"They've been planning this for a million years. And these are only the first. They'll keep coming. " - Harlan Oglivy

Rating: 7/10 (6 July 2005)

Whenever Steven Spielberg comes out with a new movie it's always a big thing. I mean, although Spielberg is a little bit of a sell-out in my book (that thing he did with E.T. was absolutely insane), he's still an extremely talented film director. He's given blockbusters such as Jurassic Park and Jaws, and has given us Oscar-contending masterpieces such as Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan. It seems no matter what film Steven Spielberg produces or directs, whether it is great or kind of so-so, they are always entertaining. Well, 'War of the Worlds' has it's number of flaws, but one thing you cannot say about it is that it isn't consistently intriguing and entertaining.
'War of the Worlds' is a remake of the 1953 film with the same title (which was based on H.G. Wells' legendary novel), and it is pretty much about the end of the world. It follows two children, Rachel (the undeniably talented young Dakota Fanning  Hide and Seek, I Am Sam) and Robbie (Justin Chatwin  Traffic: The Miniseries). It's their weekend to be with their deadbeat dockworker dad, Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise  The Last Samurai, Minority Report), who lives in the beautiful state of New Jersey (you sense the sarcasm in my tone?). The kids stay with Ray, while their mom, Mary Ann (Miranda Otto  Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King) and her new boyfriend go to Boston to visit Mary's mother. The kids have kind of a rocky relationship with their father; Rachel is kind but distant, and Robbie has nothing but contempt for his father. In the middle of a family emergency, mysterious lightning strikes and changes the world we live in forever. Enormous battle ship type machines emerge from the soil of the earth and start firing lasers at random citizens that turn them into ashes in a second. In the machines, are aliens who have been beamed down from the lightning and into the machines to exterminate our race and have Earth for themselves. Needless to say, Ray's problems with his family become kind of mute when blood-hungry aliens start attacking earth. Ray, Rachel and Robbie take off to Boston to find Mary Ann in a battery-powered minivan, while desperately trying to escape aliens (they have the only car that works because everything gas-powered and electrical has stopped working). The film becomes for-the-most part an entertaining adventure flick, but kind of drags during some unnecessary family feuding between the three. During their journey, Ray and his kids hide in a farmhouse basement in upstate New York that is inhabited by Harlan Oglivy (Oscar Winner Tim Robbins  Code 46, Mystic River), a deranged/paranoid conspiracy theorist armed with a 12-gauge shotgun.
'War of the Worlds' garners extravagant and eye-popping special effects. The designs of the alien machines and the aliens themselves are very inventive and interesting to look at. I think it's safe to say 'War of the Worlds' will get some Oscar nominations for visual effects, sound, makeup or even art direction (set decoration). It's entertaining for the most part, but really drags during unnecessary and extremely boring conversations that try to be heartfelt between Tom Cruise's Ray and Dakota Fanning's Rachel. It may be the writing, but something tells me the problem was with the acting. Not to take away anything from Dakota Fanning, she does a remarkable job as to be expected, probably delivering the finest performance of the entire film. The problem lies with Tom Cruise. He's a terrible actor, and he stumbles through his role. He never really makes you believe he's in real danger, and that really kills a lot of the movie's would-be tension. Cruise always seems to play the same smart-ass cocky son-of-a-b*tch role, and it kind of gets to you after a while. I believe whole-heartedly they could have found someone better than Cruise for this role, Mel Gibson maybe (although he just did 'Signs'). Tim Robbins is perfect as the whacked out conspiracy theorist armed with a shotgun for the unfortunately limited amount of screen time he has (he doesn't show up until over half of the film is over). Miranda Otto is okay in a kind of a nothing role, but I wasn't too crazy about Justin Chatwin's stiff and disengaging performance. Morgan Freeman provides his voice for narration at the beginning and end of the film and that is a definite plus. Steven Spielberg does a good job directing this, and the screenplay is kind of alright for this kind of picture.
All in all, 'War of the Worlds' turns out to be a pretty good movie and a decent fare to see while it's on the big screen. It has it's flaws, but the good outweighs the bad in this action summer blockbuster. 'War of the Worlds' is worth seeing for the amazing special effects alone. It may not have Oscar-worthy performances, but it's a hell of a lot of fun if you just sit back and enjoy the ride. I recommend 'War of the Worlds'. Grade: B (screened at AMC Deer Valley 30, Phoenix, Arizona, 7/1/05).
my ratings guide - A+ (absolutley flawless); A (a masterpiece, near-perfect); A- (excellent); B+ (great); B (very good); B- (good); C+ (a mixed bag); C (average); C- (disappointing); D+ (bad); D (very bad); D- (absolutley horrendous); F (not one redeeming quality in this hunk of Hollywood feces).