Review of War of the Worlds (2005) by Jean-Philippe M — 02 Oct 2013

Although Spielberg and co. do a fine job with this adaptation, the modern setting saps the originality from Wells' story, leaving us with an alien invasion that is both routine and somewhat confusing (on what planet does it make sense to bury your war-machines beneath the very feet of the species you're planning to exterminate millions of years BEFORE you actually pick them up? And I still do not understand the whole 'riding the lightning' malarky).

Credit must be given to Spielberg's design team for what I believe to be the most astonishing rendition of the Tripods I have ever seen in any medium. The machines are both frightening and beautiful, obviously artificial yet smoothly organic (just as Wells described them).

In the end, Spielberg has given us an entertaining, if imperfect, invasion flick and the performances of Cruise and Fanning inject that all important human element which I find lacking in most films of this genre.