When the explosions and effects end, there's emptiness.

Rating: 5/10 (5 July 2005)

I love Spielberg's films and have enjoyed almost everything Cruise has done. Also, the novel "War of the Worlds" is probably my all-time favorite, and I read it at least once a year. Understandably, my expectations for this film were very high.
All the ingredients thrown into the pot should have created the final and definitive version of Wells' novel. Sadly, the soup is bitter and leaves one feeling empty.
I'll agree with the reviewers that say Cruise and Dakota Fanning give excellent performances. I agree that the CGI invaders and their tripod machines provide some of the most realistic and terrifying moments ever captured on film. I agree that the movie has all the elements of a Hollywood special effects blockbuster. But somehow, none of these qualities is enough to satisfy a true fan of the story this movie is based on.
In truth, this film has little to do with the original novel, other than that there are invaders from space who: (1) use tripod machines to try to conquer the world, (2) feed on human blood, and (3) are defeated in the end by germs.
The few elements of Wells' original story are quickly shoved into the background, as the movie focuses on the tensions between Cruise's blue-collar character and his two children, as they flee the invading aliens on their way from New York to Boston.
I left the theater shaking my head in disappointment. Wells' story is one of the greatest science fiction novels ever written, and this movie is but a pale shadow of it, when it could have been so much more. The movie is not about retelling Wells' story - it's about showcasing some "wow" special effects and providing a stage for Cruise to build up more of his star power.
Those of us who really care about this story are left feeling empty....