This movie rocks! Spielberg is a wizard!

Rating: 9/10 (26 July 2005)

This movie had me on the edge of my seat almost the entire time! My heart was beating and my muscles were tensed for most of the movie. That's one thing that Spielberg can do, and that's grab you by the lapels and drag you along.
A very intense movie. Granted, there were a number of things that weren't explained or set up very well, and some of the problems were a bit glaring, but the overall story moved very quickly and the suspense was just non-stop. My critiques of inconsistencies were completely overwhelmed by the super pacing and great editing.
Certainly, there were some gratuitous set-ups. But the editing and the score and the sound effects really worked things into a frenzy, enough to overlook the somewhat formulaic or incongruous passages. This is not a cerebral movie -- it's an action/adventure with a corny happy ending that makes you glad things turned out okay and lets your nerves start to settle down before you have to stand up on slightly wobbly legs to leave the theater.
Cruise didn't really do quite the acting job that I think other actors could have done with this role. A better actor could have been more effective in conveying the terror and helplessness. Which may have been just as well, since the movie was intense enough to wring me out like a damp rag.
I have to give Spielberg a lot of credit for including a number of references and scenes from the original book and the 1953 movie into this production. As a fan of both, it was a real thrill to see so many aspects of both melded into the finished film. The turning of a section of the street, the crazy guy in the basement and the alien physiology are just a few of the things he incorporated from the book and earlier movie.
The choice of Morgan Freeman for the narration had more to do with his name power than with his delivery. I feel that there are many voice talents in Hollywood who could have done at least as well, if not better. Too bad Orson Wells isn't around to do it.
And much of the credit has to go to the soundtrack. I'm sure John Williams commands an outrageous amount for movies these days, but in this movie he earned every penny of it. His music contributed to the mood just as much as the director did. And the score even included some little tributes to the earlier film.
Amazing! A really hot movie! Best seen on the big screen.