A Different War

Rating: 8/10 (22 July 2005)

I've been expecting 'War of the Worlds' for quite a long time and during the whole waiting and longing, the pure expectation was gradually spoiled by a few annoying ideas and questions brought up by my restless heart. I haven't read the original novel, so all the plots of this movie remained mysterious, fiddling with my curiosity. However, I did watch the trailer and I know it's about our Earth being attacked by aliens, which is not an extraordinary material at all.
For me, sci-fiction is always my favorite genre. And on mentioning being invaded by aliens and then fighting back, I believe every one won't forget 'Independence Day', which is the best example for this kind of story and meanwhile, puts a relatively high limitation for the successors to exceed. Steven Spielberg + Tom Cruise, that must be the ingredient of some spectacular magic spells, but if the movie doesn't skip from the structure of the traditional sci-fiction, it will be a real disaster.
Fortunately, after about 2 hours watching, enjoying and appreciating the movie, all the doubts and worry lingering in my mind dispersed; what remained was relief, satisfaction and respect. Although, to be honest, I can't categorize it into those great and classic wonders, at least, this is a different, unprecedented trial.
Just like 'Independence Day', I mentioned above, the contradiction of these invading-and-fighting back movies is always between whatsoever, evil aliens and the government, including armies, special agents or some super heroes. Because when confronted with the vicious but powerful aliens, we common people (victims) don't have the ability to protect ourselves, let alone fight with them. Most of those box office winners are like documentaries in which only records those memorable, significant moments, such as the vast attacks of the aliens, the speech of the president, the crucial battles. I don't know since when did these elements become a standard, a schedule, a particular mark of nearly all the sci-fiction movies. However, I know the reason quite well. Because these scenes are ideal for showing expensive special effects, which is required both by movie producers and us audience. I have to admit most special effects are 100 times more fantastic than any of my dreams, but the whole stereotype process of it is like a fireworks show after a party you wait for it and enjoy it, then you know, the party's over, successfully.
No doubt, special effects are the life of these movies, but have we ever noticed that a different, amazing and unpredictable story is their soul. We'll never allow us to be fooled by marveling at the dizzy digital scenes decorating a script that is similar to yesterday's TV show. And we should also be ashamed if we sit in the cinema only waiting for the unveiling of those upgraded weapons or much more scary monsters. I don't reject technology, but I will certainly say 'no' to mere showing off. If we have been used to the full screen, large scale battles, maybe it's time for us to discover the excitement of those plain, feeble individuals, surviving under the menace from the out space.
'War of the Worlds' opens a new chapter for sci-fiction movies and although yet we can not tell whether it's a total success or not, it provides us with a new option, a different possibility. Perhaps due to the ingenuity of the original novel, the movie lays its focus on an ordinary father, who is no scientist, like in 'The Day After Tomorrow'; no super heroes; no president of United States. He could be shocked by the strange lighting like his daughter, could be scared by the huge robots like other people, could be that selfish to take other's car for escaping. He may not be as strong as you are, may not be that smart to outshine us and may not possess as much courage as his son. But he is the main role of this movie. Compared with president, spider-man or scientist, he has a better chance to reminder us of ourselves: We may easily put our legs into his shoes, (at least, the gap is no more that wide) and except for those (quite a lot, uh) special effects, there is something realistic (what am I talking about? You can absolutely regard this opinion as bullshit).
The relationship between them three, father, daughter and son, is an inseparable part of this movie. The family is the main reason and momentum that supports Ray, drives him and occasionally stimulates him. He shows his love in terms of caring, protecting and saving his family. Joined by this element, the movie seems to be more touching, more breathtaking and more human.
Plus, I think in this movie, the director, or the author of the novel, also spends some time on exposing the nature of human being under the nightmarish circumstance. Anyway, crisis is a good test to examine people's moral code, conscience and sense of justice. Chaotic mob is a common scene of this genre and, of course, you will find people helping each other, sometimes even on the cost of their own lives. People tend to be extremists in these extreme situations.
As for war movies, I don't know which I prefer more, 'The Longest Day' or 'Saving Private Ryan'. The same dilemma got me when I had to choose one from 'Independence Day' and 'War of the Worlds'. They are of the same genre, but quite different.