Great special effects, poor movie

Rating: 4/10 (11 July 2005)

If I just sat and watched those alien war machines walk around for 2 hours blowing stuff up I would have enjoyed this movie much much more. Some of the special effects were so well done you would have trouble knowing it was all CGI and green screens. And the effort to follow Wells's original story in todays New York was also quite admirable but after that it all just falls apart.
I see many of the quirks and out right plot holes have already been discussed, they are many and at times comical. The story feels like it was written and rewritten about 4 times and the movie itself at times jumps from one theme to another without making any sense. It seems to me that this all stems from trying to meld an alien attack into 9/11 and a subtle political message without doing either.
I don't wish to spoil this movie for anyone. If you like watching stuff blow up or you think Tom Cruise is sexy, by all means see this movie. If you care about plot, continuity, story telling, or common sense (tell those refugees to head AWAY from the sound of fighting not into it!!!) rent Mars Attacks! you'll get a much better movie for your buck.