An excellent action-packed adaptation.

Rating: 8/10 (13 January 2006)

After a rather disappointing year of movies, War of the Worlds seemed to make everything better again.
Having expected an OK action film I was quite surprised how good WoTW was. Not only worth the price of admission but the kind of film an action movie junkie would want on DVD.
Starting at a slow pace the action soon picks up as a worldwide catastrophic storm hits America causing mass blackouts and panic. However the EMP damage was soon to be the least of everyone's concerns. Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) finds himself in the middle of the carnage when he goes to inspect the site of which lightning struck many times. What he didn't know is that what lurks underground is about to let hell break loose.
War of the Worlds is a very 'personalised' film. The action is focused entirely around Ray's point of view as he and his children Robbie (Justin Chatwin) and Rachel (Dakota Fanning)escape the city and venture into the countryside (or sub-urban surroundings).
After the first sighting of the tripods (the alien war machines) the action is fluent and very regular ranging from masses of people running for their lives to the military effort against the machines.
However be advised; if you want a film which challenges intellectually then look elsewhere. WoTW is a 'no-brainer' type of movie in which all you need to do is turn off and enjoy.
One thing I'd definitely recommend is try and see this in the cinema (although all showings have probably stopped now). War of the Worlds works best with a giant screen and digital surround sound - having these two things really makes you feel you're right there beside Ray in the middle of the action. TV just doesn't work as nicely.
8/10