Poor scriptwriting, Shallow Characters, Spielberg Not Up to Usual Standards

Rating: 5/10 (1 July 2005)

Don't waste your money. Wait for the DVD if you must see it. Here's some observations:

Script is weak and unrealistic in parts. Streets caving in with people just standing around staring as asphalt splits beneath their feet. No screaming or running or panicking until too late. Excuse me, these New Jersey folks (where the movie begins) had just dealt with 9-11...they should be running at the first crack of the pavement!

Characters are two dimensional and stereotypical. Ex-wife is the nosy mom trooping and snooping through Cruise's house uninvited, complaining and moaning as her new rich husband says "I'm staying out of this" and slips out. Teenage son won't listen and won't talk, broods on bed with Walkman in his ears. Doesn't try to sooth his little sister even though he should realize dad isn't the best at doing this. Young daughter has constant panic attacks and screams throughout the whole movie, very irritating. Someone should slap her the side of the head or give her one of the medications that Tom Cruise badmouths on Scientology TV interviews!

The main characters get on a ferry boat to cross the Hudson River. The aliens are suddenly looming over them. Excuse me, when giant aliens are on top of you, it is impossible to flee or hide on a ferry boat compared to staying in town and finding a hiding place (basements and cellars seem to be the best places they stake out throughout the film).

They flee the city to visit the ex-wife's house looking for her (when they know that she and new rich hubby took a weekend trip). When they arrive, EVERY light in the 2-story semi-mansion is turned on! They begin looking for food to eat. They first go through the cardboard box they carried from home (filled with peanut butter, bread and condiments. Oh, by the way, the daughter is allergic to peanuts!) instead of immediately raiding (or at least checking out) the refrigerator and cupboards in the gourmet kitchen where they are seated.

Steven Spielberg borrows so much from past films: the weird storm clouds from the farm scene in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the aliens from Independence Day, the gruesome music from Jaws, and predictable special effects and film angles that echo from several of his past films.

Hiding out in basements and cellars was like watching "Signs" with Mel Gibson all over again. In fact, I think Mel was more proactive in protecting his family and better at securing his "fortress" and finding hiding places. I would personally feel safer with Gibson on guard but certainly not with Cruise!

The ending fails to really explain why the aliens end up like they do. They made it very clear in the 1953 version of the movie.

There is an obvious lack of authority figures throughout the disasters - almost no police, firemen or ambulances, and even when the military turns up in scenes, they appear superficial and don't make you feel confident that they can do anything but look brave (and even that is highly questionable.)

There is no explanation for the stringy looking red "things" draped over everything and growing up walls and trees.

There are some bad special effects, like birds flying at night overhead. Obviously computer generated and not well done at all. I failed to see how it helped the storyline or what point Spielberg was trying to make.

I am a big science fiction fan and long time fan of Spielberg, but the movie lacks depth all around and people and scenes are just not believable for the most part. The saving grace is the special effects (even though so many of them seem like borrowings from all his other movies, not much new and exciting, makes you yawn because you have seen it all before.)
The movie is too violent and bloody for the under 13 year old and older people who tend to have nightmares. On the other hand, if Steven Spielberg was trying to terrorize people overall, I think he failed miserably except for a scene here or there. It seemed almost comical, like watching a bad "B" horror flick from the 1950s, only this was in color with all the computer-generated special effects added. Bottom line: I did not fear going home and having nightmares.
Spend your money on a different movie this summer. Or better yet, try reading the original H. G. Wells 1898 novel of "War of the Worlds". (If you are lucky, you might be able to round up a copy of the 1953 video too.)