Transparent...it's all been done before

Rating: 7/10 (6 July 2005)

Not a horrible film but pretty exhausted on the creative front. I watched this movie and never really got into it...I've seen it all before, ID4, Signs, V, and the original War of the Worlds. This one brings nothing new to the equation. Is it competently made? This is Spielberg, of course it is and just like a Spielberg film everything is blatantly obvious and of course the kids not really dead at the end. What I found most interesting about this film had nothing to do with the plot, it was all the Cruise-isms that were carefully woven into it. Think for a bit, Cruise and his character are both divorced with two children. Dock worker asks what's bugging him and he says "Think of a couple women and I'll tell you" or something to that effect. He's asked by his daughter "What's the Capital of Australia?" in jest. (Nicole Kidman's homeland...hmm). The scene with hundreds of people trying to jack Tom's car left me thinking of Cruise swarmed by movie fans at a premiere. Many sly references to Cruise's career are present throughout the film and honestly they were the only moments of interest for me. The tripods looked too much like the spider robots in minority report, and the aliens themselves looked too much like the ones from ID4. Remakes, sequels and films based of established properties...that's all Hollywood has for us, and this one's no exception. Dakota fanning's a great actress, everyone involved in this picture is so talented...I can only imagine what they could do with an original idea. All throughout the film I wonder, "Is this the best they can do?" and sadly...it is.