War of the Worlds

Rating: 1/10 (20 October 2008)

I have to say I was so disappointed with this movie. Spielberg took a lot of dramatic license with this movie not to mention they cast Tom Cruise in the main role. I do not find his acting to my taste and it will depend on each individual if they like his characterization. I felt the part of a deadbeat dad as an under theme a little cliché and predictable. Perhaps Spielberg was trying to create a theme within the story similar to the movie "Signs" where the crux of the film deals with a family and their interactions and problem solving skills under a situation that is totally unbelievable and horrific. What it demonstrated to me was that the children were spoiled, Cruise learned what it was like to take on responsibility and the Mother was totally inept not noticing that her children were brats. Granted they had a lot of animosity toward their Dad but they were disrespectful and rude throughout the whole movie and totally self-absorbed.
I am a big H. G. Wells fan but this movie reminded me of another that had machines that came up out of the ground. This isn't what happened they came from outer space in vehicles and in no other adaptation did anything come up out of the ground. Even the TV series didn't do that and the space ships were kept similar to the 50s movie, which was much better except for special effects. Why doesn't anyone place the movie in England??? Why do you have to modernize it? Do it like the book. Even the first one changed location. I didn't like the part Dakota Fanning played at all and didn't think she fit the role. I kept wanting to tell that spoiled kid to just shut up and the boy was totally in la la land. The children made a lot of the movie annoying. No father is as stupid as they portrayed Cruise,in my opinion.
The best part is in the basement scenes with Tim Robbins; he was excellent. I didn't like the idea that they put in the movie where there are children that the father went in and killed Tim Robbins character. They should have left or tied and gagged him. The ending in regard to the aliens was similar to the 50s movie. I don't remember the book but I think that was the same. I felt this adaptation was awful. I have watched it a few times and it grows on you but still in all I would think most Wells fans would hate this movie. Get off the Cruise kick and give newer, younger people a chance who can act better.