gift Shop and Brothel is right next door to the military base and Nevada State Route 375 is called "The Extraterrestrial Highway." A nod to those who insist who've been insisting that the government has UFOs alien technology long before this movie came out would be nice. Granted both would have been vaporized if the aliens destroyed Nellis but if that were the case Area 51 itself would have been destroyed in the same blast wave.
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* It feels like a missed opportunity, but the (and as Dave Barry would say, I'm not making this up) Area 51 Alien Center, Gift Shop and Brothel is right next door to the military base and Nevada State Route 375 is called "The Extraterrestrial Highway." A nod to those who insist the government has UFOs long before this movie came out would be nice. Granted both would have been vaporized if the aliens destroyed Nellis but if that were the case Area 51 itself would have been destroyed in the blast wave.
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** Was Nellis Air Force Base (the one in Las Vegas) destroyed in the opening attack? Because Nellis is only 80 miles away from Area 51, which means that either Vegas got nuked and none of the scientists or military personal noticed, or a City Destroyer had already passed over but couldn't be bothered to destroy all the military bases, just some of them. If Nellis had been spared then the whole "this rag tag fleet of misfits is all we got" is bizarre since there are fourteen USAFWS squadrons based at Nellis that probably would noticed a City Destroyer slowly making its way toward them.
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** Was Nellis Air Force Base (the one in Las Vegas) destroyed in the opening attack? Because Nellis is only 80 miles away from Area 51, which means that either Vegas got nuked and none of the scientists or military personal noticed, or a City Destroyer had already passed over but couldn't be bothered to destroy all the military bases, just some of them. If Nellis had been spared then the whole "this rag tag fleet of misfits is all we got" is bizarre since there are fourteen USAFWS squadrons based at Nellis that probably would noticed notice a City Destroyer slowly making its way toward them.
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** Area 51 is officially a base for testing aircraft; it's not an active military facility, so heavy aircraft munitions like guided bombs, bunker busters and nuclear weapons would not be stored there. The base would only really have air to air missiles on hand, but even then that's stretching it due to it's nature as a test site. While other intact bases (however few there were) would logically have nukes and heavy firepower available, it's probably wise not to hit each city destroyer with a nuke, due to the radiation and "nuclear winter" concerns.[[/folder]]
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** Area 51 is officially a base for testing aircraft; it's not an active military facility, so heavy aircraft munitions like guided bombs, bunker busters and nuclear weapons would not be stored there. The base would only really have air to air missiles on hand, but even then that's stretching it due to it's nature as a test site. While other intact bases (however few there were) would logically have nukes and heavy firepower available, it's probably wise not to hit each city destroyer with a nuke, due to the radiation and "nuclear winter" concerns.concerns.
**Was Nellis Air Force Base (the one in Las Vegas) destroyed in the opening attack? Because Nellis is only 80 miles away from Area 51, which means that either Vegas got nuked and none of the scientists or military personal noticed, or a City Destroyer had already passed over but couldn't be bothered to destroy all the military bases, just some of them. If Nellis had been spared then the whole "this rag tag fleet of misfits is all we got" is bizarre since there are fourteen USAFWS squadrons based at Nellis that probably would noticed a City Destroyer slowly making its way toward them.
[[/folder]]
**Was Nellis Air Force Base (the one in Las Vegas) destroyed in the opening attack? Because Nellis is only 80 miles away from Area 51, which means that either Vegas got nuked and none of the scientists or military personal noticed, or a City Destroyer had already passed over but couldn't be bothered to destroy all the military bases, just some of them. If Nellis had been spared then the whole "this rag tag fleet of misfits is all we got" is bizarre since there are fourteen USAFWS squadrons based at Nellis that probably would noticed a City Destroyer slowly making its way toward them.
[[/folder]]
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* Resurgence states that the goal of the invasion fleet was drilling down to get the core of our planet. If that's the case then why engage with humanity at all? We would still have no way to stop them and not enough time to come up with a Plan B. The only reason for attacking Earth is that the aliens just really love blowing things up, which from a pyrotechnic thrill I can appreciate but after your 10,000th planet I would think the thrill would get a bit old.
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* It's stated that the City Destroyers get their power and are connected to the Mothership. If that's the case then line of sight isn't a problem for them and they have no need for our satellites. If the City Destroyers on the far side of the planet can't connect to the Mothership and need our satellites to get orders then in theory they also have no power, which for an invasion force is a bit problematic.
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** The Government also seemed confused, suspicious, but confused, about why they Harvesters parked their ships over a ton of major cities, dead centre, in probably one of the most obviously hostile manoeuvres, outside of attacking the second they got into range, it took David outright going "by the way, they are counting down to attack", for them to get it.
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** I've always wondered if it was communicating something very offensive to the aliens, since no humans know that much about whether a flashing light display has a meaning to them.[[/folder]]
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** I've always wondered if it was communicating something very offensive to the aliens, since no humans know that much about whether a flashing light display has a meaning to them.them.
** An humorous retelling of the movie claims the aliens came in peace and with good will, but the flashing lights were interpreted by them as insults instead, causing them to go to war with humans.[[/folder]]
** An humorous retelling of the movie claims the aliens came in peace and with good will, but the flashing lights were interpreted by them as insults instead, causing them to go to war with humans.[[/folder]]
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**It was possible to destroy a city destroyer with missiles/rockets/artillery/etc. The problem was the destroyer was charging its weapon to destroy Area 51. As they say when they're hammering it with AAM's (and as you can see) they're doing a lot of damage, just not enough to stop the destroyer before it fires its main weapon and kills them all. Givern more time the planes could have rearmed, came back, and kept pounding it. Eventually they would have done enough damage to destroy it.
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** It astounds me that so many posts in this miss the point here. Yes, the threat of being driven extinct by an invading alien species is a textbook GodzillaThreshold. But it's perfectly reasonable for everyone involved to view it as a tragedy, because it is. They're having to nuke a city that's still being evacuated, in the hope that it will bring down one of the invaders. Even if a perfectly rational mind KNOWS that everyone in the area is pretty much a write-off if the invasion isn't stopped, that's going to weigh on the minds of those involved. No matter how necessary, even if there was no saving them anyway, pushing the button hands down a death sentence on every living being still in the area. And if you try it, and it doesn't do anything to the target? It doesn't make those casualties any LESS dead than if the alien ships scoured humanity off the earth, but now you have to live with having nuked a civilian population for nothing. Worrying that the nuke might have its own long-term consequences even if it works is just icing on the cake.
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** The "firecracker in your hand" explanation given in ''Film/{{Armageddon}}'' applies here. That not-exactly-small nuclear explosion inside the mothership heavily overpressurizes the interior of the hull (a sealed container) in less than a second. Nothing is going to hold ''that'' in. It may not instantly disintegrate into tiny pieces as shown, but it's still getting torn asunder.
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** The "firecracker in your hand" explanation given in ''Film/{{Armageddon}}'' ''Film/Armageddon1998'' applies here. That not-exactly-small nuclear explosion inside the mothership heavily overpressurizes the interior of the hull (a sealed container) in less than a second. Nothing is going to hold ''that'' in. It may not instantly disintegrate into tiny pieces as shown, but it's still getting torn asunder.
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** The aliens in this movie are exterminating us, it would be impossible for a successful nuclear strike to lead to a worse outcome for humanity than that. Not to mention that even if the aliens somehow didn’t wipe us all out, how long would survivors last as the aliens strip mined Earth, and would Earth even be capable of supporting life after the aliens were done with it?
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** As we see the ring of explosions expanding during the first attack, the ship is well above it. The Area 51 ship also had no tall target like the Empire State Building that could have exploded and damaged it, it was firing directly at the ground.
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** For the same reason a person whacks a gnat buzzing around their head. It's no threat, but it ''is'' annoying. Whack. Dead. No longer annoying. Given the contempt the aliens held for our attempts to defend ourselves, it probably followed a similar attitude, too.[[/folder]]
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** For the same reason a person whacks a gnat buzzing around their head. It's no threat, but it ''is'' annoying. Whack. Dead. No longer annoying. Given the contempt the aliens held for our attempts to defend ourselves, it probably followed a similar attitude, too.too.
** I've always wondered if it was communicating something very offensive to the aliens, since no humans know that much about whether a flashing light display has a meaning to them.[[/folder]]
** I've always wondered if it was communicating something very offensive to the aliens, since no humans know that much about whether a flashing light display has a meaning to them.[[/folder]]
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** Perhaps, like in Star Wars, shields prevent high-velocity objects (relative to the ship) from going through, but lower-velocity ones don't. Hence, bullets and missiles would do nothing but a parachute would be moving slow enough to pass through the shield.
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** Perhaps, like in Star Wars, shields prevent high-velocity objects (relative to the ship) from going through, but it lets lower-velocity ones don't.objects pass through. Hence, bullets and missiles would do nothing but a parachute would be moving slow enough to pass through the shield.
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** It would also explain how Steve Hiller was able to walk over to the crashed attack ship and open its cockpit, assuming its shields weren't disabled when it crashed.
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** Also, this might be splitting hairs, but Dr. Okun wasn't murdered, just put into a coma after being used as a meat puppet. This is made more clear in the sequel.
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[[folder: why aren't the spaceships damaged by their own lasers?]]
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[[folder: why Why aren't the spaceships damaged by their own lasers?]]
