Review of War of the Worlds (2005) by Bfoore90 — 18 Jun 2017

To put it in perspective, I like everyone else enjoyed 70-75% of this movie. Spielberg brings it all into this movie, the themes and imagery come with a purpose to frighten and disturb rather than thrill, making ingenious use of familiar 9/11 imagery along with clear references to the Holocaust and the war in Iraq.

The references and themes are so chilling that its almost to the point its as if the movie is a post 9/11 propaganda film. Tom Cruise, who was excellent in Collateral also brings it in this film by delivering a very committed and tense performance as a seemingly failed father.

Then comes the second act, the movie begins to stumble and fall leading up to a clear Dues Ex Machina conclusion that almost makes me wonder as if Mass Effect 3 took a page out of Spielberg's book to deliver a unsatisfying conclusion to an otherwise satisfying movie.

The film tragically changes and almost with no regard for itself violates its carefully established tone and internal logic to become a typical and cliche summer action film where our hero valiantly goes one-on-one with an alien invader to eventually turn the tide in humanities favor.

The transition is jarring almost to the point to where you feel disconnected from the story. It's also troubling that the guy who created Jaws and Jurassic Park also couldn't hold himself in check before misfiring and showing his badly designed and poorly CGI'd alien invaders.

Still, War of the Worlds is well worth a view for fans and movie goers. Whereas, despite it's otherwise weak second half, it's an excellent film. Considering it was made in the wake of 9/11, its not hard to view the film as a form of post 9/11 or Iraqi war propaganda.

Its almost brilliant when you think about it, America under attack by technologically advanced "sleeper cell terrorists" coming from within, hellbent on destroying America with extreme prejudice.

The only thing that would make it more evident would be if Spielberg decided to put beards and turbans on the aliens while having them speak a strong middle eastern dialect.