wining the war

Rating: 8/10 (11 July 2005)

I do not believe that it took me four days since the movie was distributed here to get an see it. But as they say, better later than never :-) This is not the best, but certainly not the worst movie of Spielberg's. I would say it's well above average. It's interesting to see the evolution of the alien's image in Spielberg's movies - from the smart folks playing mind games with humanity in 'Encounter', via the sweet and children-friendly E.T. - and now we have these pure monsters, no doubt aiming to destroy mankind.
Despite opening and ending with the H.G. Wells opening and ending quotes from the book, 'War of the Worlds' is more a horror movie than a science fiction one. Sure, there are a lot of very well done effects, the aliens when we see them close look a little bit like HR Giger's aliens, but the focus is on the small family cell running in terror for their lives. Here Spielberg is closer to Hitchcock then to Spielberg.
Best thing Spielberg achieved in the movie is, I believe, the opportunity he gives Tom Cruise to play what I consider simply the best role of his career. He is human, terrorized, far from a super-hero, that's why he is the best. Dakota Fanning is terrific as well, I just wish and pray that her teen years and maturity period will be blessed with roles and acting as good as here. Tim Robbins is good in a supporting role, but I fail to understand where and how he disappears from the screen. Actually the last fifteen minutes of the film are the weakest, a little bit too conventional and expected, although it's hard to see how the tension built until then could have been continued up to the end.
One more word of caution - there are a lot of tough and graphically violent scenes, I cannot understand how the rating in the US is only a PG-13. I would not take my young ones to this film, especially girls or even boys if I know they are easily impressionable.