Technically excellent but the brats spoil it.

Rating: Null/10 (26 May 2006)

I wonder why Spielberg and the scriptwriters thought viewers would enjoy bratty behavior in the midst of an invasion from 'an unknown place' film. No matter how technically excellent a Spielberg film (other than "Duel") may be, some obnoxious mistake is to be expected. In the case of War of the Worlds we have Spielberg's own statement connecting the film to 9-11 responses..and worse still..we have an obnoxious pair of brats dominating the film..especially the female one. This character is an insult to all intelligent children, especially female ones. There is also the 'silencing' of the man who gave Ray and the female brat shelter. Otherwise the musical score by John Williams is excellent and the aliens and their weapons are nicely envisioned. That is a decided improvement over the 1953 film. However, in the end..the best version is the radio version from 1938..and the story of those who believed it was..real.