Frightening but great movie.

Rating: 8/10 (6 March 2006)

I viewed this firstly on the big screen, and was on the edge of my seat! And that doesn't happen often, although it did during the heavy horse charge in Braveheart, and during Forest Gump when he was caught in the artillery bombardment.
I think it lost a bit of impact on DVD, but I found it great entertainment again, nevertheless.
The overall visual effects made this film, but that is all part of great movie making, that Steven Spielburg is - as always - brilliant. Yet the screenplay was also a unique interpretation and I think it improved on the original novel and the 1953 film. It modernised it really.
I felt Tom's character was interesting. Because it seemed to highlight his parenting ability developing during an alien catastrophe, that struck a cord with me a parent. I thought that was admirable actually and added a deeper human dimension to the screenplay and Tom's character.
Overall, I have given it no higher than 8 because I thought it was a bit gory in parts. But I loved the philosophical ending, that has a sound scientific basis. 'What hasn't evolved naturally on this planet, wasn't meant to exist or survive here'. So I hope any ET out there with an appetite for humans, sees and digests this film's message before they come and sample for themselves.
Pat