Visually, it's a great film...

Rating: 8/10 (21 July 2005)

First of all, I went to this film not expecting too much. I love the original WAR OF THE WORLDS, & don't think highly of remakes.
Visually, the SFX in this film are outstanding. This new version is all about breaking into new territory of the special effects category. Dennis Muren & ILM deserve big fat raises.
As for the acting...it wasn't good or bad...but fit the film. I didn't go to this film looking for great acting, & I'm sure most other people feel the same.
The new version was closer to the original story by HG Wells, so it does deserve credit there. As most know. we first see the aliens when they bust through the streets of Brooklyn in their buried walking *tripod* machine. This scene was outstanding. The streets cracking, along with a corner building & church was definitely fantastic. Then the cracked *circle* in the road got sucked down, & then...the buried machine comes out of the ground.
I first didn't know what to think since I knew the storyline about the hidden machines...but then after seeing the first to appear, I realized that they were down a lot further than I expected, since it took some time for them to climb out from the ground.
Then the actual invasion scene. BAM! The aliens start obliterate all humans in their paths. Their laser cannons are so powerful, that the victims are shot to ashes.
All in all, this was a very entertaining film. I definitely got my money's worth. This is definitely a popcorn flick; don't go to see it if you are going to nit-pick & try to find logic. Hey, anything is possible I guess...who's to say that there can't be a more master race than us humans out there. And you never know what is underground.