War of the Worlds

7

JakeDec 18, 2005

Most of the blame for this movie not being as good as it should have been lies with David Keopp, the screen writer. Having written the screenplays of many successful action movies (Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, Spider-Man, etc.) he Most of the blame for this movie not being as good as it should have been lies with David Keopp, the screen writer. Having written the screenplays of many successful action movies (Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, Spider-Man, etc.) he definately knows how to write a story around a montage of action shots......usually decent, he seems to have left his script for War of the Worlds unfinished, judging from the way the story ends so suddenly and without a major climax. All of the inconsistencies and the convienient plot wholes (the son disappoears for the final third only to be at home at the end? WTF!!!) are his fault, and Spielberg can only be blamed for accepting such an average screenplay.....at the hands of someone else, this story could have been very compelling....and it had some moments, mostly thanks to Steve, where it was (the scene where the van gets mobbed! That was some great stuff!). It was entertaining, and the action was great, but I just can't get over the fact the story could have been much, much better!… Expand

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10

AryaG.Dec 17, 2005

I loved this movie it was a really awsom movie and tom cruise is so sexy and hot i love him and this movie!!!!!!

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10

MatthewP.Dec 8, 2005

Fantastic re-telling of the book.

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10

WallyS.Dec 8, 2005

War of the Worlds is everything I was expecting it to be, the acting is excellent, the special effects are first rate and the movie is technically masterfull. Spielberg doesn't dissapoint and makes the plot holes dissapear with tense War of the Worlds is everything I was expecting it to be, the acting is excellent, the special effects are first rate and the movie is technically masterfull. Spielberg doesn't dissapoint and makes the plot holes dissapear with tense action scenes that made my adrenaline go up the roof.… Expand

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4

brianDec 6, 2005

5 mins, ok 15 mins, got very intrested 20 mins,wow im gonna love this 30 mins, gonna put the kettle on 45 mins, getting bored but im sure it will pick up again 60 mins, hang in there im sure something spectacular will happen any min now 80 5 mins, ok 15 mins, got very intrested 20 mins,wow im gonna love this 30 mins, gonna put the kettle on 45 mins, getting bored but im sure it will pick up again 60 mins, hang in there im sure something spectacular will happen any min now 80 mins, ok im starting to get worried now im sure it will start to get intresting 100 mins WTF is going on i thought this was War Of The Worlds 105 mins, is that it 110 mins, OMFG what a dissaster of a movie and it started so amazingly with me on the edge of my seat. i give it a 4 because i thought the tripods saved the film from a total disaster.… Expand

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7

CAENTDec 6, 2005

First off, the special effects were amazing. Nothing released on DVD has come this close to blowing you away. The buildings collapsing, aliens, UFO's, explotions etc, were spectacular! The acting, especially by Cruz and the little girl, First off, the special effects were amazing. Nothing released on DVD has come this close to blowing you away. The buildings collapsing, aliens, UFO's, explotions etc, were spectacular! The acting, especially by Cruz and the little girl, were Oscar worthy. The story, is were this film falls short. Packed with tons of suspense and action, this movie was great. But there were tons of holes throughout the movie, that made this fall short of a perfect film.… Expand

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4

RaschidA-MDec 5, 2005

The first 15 to 20 minutes are excellent. You'll be grinning from ear to ear if you have a projector and digital surround, but the little girl and the son are unbearable. It's absolutely outrageous. I found it physically The first 15 to 20 minutes are excellent. You'll be grinning from ear to ear if you have a projector and digital surround, but the little girl and the son are unbearable. It's absolutely outrageous. I found it physically uncomfortable to sit through the screaming and the bickering amongst the family when the real movie was going on all around them. It's not the acting, it's just those Spielbergo moments that drive me... Anyway, for me this has everything you could ever love and hate in a movie.… Expand

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2

ByronDec 5, 2005

Steven Spielberg, once one of the film industry's best directors, turned out a real stinker (his second-worst, after AI) with this remake of H.G. Wells' classic Martian invasion tale. Tom Cruise is an unpleasant everyman who does Steven Spielberg, once one of the film industry's best directors, turned out a real stinker (his second-worst, after AI) with this remake of H.G. Wells' classic Martian invasion tale. Tom Cruise is an unpleasant everyman who does little but to run, run, run from the bad aliens with his even more annoying daughter, who does little but scream, scream, scream. Even more irritating are the dozens of inconsistencies and gaffs that indicate that Spielberg was focused on grand special effects to the exclusion of simple subtleties that make good movies great (or, in this case, makes an awful movie tolerable). Cruise's car, for instance, survives being crashed into by a commercial jet, then he drives away through a nice, neat path in the wreckage. A 300-foot alien ship pops up out of a New York street and starts blasting everything in sight, yet a few blocks away no one knows anything is going on. Later, in the midst of worldwide destruction, Cruise turns on his radio and gets the "test of the emergency broadcast system" message, as if there wasn't an "actual emergency." And so it goes, to a reunion scene at the end that is laughably inane.… Expand

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6

UnagiboyDec 5, 2005

Neat visual effects. Cruise and family must be the luckiest people to survive all their obstacles - over the top.

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4

JesseM.Dec 4, 2005

Surprisingly terrible movie.

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7

TaraGDec 3, 2005

I really liked it. It was entertaining and a lot of the comments that I read were true, but things that I didnt notice while watching it. Ya, the acting was bad but it didnt seem to matter because the story as a whole was pretty cool. I really liked it. It was entertaining and a lot of the comments that I read were true, but things that I didnt notice while watching it. Ya, the acting was bad but it didnt seem to matter because the story as a whole was pretty cool. Basically, one can tear any movie apart but looking at this one as a whole, it was good.… Expand

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8

NicholasHDec 3, 2005

== Could contain spoilers == I recently re-watched "War of the Worlds" on DVD, and I was once again reminded of why I enjoyed this film. The atmosphere is amazingly tense, and all but the most jaded of us will find themselves sitting on the == Could contain spoilers == I recently re-watched "War of the Worlds" on DVD, and I was once again reminded of why I enjoyed this film. The atmosphere is amazingly tense, and all but the most jaded of us will find themselves sitting on the edge of their seats throughout the duration of this film. What Spielberg does, and does so very well, is he creates an overwhelming sense of dread. The film has a dingy quality about it, making the audience believe that they and the characters are in the fog of war. It… Expand

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10

TomHDec 3, 2005

Sweet!!!!!!

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10

andrews.Dec 1, 2005

Great scary at time movie.

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3

KeithYNov 29, 2005

I agree with another's remarks, but she was pretty harsh. This movie deserves at least a three. It's funny to read all the half-baked critics who just want their name seen next to Spielberg and Cruise for once. The acting was so I agree with another's remarks, but she was pretty harsh. This movie deserves at least a three. It's funny to read all the half-baked critics who just want their name seen next to Spielberg and Cruise for once. The acting was so bad, I found myself annoyed at how stupid the alien was that it couldn't just squash Tom Thumb in the first 5 minutes. The scenes in the cellar were absolutely laughable, these Spielberg's tripods were dumb and dumber. I really wanted to like this movie, honest! Starts off quite well, but it went all downhill after about 20 minutes into the movie - Did Spielberg go on vacation and let someone else take over after the first few minutes? Things I hated about this movie 1) Severe plot holes - Usually I don't let a plot hole or two ruin the movie, but this was ridiculous. Plot holes throughout meant that the story just didn't make sense and wasn't believable at all 2) The main characters - Very unlikeable. The audience couldn't care less if they lived or died. The acting was okay, for what they were given to work with. I still have faith in your acting abilities, Tom Cruise. I know you'll do better in your next movie. 3) The pacing in the film is extremely uneven 4) The ending! Very uninspiring and a total let-down. It's as if the director suddenly got bored and didn't care that he was slacking off, thinking hoping that the start of the film will at least get it good reviews. All in all, don't bother with this movie. But if you're still curious and hoping that all the bad reviews were wrong, get it on DVD. It's a renter at best!… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful

10

KatyO.Nov 28, 2005

I LOVED THE MOVIE. I could so tell it was a Spielburg movie!!! I think Tom cruise was wonderful. Dakota Fanning was so good in it, and if Justin got any hotter I would have DIED!!!

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3

AdamL.Nov 28, 2005

Other Than it being a speilberg film, it sucked. Sure, the girl was cute, it had Tom Cruise it in it, the story was sort of good, the CG kicked, there are a lot of good things to say about it, but I don't rate on the good things, I rate Other Than it being a speilberg film, it sucked. Sure, the girl was cute, it had Tom Cruise it in it, the story was sort of good, the CG kicked, there are a lot of good things to say about it, but I don't rate on the good things, I rate on the overall originality and quality, and in those points it sucked. It is so cliche and dull, it made me think speilberg is losing his touch. He uses things that are so old, it makes you think your see E.T. again. I feel sorry for you speilberg fans, because this movie makes me think speilberg won't be around much longer.… Expand

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7

camn.Nov 28, 2005

I watched this again on DVD, and on second viewing it gets better. The ending is truly ridiculous and abrupt, but Spielberg shouldn't be hammered too hard for that. I am not a Tom Cruise fan at all, but I do want to point out one thing: I watched this again on DVD, and on second viewing it gets better. The ending is truly ridiculous and abrupt, but Spielberg shouldn't be hammered too hard for that. I am not a Tom Cruise fan at all, but I do want to point out one thing: if my kids and ex-wife were such ungrateful jerks I would be a prick too. The son keeps saying that Cruise wants to dump them on their mother, and seeing how they disrespect him every chance they get I would feel that way too. The movie could have been so much more...but it is NOT a colossal failure. One other thing..The whole Tim Robbins episode was just not kosher....I could never shake the knowledge that it was an actor and not a psychotic survivalist. I hope they use similar effects for the inevitable Half-Life movie. Tripods are in that game too. Overall, worth a rental. Next.… Expand

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2

JohnSNov 26, 2005

Aside from the excellent job of things "blowed up good" this was a horrible movie. Only watchable when the aliens got on screen, then it was kind of fun. And why do they do this? Smart people like speilberg, the world is being invaded and we Aside from the excellent job of things "blowed up good" this was a horrible movie. Only watchable when the aliens got on screen, then it was kind of fun. And why do they do this? Smart people like speilberg, the world is being invaded and we have to spend the whole movie listening to an unlikeable family whine to one another. That is not hard to find, so give us the aliens destroying cities, please.… Expand

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10

patrickd.Nov 23, 2005

It was hard to breathe with all the thrills.

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10

SebastianB.Nov 23, 2005

This was a great movie! excellent special effects, and Tom Cruise did a great job in this movie

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2

ArielGNov 22, 2005

I really wanted to like this movie, honest! Starts off quite well, but it went all downhill after about 20 minutes into the movie - Did Spielberg go on vacation and let someone else take over after the first few minutes? Things I hated about I really wanted to like this movie, honest! Starts off quite well, but it went all downhill after about 20 minutes into the movie - Did Spielberg go on vacation and let someone else take over after the first few minutes? Things I hated about this movie 1) Severe plot holes - Usually I don't let a plot hole or two ruin the movie, but this was ridiculous. Plot holes throughout meant that the story just didn't make sense and wasn't believable at all 2) The main characters - Very unlikeable. The audience couldn't care less if they lived or died. The acting was okay, for what they were given to work with. I still have faith in your acting abilities, Tom Cruise. I know you'll do better in your next movie. 3) The pacing in the film is extremely uneven 4) The ending! Very uninspiring and a total let-down. It's as if the director suddenly got bored and didn't care that he was slacking off, thinking hoping that the start of the film will at least get it good reviews. All in all, don't bother with this movie. But if you're still curious and hoping that all the bad reviews were wrong, get it on DVD. It's a renter at best!… Expand

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10

BenONov 22, 2005

AMAZING FILM.

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10

basc.Nov 21, 2005

Great is all I can say.

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10

maryNov 21, 2005

Goergous movie. Cruise -Spielberg collaborations are productives. Very good acting and direction. The tripods look fabulous. I love this movie!

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10

DenonL.Nov 21, 2005

Best damn movie of the year.

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1

georgea.Nov 21, 2005

V.dissapointing. Why anyone would want to ruin such a good book god only knows. people should stick to just readin the book.

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10

JeremyLNov 20, 2005

A great escapist movie. To anyone who gave this film a 0, I pity you and your attempt to think that anyone cares. Stop with all the negative reviews, there was nothing bad about this film and you know it. I makes me angry to know people like A great escapist movie. To anyone who gave this film a 0, I pity you and your attempt to think that anyone cares. Stop with all the negative reviews, there was nothing bad about this film and you know it. I makes me angry to know people like you have source to post your opinions on the internet, only to warp the movie. This was in no way a bad movie, but an amazing achievement. Want a bad movie, go see basically any other movie this summer. Suck me.… Expand

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10

marcusNov 14, 2005

It was the best movie i have seen this year.

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0

SidiotNov 10, 2005

Too bad to be believed. It falls off a cliff early on and into an abyss.

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6

HadynW.Nov 9, 2005

Ok i guess but to be honest it was all run a bit, hide a bit, run a bit. not forgetting scream ALOT (which is all the girl ever did). Also a pity that it was so far away from the original story - its now the story of cruise trying to get to Ok i guess but to be honest it was all run a bit, hide a bit, run a bit. not forgetting scream ALOT (which is all the girl ever did). Also a pity that it was so far away from the original story - its now the story of cruise trying to get to his wife, nothing more, nothing less.… Expand

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1

JohnnyW.Nov 1, 2005

Gets one point for some nice special FX (the way cars flew in the air was cool, realistic). The acting was poor/mediocre and the mass scenes were the worst there have been. The original story wasn't a great one but this version could Gets one point for some nice special FX (the way cars flew in the air was cool, realistic). The acting was poor/mediocre and the mass scenes were the worst there have been. The original story wasn't a great one but this version could have been a lot better if Spielberg had only tried. I wonder if this is what we are going to see in the next few years from Cruise and Spielberg (I think they have invented the script writing machine and are just cashing in).… Expand

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4

ConnieS.Oct 22, 2005

AAAhhhhhh! The Ending! the horrible ending! Scarier than aliens and Tom Cruise put together is the tacked on, cheezy whimper of a finale. What a terrible way to end a movie that was scary, laden with 9/11 symbolism and true xenophobia! I AAAhhhhhh! The Ending! the horrible ending! Scarier than aliens and Tom Cruise put together is the tacked on, cheezy whimper of a finale. What a terrible way to end a movie that was scary, laden with 9/11 symbolism and true xenophobia! I hope the DVD has an alternative ending or an explanation for such a waste of a classic American sci fi. btw: Kudos once again to Dakota Fanning who continues to act circles around her adult 'star' coworkers. she deserves better than this and bumped my grade up. tip of the film: exit stage right about 3 minutes early and don't look back the ending will be gaining on you!!… Expand

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9

marshallmOct 20, 2005

It was great! there was some minor problems with it that keep it from being a classic, but still, amazing entertainment!

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2

afdfa.Oct 18, 2005

This movie starts out great and totally flops halfway to the end and through to the end. The hero in the movie (Tom Cruise) is no hero at all. The ending of the movie is a total flop, I mean a real joke. When the movie ends I was very This movie starts out great and totally flops halfway to the end and through to the end. The hero in the movie (Tom Cruise) is no hero at all. The ending of the movie is a total flop, I mean a real joke. When the movie ends I was very disappointed to say the least.… Expand

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1

LifeCoachOct 14, 2005

I liked the lightning and weather effects, but ALL the crowd scenes were terrible. It was a first date movie with someone I didn't last more than a month with. And, I am tempted to blame this waste of money and time and energy and I liked the lightning and weather effects, but ALL the crowd scenes were terrible. It was a first date movie with someone I didn't last more than a month with. And, I am tempted to blame this waste of money and time and energy and online time to write this review. I want to have a subtitle to this movie: "Spielberg and Cruise, The Betrayal."… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

3

PedroO.Oct 12, 2005

I think it's not such a good movie, and it should be nominee to the razzies.

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3

AliceK.Oct 6, 2005

[***SPOILERS***] Not a patch on The Terminal or Catch Me If You Can. I don't blame Steven Speilberg, more the writers who did the script. It is totally unintesting espcially after some of the great versions that have been done in the[***SPOILERS***] Not a patch on The Terminal or Catch Me If You Can. I don't blame Steven Speilberg, more the writers who did the script. It is totally unintesting espcially after some of the great versions that have been done in the past. The only excellent scene was the bit where the young girl goes off into the forest and gets to the river and sees the bodies flkowing down the river. That was excellent thought.… Expand

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1

SomeonewhocaresOct 2, 2005

The horror......the Razzie-worthy horror. Crappity crap crap, all of it. Acting, cinematography, FX, script, characterisation, logic, bookends, you name it. Fugly and unprofessional as sin. Spielberg and his lousy leading man need to go away The horror......the Razzie-worthy horror. Crappity crap crap, all of it. Acting, cinematography, FX, script, characterisation, logic, bookends, you name it. Fugly and unprofessional as sin. Spielberg and his lousy leading man need to go away ASAP if all the reaction they can elicit with their sad craptitude is not one shred of unintentional amusement, but instead bore me to death with their bumbling indifference to quality. I know lots of videogames more mature and entertaining than this trailer trash - so why do the ravers even bother? I'd think a non-event even more effortlessly mechanical, empty, contrived and idiotic than Revenge of the Sith(!) is hardly worth talking about in the first place, let alone gushing over.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

9

misterrobotoSep 22, 2005

I loved it! it is one of my favorite movies of all time. the acting and the ending were both pretty bad, but for someone who has read and loves the book, this movie did some great things.First of all, it gave me (and many people i know) an I loved it! it is one of my favorite movies of all time. the acting and the ending were both pretty bad, but for someone who has read and loves the book, this movie did some great things.First of all, it gave me (and many people i know) an intense feeling of uneasiness and foreboding, especially the scene when the first tripod emerges from the ground.The best thing this movie did was to create an interesting and terrifying interpretation of the tripods. This is the only film in history that has managed to do Wells' tripods justice. All in all, this movie could have been better, but it also could have been a lot worse!… Expand

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6

C.B.BrowneSep 20, 2005

Not horrible, but not good. Predictable, sappy ending.

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0

VictorSep 18, 2005

Was this a comedy? If it was, it was a great satire because nothing made any sense. If it wasn't then you need a barf bag. Either way it was awful.

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0

ClarkKentSep 15, 2005

Booo!!!!! the show sucks! do not waste your money watching it!

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10

JustinC.Sep 11, 2005

Hands down, the best movie of the summer.

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9

JimboDimboSep 6, 2005

Those who gave this movie a 0 are trying too hard to be critics. Sit down, shut up, and enjoy the movie. I absolutely loved this film, every second of it. Yeah, the ending was a little shoddy and the acting was a bit off, but if you look at Those who gave this movie a 0 are trying too hard to be critics. Sit down, shut up, and enjoy the movie. I absolutely loved this film, every second of it. Yeah, the ending was a little shoddy and the acting was a bit off, but if you look at the big picture, all is forgiven.. The special effects were simply amazing, and the story was definitely on par, despite was the stiffs are saying. You want a big, convulted plot? Watch a different movie. This flick is about survival... and running away from aliens. And I loved it.… Expand

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6

JogiliusSep 4, 2005

A thrill-ride with a crappy ending. Could have been a 9 with a less stupid and less hasty ending (and perhaps not so humanoid-like aliens).

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2

timz.Sep 2, 2005

A disaster from the get go. Good effects but terrible plot and acting. Why cant hollywood leave well enough alone. Whats next, Forbidden Planet of Day the Earth Stood Still. Save your money!

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4

MichaelPSep 1, 2005

After the previous Spielberg/Cruise/sci-fi combination of Minority Report, I had high hopes for this. Consequently I was very disappointed - it starts off convincingly, but once the tripods arrive it alternates between schmaltz and aliens After the previous Spielberg/Cruise/sci-fi combination of Minority Report, I had high hopes for this. Consequently I was very disappointed - it starts off convincingly, but once the tripods arrive it alternates between schmaltz and aliens incompetently attempting to kill everyone.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

0

WarrenR.Sep 1, 2005

[***SPOILERS***] Please excuse Matthew as he obviously checked his brains in at the door. There are more plot holes in this film than Carter has Little Liver Pills. If you had a lobotomy then the loud noises and special effects make you giddy[***SPOILERS***] Please excuse Matthew as he obviously checked his brains in at the door. There are more plot holes in this film than Carter has Little Liver Pills. If you had a lobotomy then the loud noises and special effects make you giddy with joy. But if you have the ability to rationalize then this makes no sense at all. Imagine superior creatures capable of traveling a billion miles through space and somehow they forgot their spacesuits, filtration systmem and antibiotics. Simply ludicrous. Would any of us walk out naked on another planet without first checking the atmosphere out other than Matthew? I don' think so. Lame ending to go along with a totally lame effort by Spielberg. And those annoying children.… Expand

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8

JacquiePAug 31, 2005

Great mood setting before the big storm, great special effects! Yes, story has a few plot holes (the ending gets a thumbs down) where you must suspend your disbelief, but come on, it's very entertaining! Worth seeing on the big screen Great mood setting before the big storm, great special effects! Yes, story has a few plot holes (the ending gets a thumbs down) where you must suspend your disbelief, but come on, it's very entertaining! Worth seeing on the big screen for all the effects.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

9

MatthewJ.Aug 30, 2005

Great movie...in the vein of other great horror remakes like Invasion of the body snatchers and the thing!

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0

DrakeV.Aug 30, 2005

Joel is correct in attacking the workmanship of this poor effort by Spielberg and Cruise as it makes no sense and is laughable from beginning until the bitter end. But Joel may be the most prosaic person ever to write on this board. To Joel is correct in attacking the workmanship of this poor effort by Spielberg and Cruise as it makes no sense and is laughable from beginning until the bitter end. But Joel may be the most prosaic person ever to write on this board. To attack Spielberg for other efforts that were truly heads and tails above the best of its generation is grossly unfair. War is simply bombastic in that it tries to attack the senses without plausable explanation. It fails on every level imaginable.… Expand

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0

CarolAug 27, 2005

Yuk it was awful.

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1

JoelAug 26, 2005

Guess the consensus is more than obvious, but nowhere near as grossly unsubtle as the terrible movie itself. Zero thrills. As far as I can tell, the only supple horror you'll find is how much it plays out like what I'm sure is the Guess the consensus is more than obvious, but nowhere near as grossly unsubtle as the terrible movie itself. Zero thrills. As far as I can tell, the only supple horror you'll find is how much it plays out like what I'm sure is the 'reinvented' 21st century Spielberg's and that phony Cruise's brainstorm of 'cinematic transcendence'. Hopefully anyone who *hasn't* seen this simplistic, childish mess yet still isn't tempted, it's really about on par with something like The Core, or a DTV effort. Mind-bogglingly stupid, blandly limp and unriveting from start to finish, with 'scripting', 'special' effects and 'performances' to match. How could anyone behind the scenes or upfront be proud of this garbage or their 'efforts' is beyond me. But I guess it's to be expected, though even the 1953 version of this nonsense source-material can only register as skillful and timely by comparison. Spielberg's always been immensely overrated if you ask me, it's just no contest. The Indy films are yawn-inducing amateurish crap, every last one - if you want enjoyably throwaway, you want old Looney Tunes shorts, not feature films. While other supposed renowned favorites, i.e. E.T., Close Encounters, Empire of the Sun, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List, despite likable qualities, are just too humanly sketchy, and seriously lack enough oomph overall to qualify as remotely great. The remainder of his oeuvre is largely hideous and/or worthless. Even Jaws, his best film by a country mile, clearly ranks somewhere at the very bottom of a list of other superior directors' best films. And now, does Spielberg even care anymore, or is he just a bigger, more laughably earnest joke of a director than I ever thought he was? Retirement is in dire order. At least five out of six Star Wars are indeed similarly, grandiosely dumb and unsophisticated as a box of rocks, sure - but at least *amusing* in their sheer badness; re: attempts to take themselves seriously. Unlike.....THIS.… Expand

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1

LudovicT.Aug 25, 2005

No, seriously, what's the point of that story ? They take a car through the crowd... What is gonna happen ? Everybody is going to jump on the car to take it. Yep. Then the son is joining the army, is he gonna die ? yep, or no, because No, seriously, what's the point of that story ? They take a car through the crowd... What is gonna happen ? Everybody is going to jump on the car to take it. Yep. Then the son is joining the army, is he gonna die ? yep, or no, because it's a happy ending movie. I'm looking for something in this movie I couldn't predict before it happened... Ah yes, actually, I couldn't predict an end as dumb: the Martians are sooooo technologically advandced that they forgot their space suit, and fall for the first virus. Maybe they didn't know about Pasteur, but I know about Spielberg: he doesn't do a movie like one does art, he chain-produces meaningless blockbusters. Star Wars was stupid but at least funny. This movie is boring, and I still don't get what the critics found interesting in it, I think critics are so bored they overrate any novelty.… Expand

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0

ShirleyH.Aug 24, 2005

No one on this planet loves sci fi more than I do. I have seen them all dating back to the 1950's. Among my very favorites is George Pal's 1953 original War of The Worlds. I can still remember Gene Barry and the beautiful Ann No one on this planet loves sci fi more than I do. I have seen them all dating back to the 1950's. Among my very favorites is George Pal's 1953 original War of The Worlds. I can still remember Gene Barry and the beautiful Ann Robinson. Gene played a scientist trying to find out how to stop these aliens from anhilating all of us only to fail. But in the end, God's littlest creature, an amoeba, does in the big bad aliens and saves the world. Back then it made sense as we knew little or nothing about biological warfare, weapons of mass destruction, etc. But for some strange reason Mr. Spielberg moves the setting another half century into the future but does not update the story to account for today's knowledge. What we are presented with is Spielberg's commentary on social issues mascaraded by the dysfunctional Tom Cruise and his annoying children. What could have been a great story is reduced to completely implausable special effects. The two legendary actors Barry and Robinson are shown standing at the door as the grandparents in a nonspeaking cameo that lasts all of perhaps two seconds. Mr. Spielberg has made some great films that are all time classics, but this work is so amateur in all aspects that it downright irritating. I would not advise anyone to pay ten cents to see this hogwash.… Expand

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4

JWAug 23, 2005

Are you telling me than during an alien invasion that is destined to distroy the world, the most interesting story is a bad father and his two kids? Cool special effects but a worthless story.

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0

GateAug 23, 2005

The reviews by average posters on this board is all in the RED column but somehow this film has a rating of 6.4? It is as preposterous as the storyline in this absolutely dreadful remake of a great science ficition classic. Message to the The reviews by average posters on this board is all in the RED column but somehow this film has a rating of 6.4? It is as preposterous as the storyline in this absolutely dreadful remake of a great science ficition classic. Message to the genius Spielberg: If you are going to take a book from a century ago, made into a movie a half century ago and then set it one hundred years into the future, perhaps it would be wise to use 21st century technology. For example, would you make a movie in 2005 and use smoke signals rather than computers? Pony Express instead of Federal Express? Wind power instead of nuclear power? So then why would we believe that these super intelligent omnipotent aliens who came a billion miles through space and had been monitoring our planet for a million years would know nothing about filtration, bacteria, our atmosphere or wear space suits? It is total illogical as was the irritating Cruise and his band of misfit children running toward the danger instead of away from it? As for the ending the less said the better. It worked one hundred years ago when the book was written but not now! What could have been a great movie turned into a natural disaster because of a financial partnership with a no talent pretty boy like Cruise who backed the movie with Spielberg. About the only thing they did right was to hype this to the rafters to turn a profit from basically a pet rock production. Avoid at all costs.… Expand

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0

midig8rAug 22, 2005

Stop! Don't waste your money on this piece of garbage. Cruise and Spielberg can't rescue this. No story, half done special effects, overused cliches, and, did I say waste of your time? As a long time SciFi fan, I felt I overpaid Stop! Don't waste your money on this piece of garbage. Cruise and Spielberg can't rescue this. No story, half done special effects, overused cliches, and, did I say waste of your time? As a long time SciFi fan, I felt I overpaid seeing this POS at the 2 buck discount theater. See the original...much better!!… Expand

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3

daved.Jul 21, 2005

I can't believe how high most critics scored this. its fairly entertaining in the same way pyromania is. cruise sucks in pretty much everything bar Magnolia, and no change here. Throw in some of the worst logjc ever, some stupid I can't believe how high most critics scored this. its fairly entertaining in the same way pyromania is. cruise sucks in pretty much everything bar Magnolia, and no change here. Throw in some of the worst logjc ever, some stupid mistakes such as the deaf guy reacting to a sound when someone says 'did you hear that', and the biggest cop out ending involving a family who from the looks of things didnt notice the aliens. The daughter is also incredibly annoying, and Spielberg tries to add some depth im some really dubious shots of cruise and his son. Photography is nice however, but that hardly saves this mess.… Expand

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10

mixl.Jul 12, 2005

Gorgeous.

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3

KrisS.Jul 2, 2005

One of the best films I've seen in ages. Speilberg digs his old roots, but delivers a film that comments on social issues as well as humanity. Boy does it work!

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1

KaRJul 2, 2005

In this days... great f/x doesn't justify a bad movie like this one. The first thing to do before an invasion is recognising the place, so, how can a group of aliens with that technology fail in a basic strategic point like that one?????

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DanA.Jul 2, 2005

Absolutely terrible! This movie is an insult to the viewer as it seeks to sell two hours of special effect spectacular but delivers no content. There is almost no story line of any acceptable depth, and all characters are as annoying as Absolutely terrible! This movie is an insult to the viewer as it seeks to sell two hours of special effect spectacular but delivers no content. There is almost no story line of any acceptable depth, and all characters are as annoying as hell. There is little explanation for what happens and only a 30 second voice to let you know that the [OMITTED] prevail. Nothing made sense in the movie: why the aliens came, how the hell they arrived...., why there were bloody vegetations all over the earth, and why they were out there to kill. Finally, the end scene was designed to make you hate the movie if all the previous scenes were not enough.....And what the hell was up with the Tom's son anyway? Here this from me and don't waste your time and money.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

9

ArnieG.Jun 30, 2005

One of the tensest movies I have ever seen. Like Spielbergs last 2 sci-fi movies, A.I and Minority Report, it would have been superb if not for a shit ending. Why can't Spielberg just show some balls and try to end on a dark note. He One of the tensest movies I have ever seen. Like Spielbergs last 2 sci-fi movies, A.I and Minority Report, it would have been superb if not for a shit ending. Why can't Spielberg just show some balls and try to end on a dark note. He seems to have the ability to go dark until when it really matters; the ending. oh well, it was still one of the better action films of all time despite the borderline horrendous ending.… Expand

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War of the Worlds

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