War! was is it good for?...passing 2 hours in a dark room

Rating: 7/10 (17 July 2005)

I had to watch Spielberg's take on 'War of the Worlds' twice,as I am a fan of his work, and of the original novel. The first time I saw it I didn't like the film because,I have read others say, there was no explanation of alien/martian intent,it seems the who,why & wherefore's were left to the viewer. However the second time I found myself warming to it,and caring about the Ferrier's(Tom Cruise & kids) situation. Steven Spielberg is no doubt a master of cinema,and is not afraid to splash out on special effects for that all round roller-coaster ride that he does so well....but my main quibble still stands, Would it have been so difficult to place the story in it's proper time frame and setting (Victorian England)instead of using the phrase I hate most 'oh,It's an American Modernization of ....'.As I say, It may not be to everyone's taste,but I can think of worse things to see at the cinema!