Disappointing.... Defiantly not a Must-See

Rating: 4/10 (9 December 2005)

I was excited when I heard that War of the Worlds was going to be coming out, but I must say I was very disappointed with the movie. I was expecting a lot of action and a very innovative story coming from Spielberg. When a movie has the word "War" in it, it should actually include some war or battle scenes, or at least action! As you watch this movie, you will notice that there will be only 2 or 3 actual fighting scenes, the rest of the time, it is just Tom Curse and the kids running and hiding. Most of the time, in a basement. The story needed more action. There weren't many explosions! If aliens were to invade our planet, I don't think the US would only send 2 Abrahams and a few Humvees...
The characters were also very bad. The characters chosen for this story are just not right. A bad parent that doesn't change at all throughout the story? Kids that just cry and complain? In an alien invasion film? If there was a point to these characters, I didn't see a clear one. I thought the acting was bad throughout most of the movie as well. Dakota Fanning will get on your nerves. The whole basement scene (the second one that is) really could have been taken out and I wouldn't have missed it. In this movie, there will be a little bit of excitement, and then all of a sudden, hiding in a basement.
The alien designs and ship designs were pretty cool. They were defiantly innovative, but the plot was just so boring, you never saw them!
4/10- for the lack of action and bad characters/acting. Don't waste your money on it, but if your neighbor has it, worth seeing once.