(Despite a few holes) this was one FANTASTIC "WAR" (minor spoilers ahead)

Rating: 9/10 (1 July 2005)

I was skeptical going into this, like many of you, I am sure. The Cruise/Holmes angle...the Spielberg losing his touch angle (at least with his last two films 'Catch Me' and 'Terminal'.) So imagine my surprise when this turned out to be THE blockbuster summer movie bonanza I had been waiting for. Spielberg is back....and oh is he ever with a vengeance. This is most definitely not the auteur Spielberg at his Saving Private Ryan Schindler's List best, but this is rock 'em sock 'em give-it-to-them-and-leave-them-breathless Spielberg who made us s*** ourselves at the thought of going near the water or the thought of EVER visiting a Costa Rican island with a codgerly old man who keeps talking about mosquitoes and petrified amber.
Let's get the obvious out of the way first. Yes, you've heard correct. The special effects are seamless and AMAZING. I am blown away at how effortless his team (with the help of ILM) make this stuff look. It will truly blow you away. The scenes with the bridges and tunnels and ferries (oh my!) will leave you feeling as if you just went through this ordeal yourself. Spielberg often has a knack for doing this with action flicks. Providing you with a sense that you are right there with the protagonist (or in this case protagonists.) The camera work is almost hap-hazard, if you will, shooting from P.O.V. angles that aren't always associated with your basic summer action flare.
That being said, the most surprising thing to me was the way I actually did sort of care about these characters. I had read reviews (critical) saying that the movie was a spectacle of effects (IOW, amazing to look at, but not much depth.) I have to say, I could not disagree more. Tom Cruise (playing against type somewhat) was not the "know-it-all Scientology guru" who has (in recent months) become more famous for his views on anti-depressants and Katie Holmes-tonsil hockey than his actual acting skills. His character was incredibly flawed, unskilled, a lackey, a loser, if you will. We see him with his kids (who obviously couldn't care less if they were with dear old Dad or watching paint dry), and we see that he hasn't the first clue how to care for them. He is more like a big kid himself, someone who has never been forced to grow up. Until now. Without giving anything away, I will just say that the scene where Tom Cruise's character Ray comes back from his initial encounter with the tripod machines is INTENSELY REAL. Both my friend and I commented that it was 10 of the most intense and unnerving minutes of the film. The reactions of Ray and his kids plays out realistically (frantically grabbing batteries and peanut butter?) while not knowing what to do or say. Dakota Fanning (Ray's daughter Rachel) will BLOW you away. Much like Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense, this just might be mainstream bravura Oscar-caliber.
It's not to say that this film is flawless. There are certainly several loopholes (how did the guy with camera have the only working electronic device in NJ exactly?) However, it makes for a pretty fun popcorn ride. I hate to really give anything away, for those of you who have not read the book or are unfamiliar with the plot, however, the film sticks pretty close to it. It's just nice to see it in the hands of someone like Spielberg, so that we can see a truly great action/adventure director return to form, and not leave the theater disappointed.
4.5 out of 5 stars.