What Was He Thinking?

Rating: 5/10 (13 February 2006)

This movie is such a waste: not only of time, talent & money; but of a classic story. Now that Spielberg has poisoned the well nobody else can attempt to do it right for at least another 10 years. It doesn't even come close to the 1953 version. That version is one of the most cherished films of it's era. I give it a 5 because it's watchable enough but only 'watchable' from a director of his caliber; that's sad. I won't go into details, others have done far better than I could. Let me presume to tell the director what he should have done. First & foremost lose the pseudo-psychological family troubles subplot. People go to movies to lose their cares & escape for a while, not to be lectured to. Wells message in his story was more of a caution against man's lack of unity & of the unknown dangers of a suddenly very, very big & hostile universe. That's message enough. Second, the movie should have been set in the time that Wells lived & wrote. That's right make it a period movie. All the nitpicking over the science we now know is neatly avoided, the period setting would add interest & modern special effects would shine ever so much more brightly. If you can't do it right don't mess with it, these great stories belong to all of us. This movie barely avoids breaking up into a series of episodes. It was made quickly & strictly for the money & it shows. The movie is such a hacked up pretentious mess; you don't want to get me started.