War of The Worlds : Good, Not Great

Rating: 7/10 (17 April 2008)

Spielberg's War of the Worlds (2005) was a very unsatisfactory film. It lacks a sense of reality, in that the Martian invasion from underground just doesn't seem plausible. Though it was a good concept as an alternative to the cliché "Martians from Mars", the enormous, sky-scraping tripods just don't seem to logically be able to come from under ground. The digital effects used look gorgeous and do a fantastic job in making the actual invasion and carnage of the Martians look realistic, and believable. Their wreckage is absolutely brutal, but you can't look away. As far as the plot goes, Spielberg did a moderate job at keeping it flowing, but the plot line hardly follows H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds novel. The action in the movie was particularly enjoyable, in that it kept viewers wanting to see more. It was a mystery, developed at the beginning of the movie, and elegantly closed at the end. Small details found in the film, such as the birds, kept the viewer aching to know more, keeping their attention through the constant interaction between characters allowed the mystery to be unraveled. The ending was well developed through the storyline, and kept you watching until the last minute, actually wanting to know how mankind would once again be saved. Tom Cruise did a great job portraying Ray, the protagonist of the film. His character does a good job developing throughout the film. Dakota Fanning, on the other hand, is an annoyance for the entire film. Her sub-par acting and fake emotions are less than entertaining, and constant screams really turn a viewer off. The aliens were absolutely fantastic. They looked great and the audience can really feel their authenticity through their human-like characteristic. They were curious, intelligent, and life-like. Overall, the film rates a 7.2. It is one that should be seen by any sci-fi enthusiast, and is entertaining to the general audience. But it is certainly not to die for. It is worth renting, but the DVD is definitely not a buy.