This is the work of a master movie maker?

Rating: 3/10 (5 December 2005)

WARNING....This whole thing might be considered a spoiler so, be forewarned!
It's hard to believe that Steven Spielberg is regarded as a world class director after watching this mess of a movie. If I did work this sloppy I'd be dumpster diving for dinner.
Why do the digital cameras work after Spielberg went to such lengths to show us that all electronic devices (including Tom's watch) are kaput after the lightning storms?
How does a jumbo jet crash right next to the house and not incinerate the house, the van and everything else in the vicinity?
Why is there always a clear path for the mini-van? A highway full of stalled cars, a neighborhood with a crashed jet and yet there is more than enough room for Tom and the gang to easily pilot the mini-van through the carnage. (Well, at least it was a mini-van, Spielberg could have gone all Bruckheimer on us and made it a Hummer or some other macho rolling lifestyle.)
And what is it with this recent habit of film makers to make these meandering films and then paste on a fifteen minute ending that neatly wraps up the past two hours Cliffs Notes style? I nearly threw my drink through my screen when "oldest boy with attitude" reappeared in Boston. (Which wouldn't have been a real bad thing since I'm looking for an excuse to buy me a fancy new TV.) And we're to believe that these super sophisticated space travelers have waited for and planned this invasion for millions of years and then forget to bring the NyQuil?
Thankfully Cruise had his meltdown while promoting this piece of junk and turned people off enough to kill it at the box office. Maybe it was intentional? The lack of special features on the DVD release would indicate that no one had any interest in spending anymore time on this dreck and just wanted to dump it on the market ASAP.
All I can say is that if this is the kind of movie Spielberg is willing to spend time on these days, give that man a hobby.