the ULTIMATE disaster flick

Rating: 8/10 (29 June 2005)

Forget Independence Day. Forget Day After Tomorrow. This is by far the best action/adventure/summer blockbuster I've seen in a long, long time. Spielberg has always been at the forefront when it comes to special effects and action, but here I was just blown away at the sheer magnitude and affect the movie has toward the audience. The genius of this film, however, doesn't lie in the CGI -- which is impressive, in fact, VERY impressive -- but in the close-ups and facial shots of Tom Cruise and his family, as they watch in horror as their world gets obliterated piece by piece. The background story about Tom Cruise being a crappy father was excellent in and of itself, and had me rapt from the first shot of Tom, a smug blue-collar guy welcoming his listless kids for a week-end with dad that'll change everything forever. I haven't read the novel, but my brother has, and he says that the movie does a perfect job of retaining the essence of H.G. Wells' classic book and updating for modern times. To sum it all up, I can't remember a time in which I had more fun at the movies. Enjoy.