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Forget about Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning can really scream. In fact, between her screams and the alien’s foghorn-sounding ship roar, who needs John Williams’ music? War of the Worlds is a terrifying premise of space alien invasion (updated from the original Wells story of a Martian attack), how long it had been planned and to what extent. Cruise just happens to be the star of this film, but methinks Johnny Depp or even Christian Bale (“Batman Begins”) could have handled the role of Ray Ferrier, a divorced, mediocre Dad. Dakota Fanning (“Man on Fire”) is a fine, young actress who can show terror with the best. Newcomer Justin Chatwin (“Taking Lives”) plays Dakota’s teenage brother with as much angst as possible.  No matter how much Justin pouts, the aliens still steal their scenes atop war machines with three legs called tripods.

The original H. G. Wells story was set in the latter part of the 19th century, when space ships were outside London, England.  Now, the aliens have viewed Earth for a million years or so and hidden war machines under the soil---and that is way down under the soil---until they decide to begin the invasion. The first 25 minutes of the film are startling when what appears to be a massive electrical storm turns into Hades on Earth. Ray instantly grasps an emergency and manages to get his little family out of the big city and into the country where they encounter the local oddball (Tim Robbins). Then there are the aliens chasing ordinary people and the military around the countryside with a vaporizing heat ray. A startling scene is of people vaporized and their clothes gently drifting to the ground. Dakota keeps screaming and Tom keeps picking her up and running.  The audience realizes that ferries and trains can be deadly, but a large mirror may be friendly. 

Things never explained are the alien red weed, which quickly covers the ground. Purpose? Who knows?  Tim Robbins character is not explained, either.  He rants about fighting back, but with what?  Spielberg keeps the audience in suspense, but loosens his grip toward the end of the film. Not a way to go, Steven.  What is good is holding the camera at waist level to give the illusion of being with the characters. John Williams’s soundtrack is there, but not intrusive. One more scream from Dakota, though, and she may have been given to the aliens.

Spielberg makes the audience as much an observer as Cruise and his family. They are inside a diner when the mob takes their van, but the drivers of the van change every few feet, as the mob gets desperate to get away. Another scene has the group standing by a rail crossing when an out of control, flaming train speeds by.  The ultimate purpose of the invasion becomes apparent and you can probably guess what it is by now. “Take me to your leader” is not part of their vocabulary.

Tom Cruise does well in portraying a man who goes from just barely getting by to someone who has to seize control and run with this situation.  Fanning opens her large eyes and you can imagine what horror she sees.  Justin Chatwin doesn’t do more than pout and Miranda Otto as their mother, also has just a small part. The 1971 War of the Worlds isn’t forgotten, as those stars, Gene Barry (later television’s “Bat Masterson”) and Ann Robinson have cameos in this version.  If you haven’t seen the 1971 film, please do. It is a classic of its time.

War of the Worlds shows us that if we encounter a space alien species, they may not have our best interests at heart.  Earth is just another pebble in the road. People panic at the drop of a body and kindness is forgotten in the flash of an eye.  Humans can handle a natural disaster, but something of this magnitude is incomprehensible. This War of the Worlds may inspire discussions around the dinner table.  What would you do, if….?

Copyright 2005 Marie Asner
Submitted 7/9/05

It is interesting how aliens are smart enough to plan an elaborate take-over of our planet. They painstakingly watch us and put millions of years of research into their attack. Yet they always seem to overlook that one small detail which ultimately leads to their downfall. You wonder if there is always that one alien guy who loses his job because of the terrific oversight.

Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) is just a typical New Jersey, blue-collar guy. He's divorced, self-absorbed and pretty much out of touch with his two kids Robbie (Justin Chatwin) and Rachel (Dakota Fanning).  When alien, tripod, machines attack earth he must do all he can to save not only his kids but also any sort of future for mankind.  Sound like your typical alien invasion movie? Well unfortunately it is. Though it does have a couple of intense moments and great sound editing, this movie does nothing to live up to the Spielberg reputation and not too much to set it apart from its ancestors. Students of film will appreciate its throwback to traditional Sci-fi movie making but that is about it.

Can something be said about too much hype? Can you see someone’s face so often that when the movie releases your first thought is “oh man not this guy again”? Tom Cruise has been everywhere the last few months and all of his media antics may have backfired this time. It feels like I have been watching his own personal war with the world that was just continued on for an additional 116 minutes. Maybe his next role should be the remake of The Man Who Wasn’t There.

Also, call me shallow but all great alien movies should have quotable lines. Will Smith's “Welcome to Earth” plus all the other retorts from Independence Day. Or “There's a monster outside my room, can I have a glass of water?” from Signs.  What do we get from this one? Uh, “We are leaving this house in 6o seconds?” Yeah, I’ll be quoting that one.

Fanning does an amazing job as always and continues to deliver performances way beyond her years. She is simply natural and that subtleness draws you in every time. There is a depth and realness to her character that is brought about in more than just dialogue.

I give War of the Worlds 2 out of 5 guys running and screaming like schoolgirls. I truly expected more from this. With a Spin on a classic tale.

By The Mungle  7/9/2005

Matt hosts the weekly syndicated Indie Rock Radio Show Spin 180 For additional reviews and interview clips visit our website at
www.spin180.net