Did I see a different movie?

Rating: 7/10 (1 July 2005)

I am wondering if I saw a different movie than some other.
I have to admit when I first heard Spielberg and Cruise were doing this movie I was very apprehensive. Although I have some issues with the film, but overall they pulled it off.
One of the most frequent complaints is the camcorder running after the aliens land. If you listened to the TV broadcast prior to the aliens appearing, it was stated the the EMP effects where temporary. Personally, I think temporary EMP effects are bull, but it gives a thin cover for the camcorder. Of course, this cover is bull when you consider that a car's electronics (which are probably more robust than a camcorders) do not recover from the effects of an EMP.
Same with the only running car. I think Spielberg's theory is if the solenoids are not in a car they would not be effected by the EMP and the mechanic tells Cruise that when he replaced them the car worked, so Cruise knew there was at least one working car.
There are many things that don't seem to work, but I have learned to try and shut off the analytical side of my brain for Spielberg movies.
But among those I wonder about: How these giant machines remained undiscovered under major metropolitan areas for so long.
How an unarmed Cruise killed a crazy Robbins who had a shovel in his hand and was looking at Cruise when he closed the door? I did find the fact that Cruise killed Robbins only on the pretext that he MAY give them away refreshing and unusual for a Spielberg movie. This was 1st degree murder.