Bore of the Worlds

Rating: 2/10 (3 July 2005)

Disappointing. The one scene that could have really made it was only implied. Did Ray kill the Tim Robbins character, or did the Tim Robbins character kill himself when trapped in a room alone with Tom Cruise/Ray....is Ray a scientologist as well....did he take a moment to try to bring Robbins character into the light????
I cannot fault the filmmakers....well maybe I can, this scene or something like it in the H G Wells book, I get the wanting to create suspense with the outcome but, I really would have preferred Tim Robbins to get it from an Alien.
Dakota Fanning delivered a knock out performance. She may win best supporting actress. Spielberg has a gift for finding young talent and making them deliver performances that knock your socks off. You cared about her, and it was pretty funny when she turned to her brother for support rather than her father...dysfunctional family party of 3 all separate tables please.
The effects were good, but the other characters, who cares, let them get spun around in the alien salad shooter.
How did Ray's son escape the carnage, last time we saw him he was running into ambush land with the mean ET's.
If Ray is so smart, why isn't he a scientist....oops he is a Scientoligist....does that count? I found the images of the downed plane a little to close to home, in the post September 11 world, a little too real. Honestly I think the Tom Cruise has taken it too far and his antics over Katie Holmes have really soured me on his works.
If Tom Hanks had done this film it would be a masterpiece, but Cruise just doesn't have the acting chops for diverse roles. He is like a lot of Hollywood leading men, they have one delivery and thats what you get regardless of the role.
The ending with its neat and tidy :30 second wrap up was also contrived. The kids are safe home with Mom, and step dad in a completely undamaged part of Boston. Finally the last thing I wanted to see was not delivered. When Ray brings the kid home, the grandparents who HATE him just stand on the porch like it was the milk man delivering a half gallon of milk. No, gee Ray, you are not a total screw up you saved our grand daughter....but no closure....maybe that will be in War of the World 2 When the Grandparents sue Ray for child endangerment.........