Spielberg delivers again

Rating: 9/10 (6 July 2005)

I have usually regarded "master story-teller" Steven Spielberg as a man who was overrated. Every movie he made was just one everybody loved and he really didn't care that much about the movie at all. I believed him just to get a profit. However, Spielberg delivers us a powerful new film that strays away from his usual style.
Like most that know the story of alien invasion, the plot of Martians coming to the planet Earth and beginning a quest to destroy all forms of Earthling life is a familiar story. But Spielberg gives us something more. Using film-making materials as his brush, he paints a well conceived, intense, vibrant, and at times frightening and disturbing portrait of alien hostile takeover. From the first moment with the Martian spaceships (called Tripods) arrive, we already know it won't be a fun ride. And as their laser beams blast to disintegrate people without will in a matter of seconds and tentacles that reach to grab already frighten humans, we the audience are at the edge of our seats. Bitting our nails as we feel that we are also running from these Tripods that let out a simple low horn-like sound that delivers a powerful effect of sending fear and chills in our body.
Since Tom Cruise is starring in this picture, his character is like most of his in the past. The character has a large ego and a cocky presentation and throughout the course of the film he tries to amend his past ways to try and evolve into a better person. Even still, with Cruise's clichéd character, he doesn't hurt the story that much and all actors put in a good effort to the intensity of the film. The only complaint is that Robbie, Crusie's son, is not a well acted character. His lines sometimes seen scripted and the actor tends to overact his character.
This film is made even more terrifying and disturbing because we are now living in a post-9/11 world where we feel an emanate terror can strike us and we may feel powerless to stop it. This film has now changed my outlook on Spielberg's work. No longer do I see him as a conventional filmmaker who only delivers what studios want. He can make movies that stray away from light and happy situations and that lead to dark and disturbing road. Likewise with "Schindler's List", I hope Spielberg continues to stray from his usual path of happiness because his best work comes from the truly dark films.