Special Effects and Acting fill in the Holes

Rating: 5/10 (1 July 2005)

War of the Worlds (2005) takes a classic science fiction drama and does what most remakes do, add a preponderance of special effects and explosions in an attempt to bring in the audiences. In this case, it proves effective. Perhaps the most positive aspect of this movie are the ultra-realistic and more importantly, believable, special effects. Add to these effects an all-star cast including Tom Cruise showing that he has come into his own as an actor, making anyone seem foolish to be a naysayer on his abilities anymore. Furthermore, I half wonder if Tim Robbins didn't submit himself to shock therapy to come across in a manner quite creepy to me. Finally, Dakota Fanning shows that she, much like Haley Joel Osment, can pull off a singular performance that at times holds the center of attention, despite being somewhat one-dimensional. It is on these features alone that I would recommend this movie, despite the many flaws that many will find so annoying that they, like me, will walk out before the final credits roll.
Let's start with the numerous holes in the science of the film. Now, a science fiction film must deliver some sense of suspension of disbelief for the audience to buy into the experience. Science can be thrown on its heels left and right, but some semblance of order must remain. Too much disorder occurs when science is twisted more for dramatic effect than believability. For example, an electromagnetic storm knocks out all of the electrical devices, including those that are not running at the time. However, replacing a part fixes the problem. A part that was damaged if it was sitting in a vehicle shut off at the time of the storm, but not if it was sitting on a shelf. Then, a man who spends his nights loading crates at the dock is more knowledgeable than the local mechanic who comes off as a country bumpkin. Apparently mechanics are too stupid to even notice a massive explosion occurring behind them. We then find that Tom was the only one within driving distance smart enough to fix a vehicle, and that driving distance seems to go on forever without filling a gas tank, although perhaps they managed to reach an area with power in time for this. But when they reach an area with power, they are the only ones around. If the area has power and has not yet been attacked, it should be swarming with refugees, but not this neighborhood. The issues continue until the end, when the space craft no longer has a shield. Why would the aliens getting sick affect their shields. Let's give a benefit of a doubt and say that they were somewhat biological, but then we have to wonder how such a biological device survived buried under us for so long. Explain to me why anything would bury their ships on a planet, and then come back. First off, why not just terraform the planet to begin with. Why wait for civilization to build up on a planet just so you can come back later and risk your own life with equipment that would be severely outdated by your standards. Maybe they like the challenge like some intergalactic genocidic, sadistic hunter, but then why terraform it the second visit. One science flaw that many have mentioned is that right after all of the electrical devices go out in an area, for some reason, digital cameras and camcorders still work. Television crews can even get slow motion footage of lightning strikes during the storms that knocked all other power out. I almost had to leave at that point. Spielberg obviously put the whole scene in just as a jab at the media.
One flaw that really stuck out was when Robbins calls to Tom and Dakota to hide in the cellar. A small editing flaw then occurs since he enters the cellar, but when the angle changes, he is at the door shutting it, but those are to be expected in any movie. The problem is that hundreds of people are running in every direction, but for some reason, Robbins chooses to only call to this one family, and then shut the door before anyone else could be saved to join his cause. Hellooooo. Next, we have the ironic plot point that wasn't even made point of. Right after Tom takes Robbins out, they are discovered anyway, making his murderous attempt at saving his family all for naught. You'd think he would have had a hard time dealing with that, but it never hits him apparently. But then, right after taking the camera out, it takes a good two minutes for the tripod to show up. Apparently they weren't concerned much about it. Then we have Tom, being the only person in the world smart enough to throw some grenades in the machine after being captured, even though other soldiers were captured along side of him. Then everyone falls 50 feet in a metal cage onto pointed branches and walks away.
Lastly, the MOST ANNOYING ENDING IN HISTORY. Apparently, while the rest of the world is in turmoil, Tom's ex-wife and her family are dining in luxury and safe. Not only that, but his son miraculously survives massive explosions that took out a military division, and then finds his way to his mothers, apparently not much sooner than Tom, since he hadn't changed his clothes, which must have smelled to high heaven by then.
Heres the worst part of all of this. Despite all of these flaws, I liked the movie, simply because of the background, but I didn't like it enough to get the DVD when it comes out.