a mixed bag

Rating: 5/10 (29 June 2005)

Of all blockbusters released this summer, this one is the weakest. This is surprising given that it is directed by none other than Steven Spielberg. He invented the blockbuster with Jaws and added to it with ET, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the Jurassic Park movies. Recently, however, something has gone wrong. The Terminal and Minority Report were incredibly boring even with big stars in it. War of the Worlds is better than either of those past two movies. There are terrific special effects and John Williams's music is always good. The problem is we don't connect with the main characters. Tom Cruise is simply Tom Cruise and he is more tolerable than his recent interviews on TV in which he comes across as an arrogant jerk. His two children are another story altogether. The usually watchable Dakota Fanning just screams and yells a lot. His son is played by a bland pretty boy who is just annoying. When he disappears 3/4 of the way toward the film, we don't miss him. Tim Robbins steals every scene he is in and I would've liked the film to be more about him. A very disappointing 5/10