This is why movies were invented

Rating: 10/10 (1 July 2005)

There's nothing more I hate than seeing hyperbolized 10 star reviews on this site, but I feel compelled to offer my first 10 out 10 for the outstanding War of the Worlds.
Not sure where to begin; the movie is virtually flawless. Having listened to a recording of the Orson Wells radio play as a teenager and enjoyed the 1953 movie version, I wasn't expecting anything other than another tired remake. Wrong! War of the Worlds represents a culmination of Spielberg's evolution as a director. Being one of the ten people on the planet who disliked the schmaltz of Close Encounters and (gasp) even E.T., I was prepared for the Hollywood-ization of this classic. I also feared what I'll term the Will Smith / Independence Day factor; that is, cool effects, caricatured heroics, and God-awful movie tag lines. I was not prepared for a movie of this caliber. Intense, but intelligent. Deviated from the other treatments by introducing a divorced man (Ray Ferrier, played by Tom Cruise) and his children -- yet this added to the film, rather than detracted.
The action and suspense are non-stop -- yet Spielberg adds a touch of good old fashioned quiet tension and suspense that would make Hitchcock proud. (An aspect of film making that seems all but forgotten in the popcorn/blockbuster era.) Dakota Fanning once again has me in utter awe of her acting abilities, turning in a believable performance under the most surreal of circumstances.
And here's another shocker -- Tom Cruise acting instead of performing. Mr. Cruise has gotten away with movie star roles that play up his charisma and personality. Some of his best acting in this movie transpired when he wasn't saying any lines! He encapsulated fear, paralysis, fatherly affection, confusion, doubt and a whirlwind of other emotions by the physicality of his performance. Justin Chatwin also turned in a fine performance in the role of Ray's alternately teen-heroic, rebellious, caring son. Teenagers are so rarely played this true to form.
The family aspects of War of the Worlds were in the right proportions to the alien invasion aspects. The special effects were awesome, avoiding the pitfall of bringing the viewer's attention out of the story and onto the effects.
Without giving any thing away, I will tell you that the most powerful aspect of this movie occurs in Act Two of the old radio play (completely absent from the 1953 film). This introduces Tim Robbins into the mix in a haunting performance. This movie introduces so many images and scenes of wide diversity, that I defy any movie-goer to be left undisturbed. But the movie is not overlong; nor does it feel like the situations are overblown or overused. Think Jurassic Park and Aliens -- now raise the stakes exponentially. It's truly hard to say who provided the scariest adversaries -- the aliens or the humans.
My only negative comment is on the rating. Should have been an "R." (And I am not one to be conservative.) This movie should really be screened before trusting it to your under-13 year olds.
Hat's off, Mr. Spielberg.