A worthy blockbuster!

Rating: 7/10 (5 July 2005)

Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) a crane operator has to look after his two children (Dakota Fanning and Justin Chatwin) for the weekend as his ex-wife (Miranda Otto) and her new husband are visiting her parents in Boston. Later on during the day Ray and fellow neighbours are out on the streets watching dark clouds forming up in the sky and there's lighting strikes too. Because of this everything that runs on power becomes dead and including phones. Then suddenly all of the confusion changes to horror when an alien machine comes from the ground and starts terminating people. This causes crowds of hysteria and Ray rushes home and starts on a trip with the kids to get to Boston. Though, these malevolent beings in their machines are popping up everywhere and our out to destroy mankind.
This is an adaptation of H.G. Wells classic story of an alien invasion (maybe a metaphor on the wars in the British Empire at the time) which was published in 1898 and well, what can I say about Spielberg's film? It was far better than I expected to be. This blockbuster truly delivered what it was meant to do grand entertainment and nothing more. I wouldn't class it a masterpiece, but still it's very good film and Spielberg at his best. These aliens were far from friendly like those in his earlier films " Close Encounters of the Third Kind' and "ET- The Extra-Terrestrial". There was a lot style behind this film, but it was kind of mediocre on substance.
The story concentrates on the family than what's actually happening globally and somehow it still felt a bit thin (probably because the plot is basically hide and go seek) and you can see elements of 9/11 attacks, subtle WW2 images and references on terrorists, but anyhow it had heart and it tells a gripping and unnerving tale. The acting wasn't great in my eyes but it was reasonably fair. It's nowhere as bad like some people make it out to be. Chemistry between the Cruise, Fanning and Chatwin was believable and to you start to care for them the further along the film goes. The witty humour between the three is incredibly enjoyable too. I thought Chatwin's character was by far the most interesting and it was a little disappointing that his character departs halfway into the film. Fanning's performance was good (well, her constant screaming wasn't annoying) and you can see why she hyped to be the next big thing. Cruise came across rather deadpan and lacking bite, especially when his character is the one who carries the story. Maybe a stronger actor would have added something greater, but hey what am I complaining about the film it delivered what it was meant to do and overall you could argue that his performance fitted in with the bleak mood. His portrayal is that of a average block and not of a clean cut hero or ingenious scientist and hardly an ideal father figure too. As he has let down his family in the past, but when this chaos occurs he's someone who focuses on his two children then that of someone trying to help everyone that he passes and he isn't here to save mankind either. His got only one thing on mind and that's to get his children to their mother and he would literally do 'anything' to keep it that way. Tim Robbins plays a traumatized father who lost his family and is hiding out in his basement. He basically plays the nut and does a good job of it, if sometimes a little too over-the-top. I thought some of the scenes involving him did kind of drag on for too long.
Though, saying all of that and explaining some minor glitches. I was too entrenched and amazed in the film for those things to really bother me. Starting with the chilling opening intro which is narrated by Morgan Freeman, it just pulls you into an emotional ride with destruction a plenty and surprises, until we get to the sour and overly sweet ending. The astounding special effects are mesmerising and have great impact on the viewer. The sprawling camera-work truly captures the magnificent imagery e.g. the burning train that speeds by. Something just keeps you glued as the disturbing scenes involving the alien machines chasing the humans create such terror and tension. The moody atmosphere of the film is superb in creating such a feel of doom and dread. I just really enjoyed the grim and dark tone of it. It just held such a disturbing vibe to it all. The first half of the film is incredibly gripping and paced very well, but it does slow down in the second half with some extended scenes that went on for too long. When it came to the end I thought how the aliens were defeated and how mankind survived was just too brisk and it turn out to be somewhat of an anti-climax. But after thinking about it more I came to except the reason. Well, Morgan Freeman's narration to end the film truly does convince you of why mankind's fate was spared. Though, the happy but odd family ending didn't work and came across a forced, but that's what you call a small hiccup compared to the rest of the engrossing film. I guess Spielberg just can't let go of a happy ending well, not happy but sappier.
For what its worth it's a fairly striking and highly enjoyable ride that has only a few bumps.