Good parts hampered by others that insult the viewer's intelligence

Rating: 5/10 (13 March 2014)

Steven Spielberg's 2005 version of H.G. Well's "War of the Worlds" tells the story of a divorced man (Tom Cruise) and his son & daughter facing a horrifying alien invasion of Earth. They attempt to travel from New York City to Boston, where the kids' mother lives.
WHAT WORKS: Interestingly, I went to see this film at the theater with a friend who strongly reminded me of Cruise's character in the film. He's divorced, the kids live with the ex-wife, and he's the type of guy who would have a car engine on his kitchen table. Hence, the family scenario was very real to us.
Speaking of real, the story is presented in a very realistic, serious manner. You don't have to worry about the goofiness and jingoistic elements that plagued 1996's "Independence Day" (I can't stand that film).
What works best are the towering and utterly horrifying alien tripods. They skulk around on their long massive legs destroying everything and everyone in sight, while taking some people captive, shredding them up and spitting out their blood & guts as food for their alien plants (which is, evidently, one of the alien's primary food sources). This, of course, creates an incredibly eerie reddish landscape.
I love the intimidating bellow of the tripods.
There are numerous memorable scenes: The opening attack in New York/New Jersey, the Hudson River ferry scene, the train in flames, the military night fight on the hill and the basement sequence.
I also love the authentic Eastern locations, filmed in New York, Virginia, Connecticut and New Jersey.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK: Spielberg masterfully creates the illusion that the story is REAL and could possibly happen, but then blows it with sequences that destroy all credibility. Take, for instance, the plane crash segment. The jet crashes and destroys practically the entire neighborhood, including the house Cruise and his kids are staying at (in the basement). Yet, miraculously, their vehicle remains completely unscathed, not to mention they're able to easily drive out through the enormous amount of debris. Why Sure!
This is insulting to the intelligence of the viewer and ruins the aura of realism. What was Spielberg thinking? He's a great filmmaker but he makes these kinds of blunders too often. Remember the scene in "Jurrasic Park: The Lost World" where the colossal t.rex's are able to quietly sneak up on a campsite of people, yet in every other scene the ground literally shakes when they approach? Or how about the moronic and melodramatic dogtag sequence in "Saving Private Ryan"?
Spielberg likes to include father/son conflicts in his stories, which is fine, but he horribly fumbles the ball in this regard in "War Of the Worlds." Specifically, I'm talking about the military fight on the hill sequence where Cruise's son ludicrously decides to leave his dad and sister to presumably help fight the aliens (or who knows what?). But, wait a second, he's only 15 or 16 years old; he doesn't know anything about military weaponry or tactics, how could he possible be of any help? The entire scene where the son insists on separating from his dad and sister is just stoo-pid and unbelievable.
BOTTOM LINE: I'd give the film a solid A- or B+ if it wasn't for the incredibly dumb sequences just noted. The only way I can watch and enjoy the picture is to make believe they're not there. These negatives force me to lower my rating to C+. It's a shame.