Out of the blue .... and quite funny sometimes

Rating: 8/10 (7 August 2006)

... would have been the better title (the work title as I heard) because then, this movie wouldn't suffer from so much underrating. Because coming down to it: the problem with "War of the Worlds" is that the title reminds of the classic novel and old movie on which this is loosely based upon.
Cruise and Spielberg made it clear, maybe not clear enough, that this is NOT a remake of the old tale. Well, it's actually closer to the book than the 50ies movie has been but that's beside the point. Problem here is that people compare too much and are unwilling to accept new approaches. What did they expect? The same movie we all have already seen, with younger actors and better CGI? Wrong place, because here you get a new spin on the tale.
We follow a man who is pretty much the average Joe, working-class guy, not much money, divorced and being visited by his ex-wife who looks down at him, followed suit by her new (rich) husband and the two children from happier times who now love the new daddy more simply because he can provide them with a brand new TiVo set to satisfy their television cravings even after homework. Sad for those kids, they have to stick with their real dad for the weekend while mommy and step-dad go and visit the grandparents of which both sides aren't really happy about. Especially the son loathes the father who once abandoned the family with his loser life and didn't keep mommy happy enough to stick by her man.
Anyway, the three aren't really given a chance to get used to each other in a normal life way as some Aliens from outer space decide to make a visit upon earth that very weekend with no intent of leaving. What starts like a "cool weather storm" turns soon into a massacre of unlimited horror (and cool CGI effects!!) where people left and right get tackled with a lightning that turns them to ashes. Our family better runs, no, DRIVES away as fast as possible. Since the son decided to loose their own car, they have to find another one which also happens to be the only working one around the area, so our family is in luck and the outrun the so-called Tripods that destroy everything in sight.
From now this is pretty much the story, they run, they hide in the Ex wife's deserted house, the electricity works in some places, in others it doesn't and the stolen car is of such great structure that it survives a jumbo jet using it as a landing place unharmed and wrecks the plane instead. Nice craftsmanship! So, they run from that house in that magical car until they meet a crowd that wants it... and they lose that car (nice scene by the way, very gripping - in the most literal sense).
They walk for some time until they check on a boat which wasn't such a good idea as they all take a cold bath and are back on their own feet again until they meet the military which the son uses to set himself apart from his fathers's cowardly running away attitude by storming into the fire to get grilled. Or so one would think by all the fire surrounding him suddenly.
Father and daughter find shelter with a strange guy who offers them food, drink, and the ability to strike back against the seemingly invincible aliens... with a shovel. Crazy? Yep, that's what daddy thinks too so he get's rid of the guy and focuses on catching some sleep until an alien snake with bright eyes wakes him with a stare. Or was it that deafening scream of a little girl using his ear as some anger management punching bag for voices?! Anyway, the snake drives the girl out of the house and the father is forced to turn into hero (sadly, because it was supposed to be about a RUN AWAY Chicken!!) but Hollywood wouldn't be Hollywood if it wouldn't turn an A-list star into hero at the last minute: so he saves the day .. with help from others but still.
Despite my sarcastic tone, I did still enjoy it, it was a fun way to spend a couple hours. Just do yourself a favor: DO NOT COMPARE this one to the original. See it as a whole new story and you might enjoy. I did. The acting was convincing to me. The story lacked somewhat. But isn't that so with ALL sci-fi movies?
Worst movie of 2005?! You must be kidding. There were far worse out there. Don't let real life get in the way and judge this on it's own account. Which really isn't all too bad.