War of the Worlds (2005) ***1/2

Rating: 9/10 (11 July 2005)

!(Spoilers at the End)!
This could be the magical remake that has achieved what no other modern re-do has ever made me think was possible: it made me re-think my staunch resistance to modernizing old classic films and stories that I've always felt do not require any further tampering. Steven Spielberg's WAR OF THE WORLDS is one of the greatest science fiction films of all time, and is a thrill ride from start to finish that completely blew my mind. It's a movie that is essential to view on the big theatre screen, although of course that will not be the way most of us will have had the pleasure of seeing it in the grand scope of things for the future.
I've been surprised that so many moviegoers have been on record as feeling anything less than captivated by this terrific feature. I'm positive that a portion of the naysayers (as of this writing) have a chip on their shoulders either against director Spielberg (who's been touted as the "too soft moviemaker who ruined the business by causing the Summer Blockbuster Phenomenon") and/or lead star Tom Cruise (who's been in the news lately for all sorts of nonsense, much of which I agree with his detractors makes him look rather foolish) but there is much to admire in WAR OF THE WORLDS, and coming from an old stick in the mud like me who's against updated re-imagining's, that's saying a whole lot.
In the film, Tom Cruise gives one of his best performances as Ray, an irresponsible man living in a dump of a home who is spending some weekend time with his teenage son and little daughter, having been divorced from their mother. Mom has a new man in her life, and even the kids like him better than their dad. This struggle between children and father, as they awkwardly try to make a go out of their strained relationship, is put to an extraordinary test when all hell breaks loose one fateful day, and an alien invasion threatens the Earth. Utilizing some of the most realistic and jaw-droppingly awesome special effects ever committed to celluloid (and this coming from a fan who's always despised CGI technology, mind you) we see massive ships erupt out of the ground, buildings exploding, death rays physically obliterating screaming citizens fleeing for their very lives, and the whole foundation of civilization crumbling beneath our feet.
This is a dark, scary, tension-filled masterpiece, seen through the eyes of Cruise's character and his children. Dakota Fanning is excellent as the fearful little daughter, and she continues to impress me in anything I see her in. Along with the visual marvels we're assaulted with throughout the show, it's also the heart and soul that Ray starts to show toward his kids that makes this a more personal experience, and not "only" a circus of gadgetry and eye-popping wonder. Ray is desperate to protect his son and daughter throughout all impossible odds. A fine example of this newfound devotion is in a necessary sequence involving Tim Robbins as an eccentric survivor who takes Ray and his little girl into his meager shack of a home to escape the devastation that is thundering all around them. When it's revealed that Robbins is more than a little unstable, Cruise's character must make a decision that demonstrates the lengths he'll go to in order to take care of his daughter, while Spielberg also gives some backbone to Ray through his handling of the situation.
(Spoiler Below):
Now I have to say a word about the much-talked-about ending of this movie. I think the upbeat conclusion was the only way this story should have ended, as written in the original HG Welles book. However, I do have one reservation -- there has been some controversy as to whether or not Spielberg did the right thing by allowing Ray's son to survive this incredible ordeal, given that an earlier segment played very powerfully by having the boy risk his life and obviously not making it through alive. It was a strong and poignant sequence that would have resonated all the more by an ending that still would have emerged as a happy one, albeit with the loss of one of the family members. I must agree with many people who have said this would have been a much more true and noble finish. It's just a little nick in what is otherwise a sensational and un-flawed piece of film-making. As it turned out, the revelation of the son (which I hoped was not coming even though I knew it probably would) didn't destroy the wonderful time I had overall. The fact is I wound up exiting the movie theatre feeling very good, and with an exciting and touching film experience still fresh in my mind as I walked to my car and made my way home. This was an elation I just don't get with new movies anymore. Ironically enough, one of the last times I've ever felt this was back when JAWS was first released. Thanks, Steven Spielberg. ***1/2 out of ****