Where did all that cash go?

Rating: 1/10 (11 August 2005)

They reputedly spent over $130 Million dollars on this movie. What the hell did they spend it on? They definitely didn't spend it on the Tripods. Half the time they're conveniently hidden behind buildings or shrouded in darkness or rain, a trick learnt on the superior Jurassic Park. The aliens themselves are a joke. After Spielbergs practically given up trying to make a movie and trapped Tom and Dakota with the ridiculous Tim Robbins in a basement for yet more money-saving scenes he reveals the evil monsters that have been the cause of so much destruction. The grey rubber guys waddle down and pass around photographs they've found "oooohh....ahhhh" and then a siren sounds and they waddle off for tea. Rubbish! The problem is that both Cruise and Spielberg rushed this into production after encountering problems on other projects and churned it out in six months. It further underlines the cynicism of the Hollywood Blockbuster machine that Spielberg practically invented. They have no respect for their audience, they think we'll pay to watch any old rubbish...and guess what. One can only hope that the disappointment felt by War of the Worlds audiences has lead to 2005's Summer turkeys Stealth and The Island and that the studios put a bit more effort into 2006.