But when all is said and done, the script is a solid one, and when a solid script like this is the worst part of a movie you know you are in for a good experience. As always, Mr. Spielberg proves himself adept at handling a camera. Using reflections and fluid motion, he can efficiently convey more in just a single shot than lesser directors can convey in an entire scene. His mix of long and close up shots is up to his usual standards, and the production values are as advanced as any in the business today. The musical score, though not remarkable, is pleasant enough, or tense enough, when it needs to be.

Perhaps the most laudable accomplishment is the way in which the archival footage is mixed with Mr. Spielberg's own shots at the beginning of the film. The famous shot of the masked kidnapper on the balcony is seen from a television screen in the room out of which the man emerged. In the background we see him creeping out onto the balcony while the television's news footage gives us the opposite perspective. It is one of those moments of genius that, like the girl in the pink dress in Schindler's List, will serve as one of the highlights for Steven Spielberg's career work.

The Upside:
Just about everything. Great acting, great directing and a solid script. Production values are high. The script works best when it delves into their characters and does a decent job of producing some suspense and visceral tension.
The Downside:
One of the screenwriters, and the man who actually finalized the script, may have been a bit unused to writing for film. The movie at times seems to be limited by a more live theatrical paradigm.
On the Side:
This film was going to be shot a year or two earlier, but there were some production delays. When Tom Cruise, in a separate project, was also delayed, he and Steven Spielberg decided to work on War of the Worlds first, thus pushing back the Munich release to December of 2005.

Making the Grade:
The Story: B
The Acting: A
Behind the Scenes: A
Overall: B+

Matthew Alexander is a Staff Writer for Film School Rejects
Edited: [!--GH--]