Vintage Spielberg ... from its subtle humor to its child's-eye perspective

Rating: 8/10 (29 June 2005)

You will love it! Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, and Tim Robbins are the heart and soul characters that make it all work. H G Wells' famous tale is converted into a "coming of age" film here, courtesy of Mr. Spielberg.
Specifically coming of age are Cruise's son Robbie (Justin Chatwin) and daughter Rachel (Dakota Fanning) (who delivers the best one liners in the film). Ray Ferrier (Cruise) seeks only to protect his family; son Robbie seeks only revenge, first against his Dad and vicariously next against the aliens. Eventually, Robbie joins the battle that his father knows we cannot win. Spielberg touches a modern nerve here in this doomsday scenario.
He delivers a "war" that immerses the audience's angst of natural disasters, terrorist attacks and the anarchy that would logically result when life loses its balance Â– all delivered under dark, dreary skies. The film invests winning elements of Independence Day and Men in Black (without as much delightful repartee - regrettably). It's on par with both as an entertainment barometer.
Tim Robbins is brilliant (!) as the hospitable nemesis, Ogilvy. At one point, he declares: "This is not a war. This is an Extermination," with his flare for extracting all that is bleak and pessimistic from a situation. It's a great role filled by the perfect player.
This is vintage Spielberg, from its subtle humor to its child's-eye perspective. For example, as the city is being trashed by the aliens, the camera pans a "No Littering" sign. The initial attack yields dialog like "Â… is it the terrorists again, Daddy?" And you learn that the average Dodge Caravan is every bit as durable as a Hummer when TriPod machinery is at the height of its vicious attack. No one captures a child's terror and reactions better than Spielberg's lens. He's the Master.
Cruise throws only one tantrum on screen involving an unwarranted peanut butter sandwich. Glib as this standalone scene is, it refreshed my memory of his Today Show antics opposite Matt Lauer on issue of "dealing with psychological imbalance, drug-free". I think he could have used a pill.
When the moment is right, like the story magician he is, Mr. Spielberg taps his magic wand and wraps up the fairy tale for the fantasy ride it has beenÂ…a bit too unbelievably as you will see for yourself - which is why it earns an 8 instead of a 10. See it soon.