A solid film

Rating: 8/10 (20 August 2006)

I had initial reservations about War of the Worlds but Spielberg does not disappoint, the man certainly knows his craft. Unlike the abysmal Independence Day, I truly felt the sweep and magnitude of the cataclysmic extermination of mankind.
I thought the Tripods were very adeptly rendered on screen unlike most computerized effects, which still have a fake plastic quality. But it's human drama not special effects that make this a great film. Spielberg is unafraid to show the dark side of humanity in crisis situations. History has shown us how easily the veneer of civility can be swept aside in tumultuous times. Other reviews have been critical of Dakota Fanning's performance, but they have obviously never seen children in the real world. I've had the delight of a similar performance not too long ago by a young lady in a restaurant, and they're weren't even any people being vaporized.
Another strength of this film is showing everything from the Ferrier's point of view. There are no cuts to some underground bunker where scientists are quickly cobbling together a secret weapon to take out the aliens. Scenes experienced by our protagonists such as the bodies lazily drifting down a sunlit river and the rags of clothing floating down through the trees are deft touches that are far more effective than various monuments being blown to smithereens.
I can't help but think that some people are incapable of enjoying a movie unless everything is spoon fed to them. Spielberg is wise enough to leave some things to the viewers' imagination. If you're incapable of making that leap, I think that's a flaw in you, not in the film.