Disappointing

Rating: 3/10 (2 July 2005)

It is very rare for the modern cinema goer to be truly impressed by the image in front of them when going to the cinema but I was by War of The Worlds. The effects where incredible and imaginative creating the type of awe-inspiring feeling that has been missing in recent cinema. However, this doesn't extend to a fairly mediocre script and performances. Tom Cruise fills the 'all-American' dad role well enough without ever having us care about his character and the development of the relationship with his children is clumsy and negligible. It must also be noted that the children are perhaps the two most irritating characters in any film this year and it doesn't help the flow of the story when you are actually hoping they get killed.The end of the film is too abrupt and feels rushed (though in fairness this is due to the way the book ends - at least Spielberg stayed faithful to this) but doesn't explain it clearly enough to people who haven't read the original book.In summary this is worth seeing for the effects but doesn't have the substance to extend it pass a 'popcorn movie' and into the realms of all time classics where some of Spielberg's other Sci-Fi epics (Close Encounters/E.T.) reside . Read the book for a fully appreciation of the story.