Earth shattering disappointment !

Rating: 2/10 (1 July 2005)

It is so rarely that you find yourself in the awkward position that the actual ending of a film is so defining for the overall quality of a movie that it actually determines ones judgment of the whole movie. I mean, of course there is good endings and bad endings, but mostly the ending in itself wont influence much on your rating of what actually lies before the ending. Like in 6th sense where you might like the ending, or you might not. But still most people I've met likes the movie for the scary effects and the well played roles etc - and hey, thats a movie all about the ending...
War of the worlds is not such a film! But the complete and utterly crappy ending is just soo lame that the film in my opinion is unviewable, and you should definitely avoid this film for your own sake.
As a sci-fi fan, I tend to like the effects and the interesting visions for the meet up with life from outer space, but there's just too big holes in the story lines and the whole plot leaves you in your seat grasping for your breath. Mr. Spielberg, to leave the audience with such a halfhearted ending is just plain rude. Everything up till the very 5 minutes that contains the abrupt ending is great!!! Really great! Cruise and Fanning gives a performance that is all that, and even Tim Robbins does a more than decent performance as a half crazy story helper. But mainly - this movie succeeds in something rarely seen for a Gollywood/Spielberg production - the actual scenario of aliens invading earth is in itself portrayed very interesting and with great effects etc. But where this movie really kicks in and grasps the viewer, is when it comes to the often brutal portrayal of people, just being people - caught in a horrifying and highly unfortunate situation.
The best portrayal in War of the Worlds is without any doubt his sharply woven picture of the human mind and not least kind. A person can be all that, but "people" are mostly stupid! The human scenarios in the movie is all too terrible likely to actually occur (Not the alien thingy - the human factor). There is no doubt in my mind that the nightmare like conditions arising when people turns against each other in the fight to get themselves and their loved ones to safety would arise. He really makes one believe that should you and I find ourselves in the very same quite unlikely situation, we too would react in the same stupid and extreme manner.
Before the ending the movie had me wondering how far, and to what horrifying extent I myself would go, in order to protect those I love and hold dear.
So far everything is above average for a film about aliens slaying humans on earth. But when the ending in so many words is completely independent of the rest of the movie, I must say that all the setups, all the suspense that is lined up through the movie and even the quite well played characters, is all completely shattered by the ending. What could truly have been a monument of Spielbergs philosophical and ideological interpretation of the modern world, about humanity in all its horror and greatness, is sadly punctuated like a flat tire and left is only the hollow rack of an over inflated rubber tube.
I will not go into why the ending is so terrible and I hate when people starts analyzing all sort of crap to prove that the ending is unlikely or unjust to this and that. I will leave you with this though: What happens between the beginning and the ending of this film, is so nervewracking ridiculously unimportant for the plot as a whole, that it saddens me to the very bone of my science fiction loving soul. Plz go see the darn thing and you will see that I am right!
DISCLAIMER As you can clearly see, English is NOT my native language. If I in any way have offended you by the ill use of this language, please forgive me, as I know not what I am saying.