Brilliantly Terrifying

Rating: 8/10 (4 July 2005)

Spielberg's version of WAR OF THE WORLDS is a rather dark vision and utterly terrifying at times. It does what it is supposed to do: scare the living daylights out of you. In an age of terrorism, the film shows us how totally horrifying terrorism is. One can interpret WAR OF THE WORLDS as analogous to our own times. Indiscriminate death, wholesale, delivered with fear tactics and absolutely scary.
The story of the protagonist father, played by Tom Cruise, is wholly predictable, yet in keeping with the tradition of a hometown hero who saves his children and himself from a horrifying fate. Cruise is great as is Dakota Fanning, both deserve awards for their performance.
However, I believe there exists a major flaw in the film that truly bothers me: The demise of the aliens is not dramatically realized. It just happens and is explained to us by the narrator, Morgan Freeman.
Destruction and annihilation are considerably realistic, thus absolutely terrifying. The aliens and their technology are very foreign and exceptionally well done, yet I was on the edge of my seat throughout. Gorgeously edited, John Williams' unique score at times frightened me to death, or should I say, to attention.
This is not entertainment, it's really serious stuff and might agitate some viewers. Not recommended for small children or sensitive types.