Spielberg's new take of the original 1953 is an interesting new telling.

Rating: 8/10 (27 November 2005)

An over-worked construction worker by the name of Ray (Tom Cruise), who never had time for his troubled teenage son (Justin Chatwin) and his bright young daughter (Dakota Fanning). Since his ex-wife (Miranda Otta) left him for another man. Since Ray might have a chance to get along better with his two children for the weekend but the world has changed. When Aliens has taking control of the Planet and trying to destroy the whole population of Earth. Ray and his two children try to run to Boston to join his ex-wife and his ex-parents in laws. But they meet all sorts of troubles, they witness an wave of mass destruction and death. Now the human race must have new ways to destroy this aliens before taking over.
Directed by four-time Oscar Winner:Steven Spielberg (Jaws, Schindler's List, Murich) made an vivid, science-fiction thriller with elements of drama and horror. Cruise gives an good performance here. Which Cruise rarely plays a father in the movies. Fanning is terrific in the picture and newcomer Chatwin is also fine. Oscar-Winner:Tim Robbins has an small but credible role as a crazed man. Spielberg does gives you a real feeling of hopelessness and it is also quite haunting in this picture.
DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer and an terrific:DTS 5.1 Surround Sound (Also in Dolby Digital 5.1). This Single Disc Edition has only one featurette as an extra. This might be far from Spielberg's best works but he makes this film feels real with a certain doom that makes this remake worth seeing. This picture is Based on a Classic Novel by H.G. Wells (The Food of the Gods, The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Time Machine). Oscar-Winner:Morgan Freeman narrated the film. Watch for Gene Berry and Ann Robinson as Ray's ex Parents-in-Law at the end. Screenplay by Josh Friedman (The Black Dahila) and David Koepp (Carlito's Way, Panic Room, Zathura). Screenwriter:Koepp is no stranger working with Spielberg before. Since Koepp also wrote Jurassic Park and The Lost World:Jurassic Park is both directed by Spielberg. Strong music score by five-time Oscar Winner:John Williams (Fiddler of the Roof, Saving Private Ryan, Star Wars). (****/*****).