*** Official WAR OF THE WORLDS Review Thread

9/10

Steven Spielberg has crafted a sort of a sci-fi/holocaust that boasts fantastic work by Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning. For me, this ranks as one of Cruise's top two/three performances. It was interesting seeing him playing a deadbeat dad that has to rise above the situation to ensure the safety of his children.

Spielberg has essentially made a (very) dark version of 'Close Encounters' (with bits of "Signs" thrown in) that really amps up the terror after the initial assault. From there the movie becomes a survival story as Ray (Cruise) and his children (Fanning and Justin Chatwin) are thrust into a series of horrifying events.

The FX are breathtaking and ILM has once again outdone themselves. The attack sequences are both terrifying and spectacular as the alien invaders lay waste to all in their path.

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Despite the box office "slump", this summer has so far produced what I feel are three truly great movies in "Batman Begins", 'Revenge of the Sith', and now "War of the Worlds".

Just got back from the theater, and I'll rate this 8/10.

Cruise's performance was good, emotional but not sappy and although I have a problem with many Spielberg films in that the characters seem two-dimensional to me, the pacing of this film was such that I thought Cruise's character worked well.

Regarding the ending,
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Tough review. A technically flawless film that has some great moments, but is tough to watch. The performances are top-notch, the direction is sublime, and the story is good, though the narrative less so. Purported a more realistic take on the story, it goes "Hollywood" a few too many times for me. It also recycles scares.

That said, Spielberg is a master, and he plays the audience for all they are worth. There are some brilliant nail-biting sequences in the film. As stated, both Fanning and Cruise are exceptional (I would agree with Terry that Cruise has only done better work once or twice).

Often brilliant, occasionally silly, but never bad. It's still head and shoulders above the dreck we received as event films in the mid to late 90's. I know I sound very critical, but the film is well worth seeing, and a marvel to behold. Anchored by great performances and one of the most gifted directors of all time.

I wanted great, and got good instead. Hardly a crime

8/10,
Chuck

Steven Spielberg in top form.

War Of The Worlds is a rarity in the "disaster" genre. It's 100% serious without the fluff of other similar films.

It's a simple tale of a father protecting his children set against a backdrop of the end of the world.

This truly is a spectacular film. Full of action, terror, suspense and horrifying images. Definitely NOT for young children.

Tom Cruise is perfect here. Playing an everyman unlike any character I have seen him play, he gives just the right performance.

Dakota Fanning I am convinced will win an Oscar some day soon. She is amazing conveying such a wide variety of emotions with ease.

The visual effects are amazing as you have heard, but they are not overly spectacular for the sake of looking cool. They are spectacular because they look so tremendously real.

Don't go into this film expecting anything like ID4 or The Day After. This is hardcore serious sci-fi!

One of Spielberg's best.

I saw it today and was quite impressed. The film is relentlessly brutal in its portrayal of the "it's an extermination, not an invasion" theme. As others have mentioned, the spectacle of what's on-screen and the pacing definitely helps you get past some of the problems. Cruise and Fanning were absolutey superb, and one of the films strong points is that the narrative is viewed through the lens of three ordinary people caught up in the utterly fantastic events unfolding around them.

However, in retrospect I had problems with:

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Even with those caveats I *thoroughly* enjoyed the film. It was visceral, disturbing, and wonderful to look at. I loved the fact that things were NOT explained - along with all of the anonymous violence it kept the tension level high. I also appreciated that Spielberg respected the source material, sticking pretty closely to the ideas and concepts in Wells' original novel (critics of the films ending take note) while bringing the story forward into our timeframe. I also agree that this film is really pushing its PG-13 rating. NOT for the kiddies!

/ Ebert be damned.

War of the Worlds
9 of 10 (no spoilers)

For the first 2/3 of the film I found myself watching one of Spielberg's most powerful films ever. The power and emotion of human loss attempting to rival even Schindler's List at times, nevermind "death for fun" action films like ID4. Instead I felt hand-wringing terror as Cruise and family endlessly attempted to escape an alien force of pure terror.

Along the way the film makes it clear that the alien invasion is really just a metaphor for any crisis that strains the relationship between a bad father and his two kids, that brings out the weakness of this man and reinforces what his children badly need from him.

It is truly Cruise's journey of character as he learns to be responsible and learns the importance of having something to live for. And as a backdrop we are invited to watch the real nature of man facing destruction, both the good and the bad.

But then the film hits some snags. Where the scenes had been flowing well they suddenly become forced. The metaphors, while not subtle, were solid. Yet as the film looks to wrap up the story and the character arcs it begins to rely on rather forced scenes to make its points. Even early on it has a couple of places where exposition scenes are forced in when they aren't really needed.

And the finale, while consistant, is depicted in a sickeningly Spielberg happy-ending manner that undermines much of the real horror seen before that point.

However, let me again stress that for much of the film before that point, before a rather cliched "escape" near the end, the film HAD been rather horrific and violent, with lots of blood and cruelty implied or just off camera. For a guy that took guns out of FBI hands for the ET update, Spielberg here pulls few punches. I'm not entirely sure this would be a comfortable viewing for younger children.

With this one he came out strong and lean and for the first half or so I definitely felt a "Jaws" or "CE3K" vibe, it seemed that good. Too bad he couldn't maintain that level. Still, very strong work and a great version of the story.


My problem with the ending for those who have seen it
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Sadly, I found War of the Worlds to be average, at best. A 2.5 out of 5.

Instead of an exciting movie about an alien invasion, it's a dreary-looking film about a regular Joe who learns how to be a good divorced dad. The special effects are remarkable, but there are curiously few big set pieces that a movie such as this needs. Why Spielberg pulls away from the intense action is a mystery. Paul Verhoeven would have been a better choice to direct this one.

The opening 45 minutes (or so) are scary and dynamic and had my hopes way up - even Cruise was doing a good job (in his "scared" scenes in this section he seems to be channeling Steve McQueen from The Blob - that's a good thing). But then it takes a drastic wrong turn with an interminable encounter with Tim Robbins and a by-the-numbers "Tom's the hero" rescue sequence.

H.G. Wells, Orson Welles, and George Pal have nothing to worry about.

Despite having a lame (3/4 finish) and horrible typical Hollywood suspension of disbelief ending after it's wild and strong 30 minutes start, compared to the horrible Lost World (1/5) & Independence Day (1/5) though, War of the World gets an extra (2/5 for disappointing) not necessarily for having a much smarter or more inventive or more compelling screenplay but for having overall a better special-effects.

Oh yeah, (Spielberg did it again) aliens invaded the world and tried to exterminate all human beings on sight so that (neglectful) father could reconcile with his (bitching, whining, hard-headed, heroic and forgiving rolled into one) children. Yeah right. Sigh ... Yawn ... #$#@### annoying, that family issue is just uncomfortably distracting!

War of the Worlds (out of 5)

One word... brilliant!



I agree. For me, there has never been a greater summer for movies.

I echo the sentiments of David and Terry. This summer has provided me with 3 of my favorite movies to come along in years: Revenge of the Sith, Batman Begins and now War of the Worlds. Spielberg shows in this film that he is one of the most talented filmmakers in history and when it comes to all out visual assault, he may very well be THE BEST EVER(and I say that as a die-hard Star Wars fan). I can easily put this movie in his Top 5(along with Raiders, Jaws, Saving Private Ryan and Jurassic Park). The visuals in this movie can't be described; you just have to see this film to understand how amazing it really is. While I agree that the ending could have been much better, the rest of this movie had me on the edge of my seat in complete awe. This is Spielberg at his best and I really don't know how CGI/special effects could ever be done any better than they were in this film. I originally thought ILM would win an Academy Award next year for Revenge of the Sith, but now I have to retract that statement and say that they'll win it for War of the Worlds. Hands down, no question this is the best work ILM has ever done. This is a film that must be experienced on the big screen and I give it my highest recommendation.

We went to the big Dallas theater to see Batman Begins but it was moved to a different screen so we took in WOTW.

Like many here, I loved alot of it, but I'll start with the minor bad stuff. There are some moments that were unnecessary. Eventhough I understand the sequence of the Tim Robbins scenes, all I saw for most of that was Tim Robbins. This is being over picky, but it reminded me of seeing Ted Dansen in Saving Private Ryan. Just pulled me waaaaaaaaaaaay out. But a short lived thing.

Certainly, WOTW works on alot of different levels. One way, and it surprised me was how scary and frightening it was. I mean, I was really terrified at times-as were the people I was with and the audience. The amount of horror and display of that was a good move by Spielberg. Effective.

The dead beat father story works too. I had my doubts since the premise is predictable. But to the actor's credit, it works and is believable and touching. The young girl, who has gobs of screen presence, is terrific. Cruise is great as usual. Even understated at times. This was not a film about Cruise being a big time save the day hero (except for one moment or 2) this was about a man doing what was necessary-realizing what was really important; then making decisions based on that. It works.

The action was indeed incredible. There's probalby not a better director around to do this. There are some steals from Minority Report but thats ok.

The ending Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

I'm going to start using a 10 scale rating system like many here do. So I give War of the Worlds a

9/10

BTW, the bass was incredible . This will be the new champ for subwoofers. Not only loud bass, but deeeeeeeep- chair moving bass.

/

I mostly agree with Seth, mid-way through I was convinced that this could be an instant classic....but oh that ending, jeesh. The movie did a great job of showing that "disaster" in the movies wouldn't just affect cities, and the countryside scenes were by far my favorite....reminded me in ways of Red Dawn, the way it is so shocking to see "war" in the countrysides of America.

And the middle reels reminded me of what I had forgotten since the last time I saw Jaws: Spielberg can be a master of horror and suspense when he wants to be. The one scene in particular that really struck me was Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

9/10

it was simply put, an intense experience.
i had absolutlely no complaints about the way the material was handeled at all.
the movie did slag a little with the introduction of the Tim Robbins character, but it also provided a key event that illuminated the Tom Crusise character, and made him even more vivid.

i really don't get some of the criticisms on this one.
i would be among the first to criticize Spielberg in the past for sentimental pandering, but this film is defintiely not in that category.

for me this was vintage Spielberg- the same judicious craftsman that gave me Jaws, Close Encounters and Raiders.
WOTW is right up there with them.


can't wait to experience it again.

there's very little i can comment on without spoiling it, but man, Speilberg is a master at suspense. such an intense movie. loved the music.

Saw it and also give it a 9/10.

Thought it was the most nerve-wrenching movie I've ever saw (or at least, that I remember of).

Some goofs does prevent me from giving it a 10, but nevertheless, this was a suberb experience. The tripods were really scary, and I hope to God if aliens ever come to earth, they will be more like E.T. (not sure the tripods can be tamed with Reese Pieces)

My top 5 of 2005 (for now);

1- Revenge of the Sith
2- War of the Worlds
3- Crash
4- Batman Begins
5- Sin City

06/29/2005
35mm - Grauman's Chinese

This was the first film I've seen in Grauman's famous Chinese theatre, and the sound was absolutely the best I've ever heard, what an absolutely AMAZING theatre! Too bad it's so damn expensive.

The film itself is excellent, and the lightest sci-fi that Spielberg has ever done. That's on a science fiction/ideas scale not on actual tone of movie scale. But then that's because this is from one of the stories from the infancy of the genre, so it's not really an issue.

Neither is the 'ending' an issue because that's the way this story has to end. What is an issue is:
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Adam

I didn't quite like it that much.

Good start (mighty nice special effects), sagged in the middle, and peters out at the end. At one point, I was still trying to figure out why the audience would care about the family of Tom Cruise's character, Ray, over any other family in the film. The film just never bridged that emotional connection for me. I get the "everyman" quality that was embodied by Ray's family, but none of it truly resonated with me, and their continued survival didn't much impact the conclusion all that much either as it wraps up a bit too tidy, and I was left with a "Eh..." feeling.

I give it 2.5 stars, or a grade of C+.

Terribly stupid I thought.

I know the original Wells ending was silly, but Spielbergs version really begs the question of...

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Also, I found the constant running and basment hiding boring. But that's me - and whatever.

except for the first 20-30 minutes, dreadfully terrible...ending angered me in a way that few movies have...I expected much more...

This was a winner for me, overall ; along with SIN CITY, it's the best of the year's blockbusters so far.

I don't really get everyone's problem with the ending.In Spielbergian terms it's very far from sentimental, given that it's a blockbuster. It's quite possible that certain areas would still be untouched. War's like that - it doesn't make sense. And what a dark message Spielberg's smuggled in alongside all the mayhem ; the way in which Cruise's character becomes compromised was very daring for a big-budget movie. I'm still quite shocked by it, and it's that that stayed with me at the end.

All that aside, this is a blockbuster, not an art house movie, and it delivers in spades. Yes, it suffers a little from the fact that the first half-hour is SO incredible that the more intimate focus of the second half could seem anti-climactic. But I think that'll make more sense to people on their second viewing.

For me it's just so refreshing to see a film with clear, well set-up action sequences. I liked BATMAN BEGINS but the action sequences were just incompetent, imo, and I despair at how few directors know how to do them these days.
This most recent phase of Spielberg's has been exceptional. Many of the films have been flawed but they've all been interesting and I admire the man hugely for not just resting on his laurels. With WAR OF THE WORLDS he's returned to the kind of fare he made his name with, but he's a changed man. For those of us who felt THE COLOUR PURPLE (and HOOK of course) were the nadir of his career, it's a change for the better.

Thank god others feel the same way. I thought I was the only one. In my mind, Spielberg has completely lost it. I haven't enjoyed any of his movies since 1998 and that was Saving Private Ryan. It's like he's taken the aspects of his older films that people loved and given us the quick and dirty vesions of them. Emotions for Dummies, if you will. Everything is simple and everyONE is a stereotype. Tom is the "bad father." Dakots is the "annoying but loveable daughter." The son is the "rebellious teenager." Tim was the "seemingly-drunk crazy." They're all two-dimensional. Even his beginnings feel like a huge set-up. And my god, how many times do we have to watch EVERY SINGLE PERSON or THING near Tom Cruise get obliterated but Tom Cruise? I know he's Tom Cruise and all and you have to suspend disbelief a bit but this pushes it over the top. Even Dakota, who I ADORE in everything she does, was someone that I just wanted to slap and say "shut up" to. And then ending? What else can be said that hasn't already been said...dumb, overly sentimental and a complete let-down. That and the special effects weren't nearly as well integrated as I expected them to be. I'm trying to find one redeemable moment in the movie and I can't. Just tragic what has happened to Steven. How the mighty have fallen.

D+....at best.

In a career that has done nothing but evolve, unfold and move forward in surprising and always interesting ways, the most surprising thing about "War of the Worlds" isn't that Spielberg is tacking "bad aliens" or that he's finally making the full-scale disaster movie that's always seemed slightly beneath him. The surprise is that "War of the Worlds" is a reversion, for Spielberg. This movie combines both the best AND the worst from his first two Jurassic Park movies, and amplifies those elements two-fold.

You could do worse than to "revert" back to some of the biggest and best popcorn-chompers in recent cinema history, and what he gets right he gets REALLY right. The initial invasion, the interplay between Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning and Justin Chatwin all seems very easy, very unforced, and Spielberg's direction here is superb. As a matter of fact, the low level dread and gut-churning tension he grows during the first 45 minutes is honestly, right up there with the best moments of Jaws, if not actually a little more horrific due to the expert matching of imagery and sound design. If you'd have told me that "War of the Worlds" would elicit more dread and fear than "Land of the Dead" I'd have laughed at you. But it's true. And if this movie doesn't win for Sound Design, nothing should.

As a matter of fact, the first 45 minutes as Cruise and family run and stress and stressfully run, is so effectively shot and edited that it compensates for the following hour and 10 that can't help but shine a huge spotlight on the mediocre story underneath. It's not so much that you're willing to FORGIVE the movie for such blatant Spielberg-isms (specifically his over-use of the "heroic immunity." which might simply be a warm-up exercise to prepare you for the big deus-ex-machina that is the ending of both Wells' story and this movie) it's that he's knotted the guts up so much that you're twitchy and nervous and wondering what the hell just punched you in the stomach, so much that you're not really paying attention to where the movie is going wrong.

But the movie does go wrong, in a fair number of places. The characters are flat-lines, and mostly irritating as hell, even down to Dakota Fanning's portrayal of the daughter. She has perfected the wide-eyed frightened reaction shot, and that's one of Spielberg's best used special-effects, so to speak, but even she starts to grate after about an hour and 10. Cruise's character grates immediately, but that's his character, so it's not so bad. Unfortunately, you're also led to believe there will be some sort of arc--but there isn't. He succeeds by accident the entire movie. And Justin Chatwin plays the sullen son adequately, but the sullen son is such an irritating, maddening archetype that's employed in this movie at it's most annoying, that his character suffers for it. Tim Robbins' character actually has more development and arc in about 15 minutes of screentime total than the three leads.

And while Spielberg is great at, and rightfully admired for, inserting little moments here and there that you like in spite of their corniness and convienience, with this movie, he misuses those moments painfully. They usually work as garnish, as that little extra something on top, that pushes a scene from good to great. In this movie, they're more often than not the ENGINE to push the plot forward, and the movie gets steadily more rickety because of that, until finally the movie collapses inward under it's own weight in the last 10 minutes.

But then again--so did Jurassic Park. And like Jurassic Park, you'll find yourself remembering the awe-inspiring and jaw-dropping set pieces and sound and editing work before you remind yourself of the numerous plot holes and the ciphers of character at the center of the movie. It's an uneven effort from Spielberg. Luckily for us, even an uneven Spielberg effort easily trumps most director's good films. It's worth watching, even for its flaws. The imagery is that powerful, and the FX work is so good, it'd be a shame not to catch it in the theater. That first 45 minutes will stick in your head long after you've left the theater.

I wanted a remake of this movie for one reason. A big honkin' battle scene between the military and the aliens with updated special effects containing every piece of hardware known to man--and I didn't get it (I'm guessing the deadline that Spielberg and Dennis Muren were under had something to do with that). That's the only reason I go to movies like this. I don't really care much about plausibility and such. Just blow me away. It came close, but it didn't quite get there. It was ok on its own, but it's not the remake I was hoping for.

I went to see this film with lots of expectations after watching several trailers which were great.

One word: Terrible.

I am utterly disappointed, and also very surprised to see that this film gets very high ratings here.

The name of the film is even misleading. War of the worlds?? Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Actually I was afraid to see the film tied up like this. It's always difficult to end a film like this because it's a very hard story really. Aliens invading the world; if the director puts it the way it's done in this film, i.e. big superiority of alien technology against humans, there's only one easy way out of it and that's also the most stupid one: Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

The performance of Tom Cruise was great. And the first half of the movie was good as well. That's what is positive about this film only IMO.

3 out of 10.

(Admin note - spoiler tags added - let's be more careful about spoilers in the Review thread)

saw the movie and LOVED it. This movie will make a great DVD showcaser, especially with the bass.

few minor hiccups along the way, but a summer treat

I thought this movie absolutely and positively SUCKED BIG TIME ! ..Sooooo disappointed, being that sci-fi is my favorite genre..I just cant believe so many people hear actually liked it ..I know I can never trust the htf crowd again to help me decide if I should spend my hard earned money ..oh well, to each his own I guess.

Come on, I know its just a movie and I can suspend my common sense for a coupe of hours but the holes in this movie are just sooo blatant..
The charactors are two demensional and I could have cared less about what happened to em ..T. Cruise's son actually got on my nerves more then the little girl screaming the whole movie and T. cruise himself.

The aliens have studied us for all that time huh ..pretty freakin stupid aliens then if you ask me..

I hated the fact that the director showed you just a small portion and never got the feel for the whole picture..comeon man, I wanna see what going on..

Special effects are the only thing this movie has ..I wonder what Hollywood would do if they actually had to rely on making a good movie without special effects..

The thing I didnt like about the movie was the beginning, middle and ending..With the middle being the least suckiest and the ending, well..

Put me down in the 'hated it' camp. I didn't care about any of the characters. The most significant suspense was when I was about to look at my watch and was terrified that I'd find out only 5 minutes had passed since I looked at it last.

I liked this movie better then Star Wars: Episode 3 and Batman Begins. Cruise did a great job and was quite believable as the lead character.

His character’s ability to get out of the most impossible situations wasn’t nearly as easy to believe but once I accepted him as the luckiest man to walk the face of the earth I never looked back.

I liked the way this movie looked. It really seemed like you were there on the ground witnessing the attacks as they occurred.

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

I loved the sound of those machines and their laser shots. They sounded great. I really felt afraid as they fired off their weapons. The great sound effects in this movie made the experience a lot more fun. I look forward to hearing this on DVD or HD DVD.

The one thing that may detract from this movie that I actually liked was the calmness of the struggling humanity. They were unbelievably tame and quiet. None of the fleeing for their life humans ever over shouted the main character no matter where they went. While this is probably not what would have happened I am thankful because I hate watching people stress ungracefully.

I would have liked to have seen this movie trimmed a bit more. I had no problem with the overall length but rather with some of long scenes focusing on the daughter and the son. To be honest I could do without the annoying son completely. The girl was ok but she was a bit much, more then once. The ending could have been a little more interesting and less abrupt.

I liked Mel Gibson’s movie Signs and this movie has many basement scenes that are reminiscent of the one found in that film. This is a good movie to see on a big screen cranked up loud.

B+