Best and most authentic Alien invasion film yet! Will be very different from what you expect!

Rating: 8/10 (5 July 2005)

No, Spielberg fortunately abandoned all these clichés and emphasizes suspense and realism. He has accomplished something, no other director of an alien film has before:
"War of the worlds" is very, very authentic, everything seems real in such a way, it is like a nightmare that could happen every day, every time.
Spielberg's directing as well as Cruise's and Fanning's acting brilliantly show the hopelessness and the helplessness of humanity. The characters more and more realize that there is no way out, as the film goes on. Cruise's character does what every other human being would do in such a situation, he runs, but every time he thinks, hes escaped the Aliens come after him and he realizes that there is no place on earth where one is safe and there's no weapon or instrument made by human hand, that could harm these invaders
No Alien- or disaster film had ever had such a scaring impact.
Yes, other such films might me about nothing more than running and screaming and "War of the worlds" is running and screaming all the time either, but the way, it is illustrated is different.
There are neither hero-clichés nor unnecessary love stories.
Other comments I have read criticize that there is no plot at all. Okay, there might not be a complex and emotional plot like in Drama films or thrillers like Fight Club or Schindler's List, but that's really not the claim Spielberg raises, it is solely the helplessness, Spielberg focuses on, and this works perfectly.
That might be the point why one half loves the film and the other half is totally disgusted by it. But I unfortunately cannot tell if one will like the film or not. I myself am more a fan of demanding dramas and sophisticated thrillers, but nevertheless I really enjoyed the film.
WARNING: minor SPOILERS following:
Unfortunately Spielberg isn't bold enough to consequently follow his style until the end. He regrettably lets Cruise heroically rescue his daughter from the aliens and shows the whole family happily reunited in the last quarter of the film which bedims the excellent impression.
Another downer was the fact that the aliens were actually shown, past alien films should have made clear that the showing of the unknown and scaring somehow let drop the suspension, so that was a little negative aspect.
SPOILERS END
Moreover the visual effects are stunning as expected, one shouldn't be put off by some bad reviews, my result is that the film is definitely worth watching, but "War of the worlds" is such a film that is liked by one group and hated by the other group and one cannot finally tell why. Give this film a chance, if for the single purpose of joining the discussion.