In years past, Steven Spielberg has helmed a boatload of gems. Very rarely is an unfavorable film added to his extensive filmography. With War of the Worlds—a remake of H.G. Wells’ sci-fi classic, the special effects, human drama, and brooding intensity compensate for any missteps that the happily-ever-after ending hastily takes. Even though War of the Worlds is neither a gem nor an unfavorable feature, it is still one loud and riveting ride.
One morning, crane operator Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) returns home from a long shift to greet his ex-wife Mary Ann (Miranda Otto), teenage son Robbie (Justin Chatwin), and pre-teen daughter Rachel (Dakota Fanning). It is Ray’s weekend to have the kids. Ray has not had a good standing relationship with his children for quite some time, but that changes once a series of fierce lightning storms result in the surfacing of massive alien tripods. After evading one of the tripods, which have the capacity to dematerialize a human-being, Ray quickly gathers his offspring and makes a mad dash for Boston to meet his ex. Meanwhile, the tripods are roaming the Earth and decimating anything and everything in their paths.
Despite his recent pitfalls with the press, Tom Cruise is back—in a film where one and all can forgive him for constantly professing his love for Miss Katie Holmes, openly spreading the Scientology word, and profusely jumping on Opera’s furniture. Cruise performs on par with his previously shown aptitude as the uninvolved-turned-attached father. Although, it is difficult to pass Cruise – New York Yankees hat, jeans, and all – for a blue-collar worker, considering he has such a metrosexual head on his shoulders. Nonetheless, Cruise still belongs on the pedestal as one of this summer’s biggest action stars.
At Cruise’s side, Justin Chatwin (who Steven Spielberg previously cast in his TV mini-series “Taken”) fairs well as a typical disgruntled teenager. Spielberg’s utilization of Chatwin should serve as a stepping stone for him to move on to bigger and better things. Likewise, Dakota Fanning cries, screams, and hyperventilates quite convincingly. Bar-none, Fanning is one of the finest child actor available; here, her talent is a tad underused.
Article comments
1 - Ash
Tom Cruise's rude and obnoxious behavior during the promotion of this film was a real turn-off and this is one actor I would love to see fall big!
I can't forgive the horrific manner he has used Katie Holmes to attack his ex-wife, Nicole Kidman publically humiliating her with his declarations of having never been in love before Katie!Therefore, I did not see this movie, but everyone I know who did see it-all of them said it wasn't great and a real disapointment.
2 - MVT
Its amazing to me that people can't go to a movie and simply enjoy the experience without bringing totally unrelated, "media" events in to spoil it. Who cares what Cruise did or did not say or appears to have said? It's all fodder for the tabloids. Celebrities have lives we don't understand and know nothing about - nor should we. So about War of the Worlds: The movie was great, directing was flawless, the cinematography was incredible (the "look" of the movie was spot on!), the effects were superb while Cruise and cast put in fantastic performances. I am not specifically a Tom Cruise fan, but I felt his portrayal of the character and the terror he was going though was well conveyed. All in all, outside of the abrupt ending (I couldn't help wishing it would go on for another 2 hours), the movie was, in my book, perfect! Can't say I've said that about very many films in the last 20 years. Most people walking out of the theatre where completely in awe. This will go down as one of my top 5 favorite movies.