Another Unnecessary Remake of a Classic

Rating: 6/10 (14 July 2005)

I have just seen "War of the Worlds" in the movie theater with my family, and I did not like it. The story is presented through the dysfunctional family of Tom Cruise's character, and that is the greatest problem of this remake: the lead characters are horrible! Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) is an unsecured divorced man, living alone like a pig in a nasty house, without hygiene or having bath before going to bed or washing hands before having meals, putting bread on the table instead of on a dish. Rachel (Dakota Fanning) is hysterical, with disgusting sharp screams, and although being a very young actress, she is histrionic in this film, recalling me a very young version of Glenn Close. I hope the problem is with the character, and not with the actress. Robbie (Justin Chatwin) is a ridiculous teenager, and the way his situation with his father is resolved in the end of the story is too much corny for my taste. Tim Robbins is wasted in the role of a lunatic. The special effects are the good part of this remake. I intend to see the original and naive 1953 "War of the Worlds" again with my son, to show him how an excellent movie is made without the necessity of a corny story. This 2005 version is another unnecessary remake of a classic, maybe to satisfy the ego of Tom Cruise. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "A Guerra dos Mundos" ("The War of the Worlds")