As a B-Movie it's pretty good

Rating: 6/10 (4 July 2005)

It's not the worst movie Spielberg or Cruise have ever made but it's certainly not one of their best. Some of the good things were the tripods. Glad they used those. Also the ray that blasts humans. Doesn't particularly bother me that the clothes remain and it's a nifty effect. But from there on it's the little (and not so little things) that snapped me out of suspended disbelief. 1. First time we see the things. Yeah, everyone is just going to stand around while this 200 foot death dealing machine jumps out of a hole in the ground. 2. The big plane crash. Remember Lockerbie? There was a 20 foot hole in the ground and not really much left to let you know there was a plane. And here practically the whole 747 is sitting on the front lawn. 3. Bodies in the river. Great visual but how did they die? All we've seen is people blasted to ash or they have their blood sucked out one at a time on solid ground. 4. Train on fire. Again a great visual but a train will stop once the engineer's foot is off the pedal. And I think we can assume that engineer is not only DEAD but there isn't a foot left to step on the pedal. This was a wasted moment. The train should have been slowing down and just stop right after passing the crossing or maybe better...block the way. 5. Oops...forgot about the ferry...GOOD scene...especially since our hero and family get whacked by a car as it falls off the ferry into the river. Not being sarcastic here...it is a really good scene. 6. If the invaders had buried their machines years...eons...whatever...ago you'd think they'd have gotten sick when they were here the last time and prepared vaccines for this time. Plus...why wait to invade? I'm sure there were other animals that would have served just as well as fertilizer. By waiting till earth was populated by an intelligent species capable of fighting them the invaders introduced the possibility of defeat. So even though the effects were good and Tom wasn't particularly bad and Steven did his tension and humor moments as good as he usually does them...it just kind of missed the mark. The writer and director got lazy and just went "it's a neat visual, it's doesn't have to make sense." So go for the effects...maybe you won't be as annoyed by the lazy lapses.