Whopper with extra cheese

Rating: 1/10 (29 June 2005)

My family and I wanted our money back after seeing this picture. After all the pomp and hype from the self-righteous Steven and Tom's on-set Scientology controversy, 'War of the Worlds' failed to deliver.
The movie was overloaded with CGI and special effects that got in the way of the storytelling, which comprises of a single, woefully simplistic primary plot of a precocious, dysfunctional child who needs her mommy and her working-class-hero dad who delivers her. The forced bonhomie of Cruise throughout the exposition and Chatwin's questions about 'terrorists' and unexplained desire to join the army add unwanted cheese to an already convoluted palette.
Steven's penchant for self referencing is heavy handed in 'War of the Worlds'. Dakota Fanning is a ringer for Drew Barrymore and the basement scenes are updated versions of scenes from 'E.T.' The worst offender is the capsizing ferry, with hapless passengers being swamped under the spinning screws, a la 'Titanic'.
The editing of the film was rushed and sloppy, resulting in plot inconsistencies. We can look forward to an expanded special edition 'Director's Cut' DVD in the near future loaded with special features. The less than stellar editing pales into insignificance when compared to the abruptness of the ending.
Sadly, Steven Spielberg has now completed his trilogy of SF flops: 'AI', 'Minority Report', and 'War of the Worlds'. It's time he hung up his Yankees baseball cap, but if we know anything about Steven, he will continue to cash in as only he know how.