Billion Dollar B-movie?

Rating: 5/10 (11 December 2006)

Not a bad piece of lightweight frippery if you put your brain in neutral and don't expect too much. The original WOTW was supposed to be a production nightmare and if Spielberg had tried to stay very true to the plot, this would have been the same. Mind you, a lot of the characters, (and the plot!) seem woefully under-developed. Probably the biggest budget B-Movie ever made! The baddies are good (but strangely reminiscent of those in Independence Day!), the little kid is good, Tim Robbins does a fine cameo as bonkers bloke in the basement. Cruise was hardly right for the part, but I liked the bit where, short of parenting skills, he "sings" a duff "lullaby". For me, the main disappointment was the tripod legs appeared too 'organic' and wobbily; the HG Wells originals were a much more sinister, mechanical affair. Still pretty good though, liked the trombones, and the bit near the start with the SUV *punt!* made me laugh! This film passes the time, but if it left you feeling desperate for good old-fashioned hunker-down-with-popcorn Sci-Fi, check out any number of 50s B-movies. It came from Outer Space, the Blob, Robinson Crusoe on Mars, the list is endless, they're all a lot more fun, and will give you a radioactive glow for days!