Movie Review: War of the Worlds

Stars (Out of 10): 9

One Word Summary: Intense

Movie Details: MPAA RATING: PG-13 for frightening sequences of sci-fi violence and disturbing images Starring Tom Cruise, Justin Chatwin, Dakota Fanning, Tim Robbins, Miranda Otto, David Alan Basche, James DuMont, Yul Vazquez, and Daniel Franzese GENRE(S): Action  |  Adventure  |  Drama  |  Sci-fi  |  Suspense/Thriller   WRITTEN BY: Josh Friedman David Koepp H.G. Wells (novel)   DIRECTED BY: Steven Spielberg   RELEASE DATE: Theatrical: June 29, 2005  RUNNING TIME: 117 minutes   Relevant Sites: IMDB Official Movie Website Watch The Movie Trailers Shopping: Shop Amazon for items related to this movie. Shop for movie posters at AllPosters

"War of the Worlds" Review:

          H.G. Wells' novel The War of the Worlds was originally published in 1898 and has enjoyed enormous popularity since. Fast forward 107 years, lose 'the,' attach Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise, Tim Robbins and Dakota Fanning to the project, throw in about $120 million, stir gently, and you have War of The Worlds, the latest in an innumerable series of alien invasion movies. Cruise plays Ray Ferrier, a divorced father losing touch with his two kids Robbie and Rachel. After a series of lightning strikes and then the emergence of a three legged robotic destroyer, Ray grabs the kids, steals the nearest working car, and heads for safety. But safety is nowhere to be found. The intruders have ravaged the entire country, and probably the world, and look to be on a mission to exterminate all of mankind. And what's worse, it looks like they've been planning it for millions of years.

          Sound intense? Words don't do it justice! I'm not sure if I've ever seen a movie that is so captivating and so exhilarating for its entire run time. War of the Worlds is 117 minutes (1 hour, 57 minutes) of non-stop action and excitement—from the minute Morgan Freeman's stupid voiceover stops at the beginning of the movie, to the minute it begins again at the end, the camera is always moving and there is always something happening. Each action sequence is different, and each is equally bracing. War of the Worlds is a full cardiovascular exercise; it had me on the edge of my seat for the entire film, tapping my foot in anticipation.

          Yes, I've heard the expression, it's quality before quantity, but we're talking about Steven Spielberg—he might as well have invented the projector—he knows how to make a blockbuster work. He's Hollywood's most commercially successful director for a reason, and War of the Worlds should earn him a bundle. Even with the safety net of unbelievable special effects, this movie still features tremendous cinematography and a handful of truly memorable camera shots. Spielberg keeps the movie on pace, and at a level of intensity that it sustains throughout. As far as alien invasion movies go, this one doesn't even seem all that farfetched, and Spielberg keeps us in the loop as to everything that's happening and why. The only question that isn't sufficiently answered (the voiceover's explanation isn't good enough, and didn't fit into the movie well at all) is what happens to the aliens at the end of the movie and why?

          I thought I'd seen plenty of Spielberg's leading man, Tom Cruise, in the press lately (he and his belle Katie Holmes have been conveniently appearing before cameras constantly since their films were released and their engagement announced—an event which holds less interest to me than a 24-hour Dawson's Creek marathon) and wasn't exactly excited to see him and his pompous smile on the big screen for two hours, but in his first return to family life on film since Jerry Maguire, Cruise strikes gold. His character is the perfect amount of unlikable to begin the film, but quickly, like the actor, you can't help but love him. The role allows him to play action hero and lovey dovey dad—a type of character I'd like to see him portraying more often.

          His onscreen children, the fresh-faced Justin Chatwin and the not-so-fresh-faced (though she's only 11) Dakota Fanning, each deliver terrific supporting performances. Fanning might play every 8-13 year-old female role in Hollywood, but I'll never get sick of seeing her, and Chatwin shows promise in his role as a rebellious teenager. Tim Robbins, though his role is relatively small, gives a chilling performance as a man hoping to fight back against the aliens.

The Bottom Line is that War of the Worlds is probably the best alien invasion movie ever. From beginning to end it's packed full with action, thrills, and really cool aliens. War of the Worlds will quench your thirst for destruction, but it's the family drama that rises from the rubble that is so surprising yet so engrossing. This movie is the epitome of a great summer blockbuster; just a little advice, in all of the excitement, don't forget to breathe.