Spectacular downer

Rating: Null/10 (7 July 2005)

It's hard to describe this movie. In many ways, it's the most amazing special effects parade I have ever seen. Spielberg proves he is the best director in the world at putting together the big scene with lots of action in it.
And he certainly captures the mood perfectly.
Where the picture falls down, in my view, is the extensive subplot, which seems ripped right out of a made for TV movie on the Lifetime Channel. Divorced dad Tom Cruise may be caught up in the end of the world, but at least he gets to spend some quality time with his children. Big hugs all around! The acting is OK, although just once I would like to see Cruise play someone other than his stock, "cocky guy who gets religion in the end" character. But the ironclad rule of the Hollywood character arc seems to dictate that Cruise always be that guy in one form or another.
Aside from my complaints about him, there is the matter of Dakota Fanning. She screams a lot and when not screaming, is busy being a TV character. Is it impossible for Hollywood to create a child character who talks and acts like a kid and not a smart ass sitcom character? Lastly, my problem with this movie is that it is a very dark, not very pleasant story to watch. I was dazzled. I'll admit that. But I didn't have a good time and I have no desire to see this film again, where as I have seen the 1950s George Pal version of "War of the Worlds" many times and as corny and crude in terms of effects it is, its a much more fun film to watch. But for more fun on the sci fi level, see Howard Hawks 1951 film "The Thing" or the British "Five Million Years to Earth" or Don Siegel's original "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." All much more enjoyable exercises in movie going.