Not Impressed!!

Rating: 5/10 (4 July 2005)

After all the hype - and because Spielberg is a favorite director of mine - I was expecting to be blown away by this movie. I was sorely disappointed! The story line was not solid. There were loose ends when it was over that left you saying, "Wait a minute! How did they...? How did he...?" There were unbelievable survival moments - that left you saying, "Oh give me a break!" The ending came too soon without enough wrap-up. It was just suddenly over.
Tom Cruise's acting was typical of every other role he's played - smart Aleck rebel. Dakota Fanning screamed just a bit too much in the one - and I really like her. I think Justin Chatwin (who played Tom's son, Robbie) did a pretty good job. He should be getting a lot of work in the future.
I went with five other people - and we couldn't even sit together because the theater was full. Separately, we all had the same evaluation - two thumbs down!! Overall, I would say this is NOT going to be the summer blockbuster of 2005. (That honor will go to Batman Begins.)