Very Disappointing

Rating: 3/10 (3 August 2005)

Should have been better than Independence Day (I.D. hereafter) but was not even as good. Better acting than I.D. but not as entertaining. The problem is when Spielberg tries to mix powerful acting with hardcore action - it just wasn't convincing. Most of the focus was on one families' struggle where as I feel most people in the cinema would have preferred more focus on the action (as in I.D.). There was a really long, boring section mid-way through the film where Cruise and his daughter get stuck in a basement or something - nothing really happens in this part. Special effects are good of course as one would expect - Aliens somewhat reminiscent of those in I.D. as well, maybe they're the same ones!