I expected too much...

Rating: 4/10 (3 July 2005)

I have seen the 1953 version many times and always enjoyed the story and special effects, which were very good for that year. I expected to see some great effects, especially from Spielberg and then...nothing. What happened? Did Spielberg just give up on this one? This movie really blows. I guess if you never seen the original movie, you may think this is a good film. You need to rent/download or buy the original just to see what this great story should look like on screen. -------------- Spoiler: Will somebody stop that little girl from screaming!! If the machines were underground all this time, don't you think somebody would have found one by now? The blood... Whats up with the blood thing? Who ever wrote this screenplay took too much license and screwed up the story. This is a classic story.You can change a little here and there to fit the modern times, but you don't completely leave the storyline. --------------- This movie will never amount to anything. Just a flash in the pan. George Pal did a far better job on this story than Spielberg. Hey, Steve...Time to retire. The only thing true to H.G.Well's vision is the tripod machines. If you look on the internet you will find many artist' conceptions of how Mr. Well's described these vehicles. In the original (1953) movie, the machines were sleek, cobra like hover craft with magnetic "legs" and green "death ray" tipped wings. Yes, this was a deviation, however, even so, the machines still followed the storyline. There are those who will say this is a new style for Spielberg and the personal lives of the characters are important and so.. Just don't use a classic to try these 'experiments in film making'. Find a new story to play with, leave the classic stories alone, after all, it's a cheap shot to TRY to improve on perfection.