Weak just weak, irresolute even.

Rating: Null/10 (10 July 2005)

There are some spoilers in here but much like the film they are vague. I'm a big Spielberg fan, who isn't, but come on! This movie had some good moments, but they were few and far between. Yes the original was great, the book great but having only one an A story to follow that builds up this huge enemy and their immense power and then tagging on a bunch of un-established conclusions in the last ten minutes to wrap up the film sucks. I'm sorry it just does. I had to explain to those I was with at the theater why the aliens were dead! And the son just suddenly appears back at the house in Boston, "hey Dad, remember that big ball of flame that killed everyone well not me, I made it home on my own, don't ask how, just accept it". Plus I would have been a bit more frightened of the psycho in the basement if he didn't start out with the cheesy B movie -I'm frightening so I'll step into this spooky light and stand here for an unnatural amount of time to establish that fact- shot. I'm all for that kind of thing in a 'Sin City' vibe or a ' Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow' feel. It was a shot that didn't fit for me. But who am I right. Not Steven Spielberg, but this movie isn't either. The film struggled to get me to suspend my disbelief and as soon as it did it gave me the (expletive-est) ending ever. I could care less about Tom Cruise, I love knowing that a Spielberg film will never disappoint, will be a complete well paced story. I left this movie feeling robbed. Fine, be true to the original story but please, please, be honest to the audience above all. This was a bad movie.