Technical beefs dismissed (maybe)

Rating: 8/10 (6 July 2005)

I've read many negative posts here, many attacking "scientific" flaws in the story. I'd like to offer a counterpoint to those criticisms.
1. Why would aliens who want to take over the earth bury drones rather than fly right in with "manned" vessels? Answer: Don't we do the same thing, by sending unmanned craft into space to check the environs before we send our life forms out? 2. Why didn't anybody detect the drones underground? Answer: What if they were buried so deeply as to defy identification. Most of the inner earth is rife with metals anyway, so how would man have ever known they were there? 3. Tripods are inherently unstable platforms, so any life form would be better on legs divisible by four. Answer: Take a chair with four legs, chop most of one leg off and try to sit on it. You'll fall on your keester. Now take a a bar stool with 3 legs, shave one down... it remains fairly stable. That's why cameras use tripods, not octopods.
4. The tripods should have died underground after exposure to our germs before the aliens arrived. Answer: The tripods are machines in this movie, so only after the life forms arrive do our germs have effect.
5. The electro-magnetic pulse (EMP) is not properly depicted. Answer: Correct, but other than a newscaster or two using the term EMP, are we really sure that's EXACTLY what the aliens are using? Is it possible their technology disables electronics in a different way from what we're familiar with? You betcha! 6. Why don't the aliens employ infrared sensing during the probe scene in Ogilvy's basement? Answer: This movie isn't "Predator." Where does it say in the Sci-Fi handbook that all aliens can see heat? Besides, it makes for one of the better suspense scenes, and a nice homage to the book and the 1953 film. (Wasn't it nice to see Gene Barry and Ann Robinson at the end, BTW?) In summary, enjoy the entertainment. Watch the amazing camera work as the Ferriers drive their van out of town. It's one long take orbiting the vehicle, culminating in a fantastic crane shot. Also savor the achievement in sound by Michael Babcock and his team. One of the best ear drum workouts ever!