War Of The Worlds !!

After weeks of watching Tom Cruise fall apart on national television and the kidnapping of poor Katie Holmes (at least it looks that way when he drags her around) his high anticipated summer film hit theaters. This was a amazing movie showing Spielberg's usual flare for pacing and anticipation. Cruise is your average every-man and probably could be voted as worlds worse dad at the beginning of this flick. He's harsh, rude and seems uncaring to his own kids. Justin Chatwin plays the son, but the show is stole by Dakota Fanning. This pixie size actress has as much screen presence as some of Hollywoods' biggest stars. Another scene stealing performance is turned in by Tim Robbins. His part is small compared to the overall span of the movie, but is memoralble. The action just keeps coming from the first appearance of the tripods to the last scene. Spielbergs' pacing is spot on and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The special effects are what really brings this movie to life. The grand size of the alien tripods are magnificent and awe-inspiring. It was nice to see Spielberg go back to the original novel for his version of the tripods and not the flying ships from the 1953 film. He also included the "red moss" from Wells' original, something that was completely left out of the 1953 film. The sheer feeling of terror that permeates this movie is seen through the eyes of Cruises' character and the faces and actions of everyone else in the film. The ferry mob scene is a tragic glance at mans desperation to save himself over others. We see the whole movie from Cruises' point of view, and even though for some reason he leaves his kids alone multiple times throughout the movie, he always seems to find them ok and come away without a scratch. There are quite a few unbelievable parts in the movie, but that's what makes it a fun summer movie. You should not have to take it too seriously and just enjoy visual tour-de-force in front of you. There was one part that struck me as funny, when Cruise and family are inside their house and it is destroyed by a falling plane, they come out and find half the house gone and in ruins. Yet just feet away, their van has escaped without a single bit of damage. It was also nice to see Gene Barry and Ann Robison included in this film, their part is small at the end of the movie, but it is a way of Spielberg to pay tribute to the 1953 production. Overall this is a must see movie when it is at theaters. It just won't be the same when it comes out on dvd for home viewing.