Pathetic

Rating: 1/10 (26 September 2005)

There is basically zero rationale for wasting money unleashing this nonsense on the Public, save for the special effects which for the most part are even worse. Character development is non-existent, and the stereotypes portrayed certainly have very little to do with Welles' masterpiece. The "special effects" seem solely to be a mishmash of "what hasn't been copied recently" and defy logic, let alone physical laws. A "heat ray" that disintegrates humans, yet leaves their clothes behind turns many scenes that should be terrifying into "black comedy", no one could be this naive. Like a Robert Ludlum novel, "War of the Worlds" will always remain at its best in print and trying to update it to the 21st century is folly at best. Do yourself a favour and listen to Jeff Wayne's 1976 musical version of "The War of the Worlds". In words and music you will transcend the vision that Welles intended you to to see, not the cheap car crashes and poorly conceived effects that this film will leave you with.