focuses more on the human element

Rating: 8/10 (29 May 2007)

when i first saw this film in the theatres,i was not too impressed.the movie didn't have much of an impact.however,upon watching on DVD recently i have a different impression.i really liked it this time around.there are some terrifying scenes,which gave me goose bumps.I recently reviewed another movie with Tom Cruise,where i said that although he has screen presence,i didn't think he is a good actor.i may have to adjust my opinion on that subject,at least as far as this movie is concerned.in this movie Cruise plays the everyman,and does a very good job of it.he had me convinced.Dakota Fanning so far,seems to be quite talented,but she annoyed me little in this movie.i found her too whiny at times.Tim Robbins has what amounts to little more than a cameo,and was just used as a plot device.as for the movie,the effects were very good.there was CG used,but it's pretty seamless.the aliens were very well done.this movie is more character driven,then effects and noise.i put this movie way above "Independence Day" in terms of the alien Invasion genre.but then,that movie focused on special effects and spectacle more than anything else.for me "War of the Worlds is an 8/10