The end of the world!

Rating: 8/10 (9 July 2005)

The War of the Worlds Dreamworks/Paramount 2005 Color 117 mins. Sci-fi/Action Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Justin Chatwin, Tim Robbins and Miranda Otto star. Directed by Steven Spielberg Written by H.G. Wells Rated PG-13 for terror, brutality, violence and gore. OK so who knew Mr. Speilvberg still had this in him. After the lame lineup of films he's turned out lately. It's surprising for him or even a big studio to go forth and make mega budget Horror flick. And thats what precisely this is. Don't be fooled this film is brutal like Saving Private Ryan brutal when Spielberg makes a film about way, he makes a film about war. Tom Cruise looking handsome as ever and in his best performance to date stars as the films central character. A middle class father whom is taking care of his daughter and son for the weekend. While their mother and her new beau head on over to her parents in Boston. All in the same day he gets off work and comes home to his resistant kids and the invasion begins. With a mounting sense of dread the film explodes into a full out brutal extermination. The aliens attack in their 50's movies inspired vehicles and decimate the population while him and his kids race cross country to find their mother in Boston. This is without a doubt the best film of the summer. It is also pretty much the best film of the year. Spielberg keeps things smart and engrossing. The movie is a sweaty palm inducing nightmare that only loses its nerve in the last act. Had the film had a bleak ending like everyone thought it may have been of the most disturbing films ever made. Spielberg has accomplished a glorious feat by taking the prospects of an alien invasion and making them seem real through holocaust and 911 references. Truly terrifying stuff here people. Tom Cruise I've a wonderful and Oscar worthy performance as the after and Dakota Fanning joins him in the same caliber. Another standout in the film is hottie Justin Chatwin who does an ice job by making his character memorable. i'm telling you right now when going to see War f the Worlds you have no idea what to expect, no matter how much I or whatever others tell you. Just be Read to cover your eyes and grab hold of your seat. A-