Popcorn fun - War of the Worlds Reviews

The film screams Spielberg. It transitions seamlessly from giant action to little moments. Unfortunately, going into the movie, I knew how it ended, having seen the 1957 version years ago on tv. But as such, I was glad to see very very nice touches in the creature design. If you plan to see this movie, be warned: it is much more about the family unit than it is about the invasion (we're not even given a reason for it, except that the invaders were jealous of us... somehow) or how the world reacted to it. But that's not to say that there's no action. The first half of the film plus is pretty much non-stop edge-of-your-seat awesomeness. What's that? You want death rays? You got 'em! Giant lumbering robots? Check! Earthquakes? Explosions? Massive body count? Check, check... er, well... not check on the last one, and you'll understand if you see the movie. Suffice to say that the invading force has a few different ways of... disposing of bodies. If you've seen commercials or trailers, you've probably gathered that Ray (Tom Cruise) is trying to get himself and his two kids away from this. And that's where the film stays. It's very straightforward and linear, with nothing to steer the plot off-track. The characters are sidelined for a little bit while hiding out with a crazy man, played by Tim Robbins. Incidently, considering my general distaste for Mr. Robbins, there was one scene involving him that occured behind closed doors that I would have liked to see. But oh well. I enjoyed the interaction between father and son (especially since the son was a Sox fan) because they both acted toward each other as I do toward everyone else: as a jerk. It was as if I stepped into some weird universe and there were two clones of mine barking back and forth at each other, and I admit, I felt a little outperformed. But while the son was interesting, the daughter (Dakota Fanning) had little more to do during the first half than scream. And WOW does she have a set of lungs. Sometimes I wished that Cruise had turned around to the backseat and smacked her and said "SHUT UP! YOU ARE NOT HELPING!" But then she probably would've screamed more, so, oh well. At one point during the film, the son, Robbie, tells Ray that his only motivation in going to Boston is to dump them (the kids) off on their mom so he can worry about himself. I gotta tell ya, I wouldn't blame him. Earlier I said that this film screams Spielberg. Well it does in one more way that kinda... irks me. There are plenty of people dying EVERYWHERE, but in true rifle-to-walkie-talkie fashion, anything that might show the act of bleeding is conveniently hidden from view. If you're going to allude to a grotesque happening, you might as well show it. Some, if not most, will disagree with me on this one, in the vein of the film not being a gore genre film. Eh, whatever. Blood does not a gore film make. Although, though he didn't come right out and reveal it, the "dust" that's all over Cruise toward the beginning of the film is a nice touch. Overall, it's a fun flick. Is it a great film? Nah. There's nothing new, nothing innovative, and nothing to make you think (except maybe how to plan against an alien invasion). If you plan to see it, understand that it really is just a summer popcorn flick. With that in mind, you probably won't be disappointed.