Extremely Disappointing

Rating: 5/10 (30 June 2005)

I went into this movie with very high expectations, I mean, what can be better than a Spielberg Summer Blockbuster? However, this film just had to many flaws to go unnoticed.
There was barely any character development, and the acting was crap. I think Tom Cruise is nearing the end of his fame. Dakota Fanning was decent, but her character was annoying in parts. And what was with the sons obsession with seeing the military killing the aliens? I mean, there's all these people dying all around him and giant aliens shooting their life-sucking lasers everywhere, and he's in the middle of it all arguing with his dad about going up and watching it from the front line! There were also many other flaws, such as when all the electricity, cars, even Cruises goddamn watch stop working, yet there's still some guy on the street (and the reporters) filming with video cams. And what about when a giant plane, like a passenger airliner people, just lands on all these houses and there's absolute devastation everywhere, yet there's still a big clear path for Cruise and his family to drive their nice untouched car out of. Those are just two of the many many flaws seen throughout this film.
This is more of a "troubled family running from big killing aliens" movie than an actual "war of the worlds". However, I gave it a 5 out of 10 because if you don't really pay attention to the what-there-is-of-a-storyline and just watch it for the action and special effects, then its worth watching.