A scene from Independence Day: Resurgence. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The alien mother ship is also much bigger than the one in the first film. Besides, there are spectacular sequences, including Dubai falling onto Paris, which are more breathtaking than the first movie.

The sequel also features Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman.

Speaking to China Daily last week, Emmerich, who says he was influenced by Star Wars to embark on a career in directing films, adds that he believes there are creatures in outer space and that he hopes to visit them someday.

A film based on his space "visit" may have helped, because though he had impressed Chinese audiences with the 1996 film Independence Day and had turned many youngsters into die-hard sci-fi fans, this time nothing seems to have worked.

Even using Chinese elements in the movie－a typical ploy frequently used by Hollywood tentpoles to target the Chinese market－has not helped win local hearts.

In the film, Chinese "goddess" Angelababy plays a heroic pilot, and the film has a couple of brands familiar to the Chinese.

Hemsworth, who plays a spacecraft pilot on the moon, uses QQ－an instant messenger developed by China's internet behemoth Tencent－to communicate with his fiancee on Earth.

Another pilot, who has a thing for Angelababy learns Mandarin to woo her.

A firm rejection of these symbolic gestures comes from a veteran fan who writes on Douban.com: "Farewell, Hollywood popcorn films. I am returning to quality domestic titles. At least, a few of them have things that touch my heart."

Contact the writer at @chinadaily.com.cn