An above-average blockbuster with great special effects, but suffers from a poor ending

Rating: 7/10 (12 January 2006)

Steven Spielberg's version of War of the Worlds is above-average, but it is just a tad over-hyped. There are some awesome action scenes, but it is not very tense or scary like the original was and the aliens are unthreatening, subsiding when Cruise confronts them (Battlefield Earth?). The ending is also rushed and inadequate. Then again, War of the Worlds is little more than a blockbuster. Blockbusters are meant to entertain (which is why Godzilla sucks) and War of the Worlds does this.
The plot revolves around a father (Ray) who gets the chance to meet his kids who treat him with little respect. This changes quickly when a light-and-sound show occurs and aliens invade the Earth, causing havoc wherever they go. Eventually, Ray meets up with this paranoid gun-toting hack (Tim Robbins) and plans to defeat the aliens.
The acting, as per normal in every Tom Cruise movie I see, is a mixed bag. Cruise and Robbins are OK, but the children are so annoying you almost want to leave them to the aliens.
The ending is the worst part of this film and as I said before, it feels a little like the ending in Battlefield Earth (that's not a compliment). These aliens can wipe out a whole battalion yet fall at the hands of one man? Also, the climax of the film, that is to say the final confrontation, is disappointing - the alien leader dies just like that, without so much as a whimper. And guess what from? The common cold! I knew this was coming, but it's still lame. As for the family reunion, it just feels tacked on.
Fortunately, the special effects and the action scenes here are awesome and almost carry the film by themselves. The best of these scenes would be when Cruise is running down the street and houses are being demolished and trucks exploding behind him. The light-and-sound show scenes are also great to watch.
In the end, War of the Worlds is not much more than your typical blockbuster, but it is always entertaining, which makes it worth recommending.
3.5/5 stars