Works for this genre

Rating: 8/10 (30 June 2005)

Given the constraints imposed by the original H.G. Wells novel, Spielberg and Cruise acquitted themselves very well. Entertaining and gripping without getting deep. I have not had this sense of satisfying made-for-Summer blockbuster experience for quite a while. Nonetheless, some images will stay with you. Some reviewers have commented with the resonance with national fears about "outsiders" and changes to our status quo but this is still based on a pioneering 19th century yarn that defined the invasion genre.
Those of us from Boston will particularly appreciate some of the landmarks that appear.
Don't bring the kids though unless you want to deal with the subsequent nightmares.