War of the Worlds

PG-13 Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Tim Robbins



To me this is a classic summer movie. This is the kind of movie that you see when you are a little kid and remember when you are older. The kind of stuff that is so big it only looks right on the movie screen. Ok So, obviously I thought this was a good movie and one definitely to be seen in the theatre. Aliens attacking earth is a classic movie genre and who better to bring us an updated version of H.G. Wells classic story than Steven Spielberg. The movie gets running within the first ten minutes and doesn't really slow down for about an hour. The suspense was very good and accompanied by just the right amount of action to keep you on the edge of your seat. But wait, there's more. Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, and Justin Chatwin give the audience a family that's interesting and we actually care about throughout the movie. Tom Cruise does an excellent job and even though he has the lead role he doesn't dominate the film like he tends to do in his other movies. He is merely playing is role in the story. Dakota Fanning does an awesome job and only makes you wonder what kind of movies she will star in when she gets older. Ok, back to the film. This movie had classic "alien" elements while diverging from typical story lines at the same time. Not to give too much of the movie away but the first 30 minutes of Independence Day and War of the Worlds could be considered one in the same. But the two movies take considerable different paths after that. There is also an interesting balance of levity and comic relief with dark scenes that give you a sense that all is lost. I have a feeling that the ending may disappoint a few. I won't say more until others have scene it and posted in the comments section. All in all I thought it had a good blend of action, suspense, story and special affects.




On a couple of side notes, I thought it was interesting how Steven Speilberg implemented some of the post 911 events with how people reacted after the alien invasion.

Also there were several scenes where you saw what was happening indirectly instead of straight on. In other words you are seeing what is happening through reflections from glass in a car, building or a mirror. There is also a shot through a camcorder. I thought this was interesting and noted it throughout the movie but I'm not sure if it has any significance. If anyone else noticed this or other "shot" patterns let me know.