War of the Worlds (2005) - 24 scenes, 1h 55 min , mixed feelings

Rating: Null/10 (12 March 2006)

I was truly impressed by the first hour of the movie- it was dark, gripping, and very scary - I don't recall sound working as effectively as with the tripods just before their attack. The bitter irony of the scene with the crushed plane and the reporters who are interested in the sensational story above everything were appropriate. The mass hysteria, the panic, the desire to survive no matter what were shown very believably in the scene where Ray with the children in the car tried to get through the mad crowd - I think it was the highest moment of the movie - it all went downhill after that. I was not impressed by the "underground" scene - I think that the creators made a big mistake showing the aliens - these ridiculous creatures immediately brought to mind the dreadful "The Signs", and that was the last movie I want to think of or remember. The arm of the dead creature in the final scene was much more impressive. I also think that Tom Cruise was miscast - his youthful (very) appearance played against him, IMO - I could not believe that he was a father of these two kids. I also had a feeling that the movie became abrupt and out of breath in its second hour and in the same time slow and it lost its momentum. Overall - it's got some interesting moments but it could've been much better. It is not as bad and inept as some viewers describe it (again, "The Signs" is much more pretentious and stupid). "The War Of The Worlds" is just forgettable.
5.5/10