Comments on Ending (Spoiler ONLY if you're familiar w/ original)

Rating: 9/10 (1 July 2005)

My only hesitancy in going to see this movie is that I hated the way the original WOTW ended and assumed this would similarly disappoint. If you've seen/heard the radio version from the 30's or the movie version from the 50's, then you know what I'm talking about. The ending--including the voice-over my Morgan Freeman, who has the same timbre as Orson Welles--is very true to original story. After all, this is based on an H.G. Wells novel and don't you just hate it when a movie changes key plot elements? If you don't like the ending, blame H.G. Wells and not Spielberg.
That being said, I went to see this newest iteration and absolutely loved it. And surprisingly, I found myself not minding the ending as much as I have in the past, maybe because it was what I expected or maybe because that real life endings are also a little askew of expectations or wants..
Thought the story, the acting, and the special effects were absolutely A+. Yeah, there were a few inconsistencies and some nit-picky things I didn't care for, but this is in my top 3 for the year so far (Cinderella Man is #1 by far)... A nice holiday weekend escape.