War of the Worlds - minor spoilers

Rating: 10/10 (29 June 2005)

OK, SPOILER ALERT - minor.
This is a REALLY frightening film. As a parent I kept thinking 'where would I run' and 'where would I hide my children'. There is no escape from the war machines and they are utterly merciless. So, thematically the story digs deep into all our nightmares about pursuit by the beast and there being no escape or no way out. The central characters very much tune in to Spielberg's 'anger' at his father's absence and Cruise's guilt as a divorced dad. The desire to do your best for the children is a powerful motivating force here but it stays the right side of sentimental until the very, very end. Given the nerve jangling that has been done up to that point it is something of a blessed relief and coincides with the appearance of a couple of familiar faces so it is forgivable... almost. Enough said. Thank God there is no waving of a star spangled banner anywhere. These are people in a situation. Nationalism doesn't enter into it.
The acting, across the board, is top notch. There were only a couple of stereotypes amongst the characters and one or two clichéd moments. Most consistent through out the film is the sense of menace. In this respect Spielberg really turns up the heat (ray?) on the audience. At one point - you'll know when you see it - my heart rate was elevating and I was genuinely afraid. Geez, I'm a grown man. A film hasn't done that to me for decades. You just want to tell the characters either to:
1) Keep running! Do not stop! or 2) For goodness' sake BE QUIET! They will hear you!
Indeed, the fact that you feel the need to interact with the characters that way suggests the narrative is, at the very least, compelling.
References to the original novel, Orson Welles' 1938 Radio script, George Pal's 1953 version and even Jeff Wayne's musical version from 1978 abound. They are all so well integrated that they are variously a delight and a terror to recognise.
Of course it is the visual spectacle of the alien war machines that draw one the most. They are so massive - immensely tall - and they make a noise like the last trumpet being blown on Judgement Day. They literally made me tremble. I kid you not. That noise is going to seriously blow some home theatres come Christmas/New Year or whenever the DVD arrives.
The aliens themselves... Hmmm... OK. Better than Willy Lump-lump in 1953, better than in 'Independence Day', perhaps a little low on the 'satanic' scale, if you know what I mean. I can already hear the die-hards here complaining about the CGI. Whatever, their 'short' comings are made-up for by their vehicles. And then some.
I write here as one who has just 'experienced' the film first time and no doubt additional viewings and time will modify some of these responses. I do ,however, believe that this is one of Spileberg's best. He hasn't frightened me so much since 'Jaws'. He hasn't played with my nerves so much and freaked me out so completely EVER. Imagine the tension of the T-Rex's first appearance in 'Jurassic Park' and then string it for the ENTIRE movie. Exhausting and terrifying.
Loved it.