United States, 2005
U.S. Release Date: 6/29/05 (wide)
Running Length: 1:57
MPAA Classification: PG-13 (Violence, frightening images)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Cast: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Justin Chatwin, Tim Robbins, Miranda Otto
Director: Steven Spielberg
Producers: Kathleen Kennedy, Colin Wilson
Screenplay: Josh Friedman and David Koepp, based on the novel by H.G. Wells
Cinematography: Janusz Kaminski
Music: John Williams
U.S. Distributor: Paramount Pictures
I am sure many of you are familiar with the original radio production of H. G. Wells War of the Worlds. The original book was published in 1898. The radio production was broadcast in 1938. I have heard that it caused panic as gullible listeners mistook the drama as real. I can imagine how frightening that must have been. Imagine your world besieged by aliens and thousands are dieing by the minute. That certainly would cause panic on the streets.
Steven Spielberg’s earlier classics such as E.T. The Extraterrestrial or Close Encounters of the Third Kind are feel good movies where the aliens are benign and have come to befriend us. This movie is of a much different and darker vein. It reminds me of 1996’s alien invasion movie Independence Day. This is a dark and grim film until the end and the aliens seem indestructible and insurmountable.
The film’s protagonist is Ray Ferrier played by Tom Cruise. His children come to visit as their mother (Ray’s ex-wife) and her new husband must travel to Boston to see her parents. Ray is an inept father who has never been too involved with his children. Not only is this an alien invasion movie but a tale of a father’s redemption in the eyes and minds of his estranged children. The poignant scene at the end where Ray’s daughter is reunited with their mother is moving. Ray is also reunited with his son whom he had feared dead.
Ray and his children flee to escape the aliens and are helped by a character played by Tim Robbins. Mr. Robbins plays a slightly unhinged survivalist whom was formally a paramedic and in my opinion steals his scenes with Cruise. He puts in a masterful performance and his scenes were some of the most memorable of the film for me. There were several tension filled scenes involving him.
The ending is predictable as all such movies of this kind are. What other could you expect out of a summer blockbuster? The humans prevail and the aliens are vanquished by a cause that is very scientific. I don’t want to give away too much so go see the film if you are interested. The film is closed with a narration by Morgan Freeman who explains what happens to the Aliens.
I give this film 3 stars out of 4 as it was a fun watch and kept me interested. There were several notable performances such as Tim Robbins and Dakota Fanning. Certainly not of the caliber of Spielberg’s earlier works such as Schindler’s List or Saving Private Ryan but good none the less. An interesting one hour and fifty seven minutes.
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