How did they do it so well?

Rating: Null/10 (5 July 2003)

The concept of aliens coming to Earth and shooting us up for the fun of it is stale and cliched, obviously. But something about this movie is better than the horrendous muddle of early-1900s science fiction. What is it? Oh yes: excellent writing, acting, directing, pacing, and special effects. Everything movies like Deep Impact, Armageddon, etc. try hard at but fail, this movie succeeds at with flying colors. Sure, the concept is cliched, but it's executed so well that I don't groan at the stale story, but I feel refreshed that here is a rare movie that can pull of that stale story in a wonderful way. Obviously, the ideas of our major cities being blown up by aliens, being able to outrun explosions, etc. is bad. But the movie is so well executed that it's perfectly okay. Excellent movie.