Spielberg's Vision of H.G. Wells Classic

Rating: 10/10 (7 July 2005)

Kudos to Steven Spielberg! He has created, yet again, a science fiction classic!Working again with Tom Cruise, he creates a new spin on the H.G. Wells 1898 classic, updating it to post 9/11 society.
Ray Ferrier(Cruise)is not an attentive father or husband. When his ex-wife (Miranda Otto)brings their 2 children over to stay with him while she's going away, his messy apartment and empty fridge shows his lack of caring. His son Robbie (Justin Chatwin)would rather steal his car and listen to his IPod than be there. His daughter Rachel (Dakota Fanning)is wise beyond her years and seems to try to tell her father just how to connect with his own son. Sounds like it's going to be a terrible weekend.
Until the lightning strikes. To Ray, they seem cool, until they soon find out that these are not ordinary lightening strikes. With the strikes, everything goes out and nothing works at all: cars, watches, and cell phones included. One strike leaves a nice size hole in the center of town. But everyone soon discovers what's inside that hole: alien ships that have seemed to have been buried in the earth for a VERY long time. And they come with the sole purpose of wiping out humanity and taking over the Earth (You know, the typical Alien vs. Humans mantra). And they do so with a vengeance. When their beams hit people, they turn to ashes, their clothes floating into the air.
Soon, Ray and his kids are on the run in the only working vehicle, trying to stay ahead of the alien ships.
This film has a lot of 9/11 references (floating clothes and papers, ash-covered people, signs of the missing). Robbie's reaction to the invasion is not unlike the reaction of those after 9/11: a determination to go to war against the enemy that has caused death and destruction to his world. Tim Robbins brief role mirrors those who will defend their world at any cost, even if their methods border on paranoia.
The look of the alien ships are faithful to Wells' word, a massive tripod with heat rays. And the sound that they make will send shivers up and down the spine.
John Williams's score is incredible (And a compliment to Spielberg, as always). One of the must-sees of the year.