Cruise miscast as a dumb guy

Rating: 5/10 (8 July 2005)

Tom does not do dumb parts well, as nearly all of his previous film characters have been intense, driven and very smart guys. But Ray Ferrier in WOTW was just plain dumb, thus Tom was way out of his element and the wrong choice for the role as I wanted him to be so much smarter. Forget all the recent Scientology crap, Tom is still at the top of the list when smart, intense and driven is needed in a film lead, and that is why WOTW was so wrong for him, and for me as a result. Could he have chosen a dumber way to escape the aliens than going along with all the other dopes trying to escape in the very same way? I would say, "get supplies and take to the woods where no other people are, as the aliens will concentrate on populated areas thus you will have better survival chances". But, no, duhhhhh.
I have never seen a film that was so badly disconnected in its two main elements....story and special effects. The FX were among the best, as with all Spielberg flicks, but the story was among the dumbest ever and maybe even worse than The Day After Tomorrow storyline, and appeared even worse when put together with the great FX. Someday, maybe someday, someone will make an all out apocalypse/alien invasion film with only war action and without all the junk like the sappy Spielberg family touches he puts in all of his "family' films(but not in Saving Private Ryan which was a truly great film. See, it is possible!).... like parents and kids constantly hugging, crying, screaming, whining, clinging....all so dam aggravating that they tear down the quality the other film elements have built up to the point where it all comes together as just mediocre...the very worst thing a film like this one can be and just like this sappy one made by a real family guy with 9 kids for god's sake, as Spielberg has!
When that great action film is made, without all the mushy family stuff to ruin it, I(at 50+) and all the techies and teenage boys in the world will see it 20 times or more for the great FX details alone, but I won't see this one even one more time due to the stupid and obnoxious story...dumb dad, bratty kids, moronic escape plan....and how all of these mostly ruined this great earth invasion story by H.G. Wells.
I am waiting and hoping(I have even written Spielberg and Lucas) for the time when films are made to be interactive, so anyone can edit all the film shot into what makes a great film for each of us, and then share it over the internet to win contests or movie careers. Before that though, please Spielburg, make at least two versions of your films with at least one without all the sappy family/kid crap that you like so much but ruins it for me and is intended only to get the girls and the girlie men's butts in the seats so you can make more money.
"Forget the art, forget the quality, just show me the money!"