Inferior to the 1953 version

Rating: 3/10 (26 February 2006)

The 2005 version of "War of the Worlds" is inferior in almost all respects to the 1953 version (except F/X of course), the acting is bad, the script lacks, the pacing is awkward and some of the plot elements are outright stupid
(SPOILER: the Tripods being buried in the ground without anyone ever stumbling across one???) and the movie felt a little like M. Night Shyamalan's "Signs", especially with the focus on one family). The F/X wasn't all that impressive either (and it's nominated for an Academy Award in the Special Effects category? ILM deserves it, but not for this movie).
Because it's Spielberg and John Williams' score, I give the movie 3 out of 10.