not the ultimate adaptation of Wells' classic, but...

Rating: 8/10 (29 June 2005)

Reading initial reviews, which range from the disastrously disappointing to near masterpiece status, let's ask ourselves a few questions. Is there really such a thing as the perfect film? The flawless ending? The greatest cinematic adaptation of a famed novel? Objectively speaking, probably not. My philosophy is take the good with the bad and the questionable. Then look at the movie as a whole. That said, this "War of the Worlds" is one for the ages. Far from perfect, far from Spielberg's best, but far better than what I had expected.
I've long been a fan of the H.G. Wells' book and many adaptations. You can imagine many fans have awaited this movie with excitement and reservations, for most fans envision their own "perfect version" of WOTW. It's really Duel/Jaws/Jurassic Park Spielberg in full throttle, using a slightly darker tone than previous movies and commendable script by David Koepp. The rest of this review contains what some people may consider spoilers. So for those unfamiliar with the source material, I apologize in advance.
I don't totally buy the possible idea that the invaders have been awaiting underground for eons to finally attack, but Koepp and Spielberg have their reasons for going this route rather than the conventional "cylinders falling from the sky" scene as envisioned in previous adaptations. The action, for the most part, is incredibly paced and merciless. Maybe there will be a "War of the Worlds" ride at the Universal Studios amusement park. How about action-model toy tripods? The tripods, though all CGI inventions, are fantastic. Spielberg knows how to build up suspense in certain situations, and does it masterfully in several scenes. And that ominous foghorn-like sound of the approaching machines.
Robbins does in a good turn, which seems to be a combo of the artilleryman and pastor's roles, yet with the astronomy Ogilvy's name, all from Wells' book. Great job with the mechanical tentacle that features an "eye" similar to that of the '53 flick. Acting is relatively good for summer sci-fi fare. Just forget about Cruise's recent behavior for a couple of hours and realize that, when the script calls for a cocky jerk-off, Cruise is your man. The youngsters, Fanning and Chatwin, hold their own opposite Cruise, particularly Fanning.
Rather than seeing destruction of the world from 1,000 points of view like in so many alien invasion movies, this WOTW is essentially faithful to the source material in that it portrays one man's (or in this case, one young family's) struggle for survival against a sudden, powerful and very relentless enemy. It's this personal take, along with the superb visual effects, that should be memorable.
Yes, Wells purists will pick at the absence of some crucial scenes or characters from the book. Or, yes, running a camcorder after an EMP attack. Or the somewhat clichéd Spielbergian final shot. What else would you do? View the Pendragon 3-hour, Victorian England, direct-to-DVD version with horrendous CGI effects, acting and directing? Ultimately, Spielberg rises to the occasion. Not Jaws or Close Encounters greatness, but close.