"War of the Worlds"

Reviewed by Chris Cappola
Starring Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Justin Chatwin, Miranda Otto and Tim Robbins. Directed by Steven Spielberg. (2005, Paramount/DreamWorks)

'The War of the Worlds' may be the most competently bad movie of all-time. Only a director as strong as "God" himself Steven Spielberg could be able to direct such a great-looking film that is just awful at its core. Visually, it's masterful. The rest is an overblown concoction of absurd plotting, weird ideas, predictability and some of the worst performances of some gifted actors.

Tom Cruise plays Ray Ferrier, a reckless construction worker from Jersey who has his two kids come down for the weekend. Eldest son Robbie (Justin Chatwin) is a typical, rebellious teenager while younger daughter Rachel (Dakota Fanning) is more accepting of her father's love. One day, Earth is invaded by alien tripod weapons of destruction who annihilate everything in its path and the film focuses on the family's fight for survival taking them across the Eastern section of America. Spielberg does something very interesting here by focusing sorely on the family, nothing else. In 'Independence Day', it was about the destruction of the world. There is none of that here. No fancy sequences of cities torn apart, landmarks destroyed, none of that 'ID4' syndrome. Does it play off? It tries to create an emotive, intimate feeling, but ultimately it's only about these three people and they are not very likable people. They come across as whiny, selfish and it's not easy to anticipate their survival. At the half-way mark, it becomes very clear that you hope the aliens kill them off and call it a day.

Spielberg has many problems with 'WOTW'; least of all is his eye for visual creativity. The sequences of destruction are sensational and the early sections involving the unleashing of the forces are eerie and realistic. Spielberg can direct a big-budget pic better than anyone else and he has creative innovation coming up with some exciting sequences and a masterful visual look. Still, at times it's hard not to think Spielberg is recycling tricks he discovered in 'Minority Report' and some of the style and camera shots seem too close to that pic. (It also doesn't help both starred Cruise). As for the bigger problems? Where to start… plotting is a nightmare. It gets right into it then is boggled down by a very drawn-out middle before finishing rather abruptly with a neat ending that is not believable and ruins any credibility it had. That final sequence is as bad as that ending in 'ID4'. The actual aliens look a little too cute for their own good like a cross between 'Ewoks' and 'Gremlins' and they don't get enough screen time and are not menacing as required. Their invasion isn't terribly interesting either.

Most of the problems come down to a screenplay that is as unrealistic as 'Independence Day'. At least in that movie, it was the world vs. the aliens and it never really took itself too seriously. Here it's one regular Joe who is taking on the aliens to save his daughter. All it takes is one great father who can destroy this abomination. Uh huh. How did the aliens get here? Why do they want our blood? None of that is really explained. How did they get defeated? Again, it's not really explained. Just remember, this is Tom Cruise saving the day. That is the real story here - another vanity project for Mr. Cruise. The world revolves around Cruise and co. who get to encounter every close encounter risking their lives and fighting for survival. Everyone around them dies, but they always make it out with a few scratches ready for yet another encounter that takes them all so close but of course, they are fine. Amazing how the world of good-timing works for these characters. But coincidences are all part of the game here and the happy ending is the most unrealistic ending in a long time. It's like Disney came in on the final act and implemented some fairy dust known to their movies… it doesn't gel with the rest of the movie and is too cheerful and unrealistic. Is Spielberg at fault with the screenplay? It does come from a novel by H.G Wells but it served as a blueprint. Spielberg is trying to make a big-budget film about the end of the world but doesn't concentrate on the Aliens destruction but on one family's survival. M. Night Shyamalan did this idea ten times stronger with 2002's 'Signs'. 'WOTW' has no merit - it hasn't got a single character to care for.

The performances are career lows for many very talented actors, but it's not their faults since they were succumbed to awful dialogue and characters that are impossible to like. Tom Cruise is a very good actor in the right role. Only last year, he showed immense range with 'Collateral'. This role suits him, but he is very annoying and not very likable. The intention Spielberg is trying to make here is that the audience will get to like him as the movie progresses from the reckless no-show father to 'father-of-the-year' candidate. It doesn't ring true. Dakota Fanning has had one of the best records of any actor's career, better than many actresses with over 40 films to their credit - but it had to stop eventually. This role is her worst yet and she tries but the character is instantly whiny, exasperating and you just want the aliens to kill her off. The 'too-smart-for-her-own-good' routine she does in every film wears off quickly here. Similarly, Justin Chatwin has some truly horrible moments - wait till you see his awful "goodbye speech". Tim Robbins is embarrassing in a small and unnecessary part. There's simply no point to his existence in this film. To her credit, Miranda Otto as the ex-wife and mother has a couple of very short scenes but is more likable. Of course, she disappears until the final scene to leave us with three selfish brats. Again, 'Signs' gave us a family to care about; 'WOTW' gives us a dysfunctional unit.

'The War of the Worlds' does have some gripping moments, but they are boggled down by a terrible screenplay and lapses in judgment for Spielberg who may have been too busy painting a visual masterpiece than making an effective movie. Spielberg has always had that problem of caring too much about making a good-looking film but not giving it the right personality. 'WOTW' is a great-looking film but it has no heart and worse of all is trying to be emotive and more intimate than your typical science fiction-action pic. A complete failure on every level and easily, one of the year's biggest disappointments.
out of 10
- Chris Cappola's Reviews

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