Definitely not a classic.

Rating: 3/10 (18 July 2005)

Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds remake can only be described as a letdown. After all the hype there is nothing but a flawed endeavor in which the dazzling ILM special effects dominate. There is a cast of hundreds, but they're all technicians unseen by the camera.
According to the plot, the Martians buried their war machines on Earth about a million years ago in preparation for it's conquest. Why not take the world then, before man even existed rather than wait a million years?
This film also reinforced my belief that just because Tom Cruise is in a movie, doesn't mean it will be enjoyable or well made. Most of his on screen time is spent yelling at his family members. We're stuck in one long domestic disturbance.
Josh Friedman's and David Koepp's screenplay is so weak and unoriginal they borrowed lines from the original 1953 release. Anyone remember "Once they begin moving, no more news comes out of that area"? If you think you've heard it before, you have. Cute, but hardly original.
Viewing the 2005 remake only makes the 1953 original seem all that much better. Byron Haskins iron fisted directorial style kept one on the edge of their seat throughout. Despite half century old technology and flawed science the 1953 version is more frightening, entertaining and riveting. The war machines are more original, futuristic and high tech compared to Spielbergs clumsy, clanky, stumbling tin cans, which signal each other with foghorns.
Spielbergs heart simply wasn't in it. He's admitted to almost abandoning the project after the release of Independence Day, which more mirrors the 1953 original. Maybe he should stick to dinosaurs. However, credit where credit is due. Dakota Fanning's performance was probably the best of all involved. The special effects are unbeatable. I've never seen buildings collapse, highways cave in or freeway overpasses turn to rubble more realistically. Unfortunately special effects do not a movie make.