Sweet-looking steelbook
High quality 2 BD presentation and possibly the best edition we'll ever have here in steelbook packaging.
Don't know how much the original changes hands for nowadays but I believe it was priced roughly the same as this at pre-order - if true, this one looks an OK price . . . with nicer "space" colouring and artwork (more CLOSE ENCOUNTERS / STARGATE than WAR OF THE WORLDS) as well as having re-mastered and extra content.
Regarding Extended vs. Theatrical: There are NO juicy bits missing in the TC only to be found in the EC and both cuts were passed PG-13.
Some will say you can't have too much "Independence Day" but others will say at over two hours - 144.37 mins - standard runtime you can keep the extra 8.5 minutes of the Extended which anyway only consists of: 1 scene with alternate footage, 2 extended scenes with alternate footage, 5 additional scenes and 7 extended scenes taking the total time to about 153 mins - all plot scenes designed to deepen characterisation or help the story.
Definite blockbusting entertainment with several spectacular and memorable scenes but not one of my favourites from Mr. Emmerich and I admit to preferring his other world-in-peril saga "The Day After Tomorrow" to this.
Regarding the finish: One thing I feel about the finish is that it should not obscure all the tiny details on the underside of the craft and if that means "sparing the gloss" then so be it.
Regarding 'bossing: With no framing border that I can see embossing looks like a "No".
De-bossing of the ID 4 would be perfect and I hope it'll not simply be a case of glossing the title as on the original.