Was there some dark but topical subplot in this movie?

Rating: 7/10 (18 July 2005)

Recall what Ogilvie (Tim Robbins character) says at one point about how the Japanese in Osaka managed to take down a couple of tripods. We never learn how. Later, he asks "what is their weak point?" The question is never, directly, answered...
There is actually one fearsome technique that could have been used to attack the tripods as depicted in the movie: Their one weak point was that they had a habit of capturing humans alive and taking them onboard - inside their force-shields. In fact, Ferrier (Tom Cruise's character) almost does it, although the movie shies away from the conclusion and allows him to escape...
It's something the Japanese were very famous for - the kamikaze.