Friday, July 01, 2005
Theatrical Review: War of the Worlds
Wendy's Review
I had really been anticipating the release of this film. I have never read the book, or seen any movie based on or about War of the Worlds. However, they filmed part of it close to here, so it was more local anticipation than anything. There were news stories down here all the time during filming about Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz going to Dairy Queen, and Tom Cruise giving money to help someone in the hospital. It’s hard to not eat that stuff up when it’s local news. I was also looking forward to it because Spielberg is known for big budget blockbuster films, and often pretty darn good movies. So we went to see it last night.
War of the Worlds is a really good action film, one of the most enjoyable films to watch. The special effects are top notch. And it’s a visual masterpiece. However, the story is as flimsy as could be. Here is the story in a nutshell:
SPOILERS!
A father who hasn’t really been a part of his two kids lives, gets to watch his children for the weekend. It just happens that this is the weekend that the aliens from outer space decide to attack. Oh, and the best part is that the father pretty much has it all happen in his back yard. Power goes out. Cell phones don’t work. Car stop dead in their tracks. Watches don’t work. The only things that still work are cameras and video cameras, and only then when they can be incorporated into the film itself as cleaver cinematic devices (go figure). People get vaporized. So they find the one working car in the area, and take it along the back roads to Boston. Aliens attack the whole way. Aliens get common cold, and then die. World is saved (well except for the fact that a whole lotta people died).
END SPOILERS
The action in the first hour of the film is very good. It’s truly scary. However, it then starts to fizzle for the last hour of the film. The acting is adequate. Tom Cruise doesn’t do anything that couldn’t be done by anyone else. Tim Robbins plays a real weirdo. Too weird for even him. The kid who plays the older son is pretty good. Although for some reason I had thought that Kieran Culkin was going to be playing him, but I was wrong. I wish he had, though, because I like him. Dakota Fanning plays cute little girl really well because well she is a cute little girl. However, she wears clothing in this film that I can’t imagine any little girl ever wearing. What little girl wears one fingerless glove? Go figure.
Overall, War of the Worlds is pure entertainment. There is a story there just for the sole purpose of hanging special effects on. If you want brainless entertainment then this is your film. However, if you want a good alien movie then see either Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Signs, or Fire in the Sky. Or stay home, and just read Communion. That way you’ll never want to see a movie about aliens again.
Darrell's Review
Among the many filming locations of Stephen Spielberg’s The War of the Worlds was the rural Virginia countryside about half an hour from where we live. Tom Cruise made a big splash by showing up at the local Dairy Queen a few times, and the employees all agreed that he was friendly, outgoing, down to earth, and fun to have around. He signed autographs, posed for pictures, the works.
I found myself thinking about that during the second half of The War of the Worlds, and trying to spot local places and faces in the movie. That’s not good. The first half of the movie kept me riveted. When the movie slowed during the second hour, in a substandard effort to build characters and establish relationships, I found my mind wandering. I was more interested in spotting “Uncle Tommy” among the extras than in finding out how the story ended.
The War of the Worlds is all special effects and little story. Honestly, though, I didn’t expect an amazing story. By now, the premise is familiar to everyone. Bad aliens come to earth and pick a fight, earth fights back, things blow up, things fall down, people run around in circles and scream. The concept has been done with surprising resonance (Signs) and with idiotic bombast (Independence Day)… heck, even this specific H.G. Wells novel has been dramatized a number of times. This version is inferior to the 1953 version. It’s also far inferior to Signs, but much better than ID4, however, if only because the story is simply bland rather than insultingly stupid.
Tom Cruise is an outstanding actor, but his talent is wasted, here. Other fine actors in the cast (Miranda Otto, Tim Robbins, Dakota Fanning) do little more than stand with slack jaws and marvel at the special effects, along with the audience.
And those special effects, by the way, are outstanding. For the first hour, we see what really looks like the US under attack. Given the retrospect of 9/11, however, the special effects are a little eerie. I didn’t find myself thinking ”I bet that’s exactly what that would look like.” Instead, I found myself thinking ”Yep, that’s exactly what an attack on the US does look like.” It’s strange; once this kind of over-the-top CG extravaganza was escapism. Now it’s a sad reminder.
Of course, not all of Spielberg's tricks are devoted to destruction. On shot, wherein the camera leaves a van traveling down the interstate, circles around it, and goes back in through the front, made my jaw drop. It's all seemless. I'd love to know how they did that shot.
The movie ends quietly, like the book, without a big final battle or a new twist on the old material. That is to Spielberg’s credit. I am, however, bugged by the film’s sluggish second hour. It’s the first time I can ever remember using the “B” word in relation to a Spielberg movie. The second hour of The War of the Worlds is boring.
There are a number of political elements in The War of the Worlds that seem to be open to interpretation, which is to be expected. You can’t make a movie about an attack on the US in this day and age without viewers combing it for politics. I have a number of observations about the possible politics of The War of the Worlds, but I try to keep my politics off of film geeks. I reserve my conservative ranting for my personal blog. Besides, to discuss the political elements of the film would involve discussing huge spoilers… so if you want to read my take on the politics of the movie and if you don’t mind spoilers, click here. Otherwise, do not click here. If you do, you’ll read spoilers and political ramblings. You have been warned.
¶ 7:11 PM 
Wendy's Review
I had really been anticipating the release of this film. I have never read the book, or seen any movie based on or about War of the Worlds. However, they filmed part of it close to here, so it was more local anticipation than anything. There were news stories down here all the time during filming about Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz going to Dairy Queen, and Tom Cruise giving money to help someone in the hospital. It’s hard to not eat that stuff up when it’s local news. I was also looking forward to it because Spielberg is known for big budget blockbuster films, and often pretty darn good movies. So we went to see it last night.
War of the Worlds is a really good action film, one of the most enjoyable films to watch. The special effects are top notch. And it’s a visual masterpiece. However, the story is as flimsy as could be. Here is the story in a nutshell:
SPOILERS!
A father who hasn’t really been a part of his two kids lives, gets to watch his children for the weekend. It just happens that this is the weekend that the aliens from outer space decide to attack. Oh, and the best part is that the father pretty much has it all happen in his back yard. Power goes out. Cell phones don’t work. Car stop dead in their tracks. Watches don’t work. The only things that still work are cameras and video cameras, and only then when they can be incorporated into the film itself as cleaver cinematic devices (go figure). People get vaporized. So they find the one working car in the area, and take it along the back roads to Boston. Aliens attack the whole way. Aliens get common cold, and then die. World is saved (well except for the fact that a whole lotta people died).
END SPOILERS
The action in the first hour of the film is very good. It’s truly scary. However, it then starts to fizzle for the last hour of the film. The acting is adequate. Tom Cruise doesn’t do anything that couldn’t be done by anyone else. Tim Robbins plays a real weirdo. Too weird for even him. The kid who plays the older son is pretty good. Although for some reason I had thought that Kieran Culkin was going to be playing him, but I was wrong. I wish he had, though, because I like him. Dakota Fanning plays cute little girl really well because well she is a cute little girl. However, she wears clothing in this film that I can’t imagine any little girl ever wearing. What little girl wears one fingerless glove? Go figure.
Overall, War of the Worlds is pure entertainment. There is a story there just for the sole purpose of hanging special effects on. If you want brainless entertainment then this is your film. However, if you want a good alien movie then see either Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Signs, or Fire in the Sky. Or stay home, and just read Communion. That way you’ll never want to see a movie about aliens again.
Darrell's Review
Among the many filming locations of Stephen Spielberg’s The War of the Worlds was the rural Virginia countryside about half an hour from where we live. Tom Cruise made a big splash by showing up at the local Dairy Queen a few times, and the employees all agreed that he was friendly, outgoing, down to earth, and fun to have around. He signed autographs, posed for pictures, the works.
I found myself thinking about that during the second half of The War of the Worlds, and trying to spot local places and faces in the movie. That’s not good. The first half of the movie kept me riveted. When the movie slowed during the second hour, in a substandard effort to build characters and establish relationships, I found my mind wandering. I was more interested in spotting “Uncle Tommy” among the extras than in finding out how the story ended.
The War of the Worlds is all special effects and little story. Honestly, though, I didn’t expect an amazing story. By now, the premise is familiar to everyone. Bad aliens come to earth and pick a fight, earth fights back, things blow up, things fall down, people run around in circles and scream. The concept has been done with surprising resonance (Signs) and with idiotic bombast (Independence Day)… heck, even this specific H.G. Wells novel has been dramatized a number of times. This version is inferior to the 1953 version. It’s also far inferior to Signs, but much better than ID4, however, if only because the story is simply bland rather than insultingly stupid.
Tom Cruise is an outstanding actor, but his talent is wasted, here. Other fine actors in the cast (Miranda Otto, Tim Robbins, Dakota Fanning) do little more than stand with slack jaws and marvel at the special effects, along with the audience.
And those special effects, by the way, are outstanding. For the first hour, we see what really looks like the US under attack. Given the retrospect of 9/11, however, the special effects are a little eerie. I didn’t find myself thinking ”I bet that’s exactly what that would look like.” Instead, I found myself thinking ”Yep, that’s exactly what an attack on the US does look like.” It’s strange; once this kind of over-the-top CG extravaganza was escapism. Now it’s a sad reminder.
Of course, not all of Spielberg's tricks are devoted to destruction. On shot, wherein the camera leaves a van traveling down the interstate, circles around it, and goes back in through the front, made my jaw drop. It's all seemless. I'd love to know how they did that shot.
The movie ends quietly, like the book, without a big final battle or a new twist on the old material. That is to Spielberg’s credit. I am, however, bugged by the film’s sluggish second hour. It’s the first time I can ever remember using the “B” word in relation to a Spielberg movie. The second hour of The War of the Worlds is boring.
There are a number of political elements in The War of the Worlds that seem to be open to interpretation, which is to be expected. You can’t make a movie about an attack on the US in this day and age without viewers combing it for politics. I have a number of observations about the possible politics of The War of the Worlds, but I try to keep my politics off of film geeks. I reserve my conservative ranting for my personal blog. Besides, to discuss the political elements of the film would involve discussing huge spoilers… so if you want to read my take on the politics of the movie and if you don’t mind spoilers, click here. Otherwise, do not click here. If you do, you’ll read spoilers and political ramblings. You have been warned.
¶ 7:11 PM
Comments:
I didn't read the review here because I may indeed see this movie on DVD.
But, for the record, in my opinion, Tom Cruise is a turd for how he bashed Brooke Shields and Psychiatry this past week. In fact, he's probably at this point, given his recent actions, a prime candidate for a bit of therapy. But isn't that the mark of the truly insane - when they deny there's such a thing as insanity?
But, for the record, in my opinion, Tom Cruise is a turd for how he bashed Brooke Shields and Psychiatry this past week. In fact, he's probably at this point, given his recent actions, a prime candidate for a bit of therapy. But isn't that the mark of the truly insane - when they deny there's such a thing as insanity?
Yeah, Cruise has really made a jerk of himself. Certain actors behave so horribly in public that it's hard to forget it and just enjoy their work. Sean Penn, for instance, is an absolutely amazing actor. One of the very best, if not arguably the best ever... but he's such a dim bulb every time he opens his mouth (except in character) that it taints my appreciation of his work. Everybody has actors they feel that way about, I guess.
Yeah, Sean Penn is another one who is hard to watch because no matter how great he is, his off-screen life is banging around inside your skull. Tim Robbins is another one I have this problem with. But oddly enough, not Susan Sarandon. I can't stand the woman off-screen, but on-screen I'm just entranced by her performances.
Alright, I saw this movie on Friday and agree with your assessment. Basically, the movie was a whole lotta buildup that went nowhere. I thought Tom Cruise was surprisingly good, though.
I have a question about your spoiler, Wendy.
****(Therefore this comment contains SPOILERS, if anyone cares.)****
Is that really how the aliens died? From a common cold? I guess that makes sense from the closing narraration, but I completely missed what was going on there. If it was just a cold, then what was the whole bird thing that Cruise was going on about? That really threw me for a loop.
I have a question about your spoiler, Wendy.
****(Therefore this comment contains SPOILERS, if anyone cares.)****
Is that really how the aliens died? From a common cold? I guess that makes sense from the closing narraration, but I completely missed what was going on there. If it was just a cold, then what was the whole bird thing that Cruise was going on about? That really threw me for a loop.
SPOILERS!!!!!
Kelly: then what was the whole bird thing that Cruise was going on about? That really threw me for a loop.
The bird thing was that the tripods shields were down. Throughout the movie they had protective shields that surrounded them. When the birds were able to get close that meant their shields were down. That was because they were sick and dying.
Kelly: then what was the whole bird thing that Cruise was going on about? That really threw me for a loop.
The bird thing was that the tripods shields were down. Throughout the movie they had protective shields that surrounded them. When the birds were able to get close that meant their shields were down. That was because they were sick and dying.
Wendy/Darrell: thanks for advising about th spoilers---I just swooshed through your reviews before I saw the movie, then came back. I agree that TC was excellent---I love him as Mr Common Man with good teeth; What stayed with me about the movie is the way, at the beginning, when things started to go bad, everyone---mostly men---ran with their arms spread from their sides, herding others along. I found that so touching and in such contrast to later scenes when people were terrified, tired and becoming ruthless. I don't rate this as a best-ever kind of movie, but I'm really, really glad I saw it for many reasons.
SPOILERS:
I thought it was amazing, that they did an amazing job with the effects and with showing the invasion from "our" point of view. I was just as slack-jawed as the characters. I also don't have a problem with the aliens' illness since that's true to the novel, though it's cheesy that Cruise had to be the one to point out to the PROFESSIONAL SOLDIER that the shield was down.
With these movies you have to suspend disbelief that your protagonists are the ones to survive when everyone else in a Red Shirt dies. The star ducks lasers that incinerate people around him, gets the Only Working Car, and gets on the boat when his neighbor doesn't. This movie wasn't ABOUT their story so much as seeing the invasion from their perspective, so I could forgive all that. I checked my watch a LOT when they were in Tim Robbins' basement though. I know it couldn't be two hours of running from tripods and they had to slow down for pacing every once in a while, but that scene was ridiculously long, and much better done in Signs.
Putting a little girl in danger made the invasion all the scarier. I did like the son's "hero moment" helping people on the boat, which contrasted everyone else's behavious and also showed the father something to be proud of. Lorna had a good observation about mob mentality too, when people are running like the rat in Robbins' basement and becoming animals about the van being in such stark contrast to how they were when the initial pod rose.
I pretty much agree with the official Film Geeks assessment. Great movie with spectacular effects, lame story around the family, and really slow toward the end.
I thought it was amazing, that they did an amazing job with the effects and with showing the invasion from "our" point of view. I was just as slack-jawed as the characters. I also don't have a problem with the aliens' illness since that's true to the novel, though it's cheesy that Cruise had to be the one to point out to the PROFESSIONAL SOLDIER that the shield was down.
With these movies you have to suspend disbelief that your protagonists are the ones to survive when everyone else in a Red Shirt dies. The star ducks lasers that incinerate people around him, gets the Only Working Car, and gets on the boat when his neighbor doesn't. This movie wasn't ABOUT their story so much as seeing the invasion from their perspective, so I could forgive all that. I checked my watch a LOT when they were in Tim Robbins' basement though. I know it couldn't be two hours of running from tripods and they had to slow down for pacing every once in a while, but that scene was ridiculously long, and much better done in Signs.
Putting a little girl in danger made the invasion all the scarier. I did like the son's "hero moment" helping people on the boat, which contrasted everyone else's behavious and also showed the father something to be proud of. Lorna had a good observation about mob mentality too, when people are running like the rat in Robbins' basement and becoming animals about the van being in such stark contrast to how they were when the initial pod rose.
I pretty much agree with the official Film Geeks assessment. Great movie with spectacular effects, lame story around the family, and really slow toward the end.
Lorna: everyone---mostly men---ran with their arms spread from their sides, herding others along. I found that so touching
I didn't notice that. I'm glad to hear a report that there is a subtext that would reward a subsequent viewing. It is a nice idea to have both sides of the public's reaction to that kind of crisis... both the chaotic fighting over the car and the instinct to try to save people around you.
MCF: becoming animals about the van being in such stark contrast to how they were when the initial pod rose.
Yeah, exactly. That contrast hadn't crossed my mind yet.
MCF: With these movies you have to suspend disbelief that your protagonists are the ones to survive
Exactly. If you're going to pick the movie apart over things like that, don't even see the movie. The main characters only serve to get the viewer close to the action, so of course they have to survive so we can continue watching the movie. It does, however, really kill any sense of fear for the main characters when things get hairy. You know that Cruise and his family are going to survive the sinking of the ferry, the tripods, etc. It can be done the other way, though. Think back to the first time you saw Alien... Dallas gets killed off half way through the movie and all of a sudden we have a new main character in Ripley. That was a gutsy move on Ridley Scott's part, I think.
Too lazy to spellcheck this long comment, so forgive the spelling.
I didn't notice that. I'm glad to hear a report that there is a subtext that would reward a subsequent viewing. It is a nice idea to have both sides of the public's reaction to that kind of crisis... both the chaotic fighting over the car and the instinct to try to save people around you.
MCF: becoming animals about the van being in such stark contrast to how they were when the initial pod rose.
Yeah, exactly. That contrast hadn't crossed my mind yet.
MCF: With these movies you have to suspend disbelief that your protagonists are the ones to survive
Exactly. If you're going to pick the movie apart over things like that, don't even see the movie. The main characters only serve to get the viewer close to the action, so of course they have to survive so we can continue watching the movie. It does, however, really kill any sense of fear for the main characters when things get hairy. You know that Cruise and his family are going to survive the sinking of the ferry, the tripods, etc. It can be done the other way, though. Think back to the first time you saw Alien... Dallas gets killed off half way through the movie and all of a sudden we have a new main character in Ripley. That was a gutsy move on Ridley Scott's part, I think.
Too lazy to spellcheck this long comment, so forgive the spelling.
I just thought of something else--when the reporter asks Cruise if he was on the plane and he says "no", she says, "Oh. Well that would have been a good story."
Inside joke for anyone criticizing the focus on a father and 2 kids heading to Boston story? Or a shout-out to Lost?
Inside joke for anyone criticizing the focus on a father and 2 kids heading to Boston story? Or a shout-out to Lost?
Spoiler:
I don't think it was cheesy that TC pointed out the shields being down. In fact, it was true to character. These soldiers are beaten down, dejected and have long since given up fighting the thing and they've been demoralized to the point of merely directing traffic when the things are acting weird. TC's character who hasn't been fighting the things and has experienced them as invincible notices something the soldiers aren't even bothering to look at. Just underscores the horror of the whole thing. It was completelky horrifying.
I don't think it was cheesy that TC pointed out the shields being down. In fact, it was true to character. These soldiers are beaten down, dejected and have long since given up fighting the thing and they've been demoralized to the point of merely directing traffic when the things are acting weird. TC's character who hasn't been fighting the things and has experienced them as invincible notices something the soldiers aren't even bothering to look at. Just underscores the horror of the whole thing. It was completelky horrifying.
SPOILER
Good points. It WAS truly horrifying. There was nothing anyone could really do against the invaders, and Cruise was just an ordinary guy. It just felt like a moment where they needed to accredit the defeat of the enemy to the star of the movie, but again that's one of those things to expect and forgive of these movies. And it's not like he singlehandedly defeated ALL the aliens, or was the one to piece together the germ thing and advise them to develop a biological weapon. Most importantly, they didn't have him fly up to the mothership and hack into it with an Ibook. =) I can forgive him pointing out something that defeats ONE tripod, and even his earlier move with the grenades.
If I called the moment cheesy, it was the minorist of complaints and didn't detract from my overall experience.
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Good points. It WAS truly horrifying. There was nothing anyone could really do against the invaders, and Cruise was just an ordinary guy. It just felt like a moment where they needed to accredit the defeat of the enemy to the star of the movie, but again that's one of those things to expect and forgive of these movies. And it's not like he singlehandedly defeated ALL the aliens, or was the one to piece together the germ thing and advise them to develop a biological weapon. Most importantly, they didn't have him fly up to the mothership and hack into it with an Ibook. =) I can forgive him pointing out something that defeats ONE tripod, and even his earlier move with the grenades.
If I called the moment cheesy, it was the minorist of complaints and didn't detract from my overall experience.
