not as good as the original, but still a good summer popcorn movie...

Rating: 7/10 (1 July 2005)

Just saw it tonight. My 8 1/2 year old movie buff son went with me... we gave up our seats for the D-Backs getting pounded by the Giants for this, so this was better of the two choices. He's been waiting quite a while for this one - a huge Star Wars, Jurassic Park and classic film fan who has wanted to make movies since 2 1/2 years old. He liked it, but still preferred the original, as did I. It was still very good entertainment, though... I gave it 7/10 on IMDb - the original got a 9 from me as I rated it for its time, previous to CGI effects. This wasn't one of Spielberg's best, but it wasn't one of his worst, either. The original got more scientifically involved as to the origin and biological makeup of the alien invaders and had more narration. The original was somewhat campy (mostly due to the 50s film era), but this one was a little, also - with far too many narrow escapes for Tom and family for my taste. This version was more of a casual observer's (Tom Cruise's character, Ray) POV vs. the 1953 version from a scientist's (Gene Barry's character, Dr. Forrester) POV. This also lacked romance which the original touched on somewhat... there was good sexual tension between the two charismatic leads, Barry and Robinson. Also, there was much more deference to the Almighty in the original - this one barely touched on His intervention in mankind, other than the narration at the end. I guess He isn't needed to be called upon in the 21st century in times of peril such as HUMAN EXTERMINATION.
This version had too many plot holes that were so blatantly obvious - such as why Tom's vehicle was the only civilian vehicle (a mid-90s Dodge minivan) running/moving due to a change of just one part (solenoid - what happened to the computer that it also runs on?); how they drove over so much debris/vehicle wreckage and never got one flat tire, how they managed to make it through clogged interstates with just enough clearance space to get through at high speeds; the radio coming on just for a "test of the emergency broadcast system" and then going back to static; but the biggest whopper was at the beginning of the film with the now-infamous "camcorder" shot. OMG, that was so stupid! How in God's name when all electronics were zapped by an EMP could one camcorder function perfectly and record the invasion for no one other then the movie theater audience to see. Awful - Spielberg's biggest guffaw ever. They could not discover that in the editing room or during screenings? Pointless, unnecessary effect - really hurt film's credibility. Even my 8 year old boy whispered that was dumb. The scenes with Tim Robbins were a cutting room floor decoration - a complete waste. I won't even begin to address the end scene as to how ridiculously Hollywood that was. The narration helped cover the sugar somewhat.
This film COULD have and SHOULD have been a great classic - it had all the ingredients - instead it was a modest attempt at an updated remake consisting of a roller-coaster ride of awesome CGI effects with little or no character development or impact on the classic story itself. The SL did leave an opening for a sequel, however - should these aliens ever get another whim, but be more ready when they do. Without the great effects, this film would have been just average sci-fi/action fare. It's worth the nine bucks to see the effects on the big screen, but do not expect another Jurassic Park, albeit there were many similarities with kids in danger, screaming in panic, narrow escapes, etc.
7/10 stars - mostly for the effects, photography, music and nail-biting suspense - just forget all the story holes and outright goofs Ted in Gilbert, AZ