A triumph of Spielberg schmaltz over substance

Rating: 6/10 (14 July 2005)

Spielberg and Cruise are for some reason regarded as some awesome pairing of epic proportions. In terms of box-office receipts, this is empirically true but this film demonstrates that both actor and director are greatly over-rated.
This attempt to update the Welles classic is something that, on paper should work. The characters, plot and overblown special effects are all there to make this a watchable popcorn flick. However, it's as if the framework of a film has been constructed but someone has neglected to infuse it with any life.
Despite the fact the film spends most of its time looking at the main characters, there is no real sense of character development. They're either running or hiding. There is no real catharsis for any of them and no real tension.
The special effects are what one might expect of a summer blockbuster but they aren't really all that impressive as they lack any real purpose except to be there, much like the rest of the film. It's a popcorn flick that falls flat on all fronts.
It's not bad per se but simply lacks a certain energy, a joi d'vivre as it were that condemns the film to be nothing memorable and a rather hollow viewing experience. Suffice to say, that your time and money could be spent better elsewhere.