Better effects, but still prefer the 1953 version!

Rating: 4/10 (24 March 2008)

First, this is NOT similar to the first version (1953). It don't actually look like a remake at all.
The visual effects is very good, as expected from Spielberg (2005), and is/was (1953 version) a big part of the story. The title "War of the Worlds" should give some hints about what this is about...
Is this a better version? In the 1953 version, the "War of the Worlds" came much better through with the story, even with not as good special effects. It had a good story/script from the beginning to the end, even though I didn't liked what the ending was based on (God related....).
This version (2005) introduces the story by a announcer in the beginning to get us going right away. From this time everything happens like a stopwatch. The main characters (especially the father and daughter), happen to be at right time and place any time and everywhere. Not that much actually happens, but some drama is included to stretch out the time. Very little War, if that is what you are looking for. At the end, the announcer steppes in again and explains why the movie ended like it did. To use a announcer like this seem to me that the script was full of holes.
We don't get to know any of the characters that much (at all), and this includes why the aliens wanted/needed (I don't know) to start the war. And, how did the aliens, in the first place, get access to earth so easily?
As I mentioned, the special effects is good, but how it was filmed (camera/filter), was awful. The quality looks like my 3CCD home video camera. Dull colors, little depth and a excessive use of white (blurring the surroundings). The latter may be by using special filters, but I didn't like it at all. Some of the scenes was quite OK, but I constantly missed better directing (by Spielberg).
Verdict: Because of the good special effects and sometimes good acting, I give it 4/10.
If you haven't seen the 1953 version, see it, but don't expect so good special effects. But, it has a much better/different story.