Disappointing!!*spoilers ahead*

Rating: 7/10 (1 July 2005)

*Spoilers ahead* When i first saw the trailer 3 months before the movie came out, i was eagerly anticipating this movie. In my mind, i was expecting another 'independence day' kinda movie, plus with tom cruise starring and Steven Spielberg directing. But it turned out to be disappointing. Very disappointing indeed.
The movie didn't really justify the title of the movie. I never read the book before but my guess is the book is totally different from the movie itself. Spielberg didn't make this movie as an alien movie but more of a struggles of a father trying to gain the respect and love from his son and daughter. So, for alien-invasion movie fans, you are in a for disappointment.
It didn't reach the proportions of 'Independence day' although the movie started out quite well. Tom cruise gave a good performance as a father, still trying to win over his son and daughter. Dakota fanning did very well too despite her age and the intensity of the movie. The action sequences are top notch, no doubt. Everything was going smoothly although at this point, everything was focused on one area being so-called exterminated, unlike from 'Independence day' where they show different cities being invaded. Then everything just focused on tom cruise character and family, trying to escape death and survive the onslaught.
The idea of the tripods coming out from underneath the earth is interesting but its not logical in my opinion. But then again, this is very subjective. So, the story doesn't really focused on the aliens or the invasion. That was disappointing enough. Then came the abrupt ending. This is where everything just crumbles. After the part where tom cruise blows up the tripod with grenades *wonders how he did it*, the next few scenes shows that the alien tripods were so-called self destructing. The reason that comes with it at the end when the narrator says that its the tiny living organisms(bacteria, viruses etc etc) on earth that causes the tripods destruction. Why? Why must it end this way? i can think of a much better way to end the movie myself. Like my friend put it, one hour of total destruction and 20 minutes of self destruction.
There is a message that Spielberg is conveying to us but it should not be through this movie. This movie could have been the movie of the year but sadly its not. Very disappointing. Initially, i wanted to give a 6 but due to tom cruise and the action sequences, i give it a 7 but just.