This is why we go to the movies!!

Rating: 9/10 (5 September 2005)

I knew that when reading other reviews that people would be harsh against this. Any time this many people sees a movie there is bound to be difference in opinion. Nonetheless after seeing the amazing spine tingling trailers I sat in awe of one of the greatest theatrical films ever. First off you've got an amazing blockbuster combination. DirectorSteven Spielberg, this guy can't do much wrong. He's hands down the greatest director in the history of film impressing movie goers for decades and even taking some critical acclaim along the way. The guy knows how to make a blockbuster. Superstar Tom Cruisesay what you will about his personal life right now the guy is a great actor and Minority Report, the outstanding Collateral, the Mission Impossible serieshe makes a great movie star. Supporting castDakota Fanning who is becoming an incredible actress can hold her own against any star. Tim Robbins brief role was also well done and well cast.
War Of The Worlds is based on H.G. Wells classic sci fi story. A father who doesn't really know how to be a father, Ray Ferrier, is left to care for his two children for the weekend while their mother and stepfather are visiting her parents. His son is a rebellious bitter teenager who is becoming a man slowly without his father. His daughter isn't quite old enough to resent him for not being around and she still needs a lot of protecting from anyone willing to provide. Suddenly everything changes when a freak storm sends Aliens from another world down to Earth and uncovers killing machines (tri-pods) that they may have buried centuries earlier. Not as much of a war as it is an extermination, the Aliens begin to destroy everything and everyone in sight. Ray barely makes it out of New York with his two children as they desperately try to make their way across the war torn, devastated country side to Boston to find the children's mother. As they make the trek Ray begins to realize that the love he has for his children will keep them all alive.
First off, no other film has had special effects like thisperiod. It was amazing, astonishing, justwow!! I am sure the film was rampant with CGI but you'd never know it, it is so cleverly used and disguised. The explosions, the storms, the actual aliensjust brilliantly done. This film really is less of a sci fi action film and more of a film about human nature. You get to see so many sides, some of the horribly disturbing of the human condition. There are many, many disturbing scenes in the film that just make your stomach turn and you forget you're watching this fantasy story and you feel like you're right there with them being attacked by these aliens. One of the most disturbing scenes in the film is when Rachel Ferrier played by Dakota Fanning comes across a literal river of bodies. Even watching the Aliens destroy the human beings into dust is disturbing. There is non stop action and it just has you on the edge of your seat until the very last moment. And there we come in to the big problem of the filmthe ending. It's very tacked on and yes it's the proper ending and perfectly feasible but never properly set up. It just sort of happens and everything stops and it's over. It's a huge let down after being so built up for two hours. Nonetheless if you want the best movie of the year to see in the theateryou need to see War Of The Worlds. It's the reason movies were made, it's fun, it makes you emotional, cry out, sucks you in it's just amazing. Go see it!! 9/10