Bane Macleod

War of the Worlds

When I sat down to watch this movie I basically had to put aside my current feelings on Tom Cruise. His latest batch of publicity has everyone feeling decidedly negatively about him and while I've never really thought badly of him I've always sort of offhandedly admired him in a way. I mean he's Tom Cruise! The Top Gun! He's takin care of business! He was married to Nicole Kidman! Ok the last was the only thing I really admired him for.. or more envied. But this movie isn't about Tom Cruise. This movie isn't even about Dakota Fanning preparing mantle space for her upcoming oscar nods. This movie is about Steven Spielberg completely forgetting that he's a pussy. Honestly I think it was just the combined Spielberg/Cruise clout that got them as low a MPAA rating as they had.

There are obvious plot holes, such as video cameras that work perfectly after EMP blasts that freeze wristwatches, and freeway traffic stalling with just enough room between cars for a speeding minivan to get through. The biggest plot hole of course being the fact that Tom Cruise throughout the movie seems to dodge alien fire with the greatest of ease, which I'm sure we all know is utter crap considering he can't even get out of the way of a brit with a water gun.

Honestly I was expecting something else, something more akin to the book than the single minded view of a family in distress that I got. But it worked in most ways. Probably the only distraction from this format is though you see a lot of tragedy happening around the family they are never really truly hit by it, and without giving away spoilers the only time that they do seemingly get whats coming to everyone else, it's not framed in a way that makes you care. Overall though the movie is quite enjoyable, and something I wouldn't hesitate to tell anyone to watch if they want a mindless good time.