Movie Reviews
War of the Worlds 
Rated PG-13 (2005)
Starring: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Tim Robbins
Direction: Steven Spielberg
Production: Kathleen Kennedy, Colin Wilson
Screenplay: Josh Friedman, Colin Wilson, based on the novel by H.G. Wells
by Vincent St. James
The Lowdown:
Terrifies the senses, pleases the eye and completes a story in a timely manner. One of the better alien-terror flicks to come out of Hollywood in recent history- certainly does H.G. Wells's story justice.
E.T. gives mankind a beating
It's post 9/11 New York and Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) is left in charge of his two children by their mother, Mary Ann. There is tension between Ferrier and his kids, 16-year-old Robbie (Justin Chatwin) and 10-year-old Rachel (Dakota Fanning), but all of that becomes secondary when mysterious flashes of lightning - as many as twenty in the same spot- lead to unwelcome visitors destroying the lives of people without warning, cause, or pity. Ferrier now has to think of a way to keep his family alive.
I would say more, but one of the biggest complaints about this movie had nothing to do with the two hours I was sitting in the theater. It was before some other movies a few weeks ago, when War of the World trailers were big- they give away so many good, key parts. The result is that I watch this film without the element of surprise or wonder at times where those elements would otherwise help make for some memorable movie moments. That includes (skip two lines if you don't want to know!!!!!) the highway blowing up over houses and the boat scene, to point out a few.
Having said this, I still found the movie to be highly enjoyable. This is a testament to the
direction of Steven Spielberg. I was never a huge Spielberg fan but lately he's impressed me
with his work. This isn't the first time we see an alien takeover- but its the first time that it
looks, and feels like this. So real, so terrifying. The pacing is good, and Spielberg's decision
to not include the demolition of national/international monuments is extremely gratifying.
Spielberg has a knack for portraying how the common man will
react to very uncommon circumstances; that's always been one of his strengths. Here, its put to good
use. The best part is that we never get the feeling that the humans will somehow come up with some
weird, cheesy idea to defeat the aliens and prevail. Instead, they're just scared, and those that
aren't scared are dead.
Tom Cruise is ok as Joe America. He does the job well. All the talk of his off-screen antics become a non-issue thanks to the impressive display of human barbecuing by the aliens. He isn't a natural to play the role of a loser Dad, but its good enough. Dakota Fanning is good as usual (funny thing to say about such a young actress), but no performance stands out as much as that of Tim Robbins. Man, can this guy play the part of twisted whack-job. He gives Spielberg and Cruise a lot to work with and it pays dividends for the scenes that he's in. Two things I would've liked less of are the reference to terrorists (no I'm not sensitive, but too many times is too many) and Rachel screaming (I know she's a girl, but man it gets old).
Warning! SPOILER****
Whats with Robbie coming back at the end? I think it makes for greater cinematic effect to have at least him die, or some rational explanation to why he didn't, but no...apparently, he's immune to extraterrestrial disintegration pistols- or something.
END OF SPOILERS***
The film isn't Spielberg's best, maybe because the story could've been stronger, but he does a good job of dealing with what would happen if aliens were to come and suddenly start whooping our behinds. Many viewers, including me, might feel that something is missing, that maybe some explanation to why the aliens are acting the way they are would've been useful. (What is up with disintegrating humans, then taking their blood?) Somehow, however, I get the feeling that H.G. Wells would've been happy.
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