War of the Worlds - A Review

Warning: Spoilers Below

War of the Worlds (WotW) is an intense roller coaster ride pretty much from the beginning to the end with very little let up in the feeling of anxiety through out the movie.  I admit that I was concerned that this would turn into an Independence Day style cheesy “America Saves The World” flicks and that the old story by H G Wells would be undone by Pro-American propaganda.  On that account I was suitably impressed, but it is not without its cheese.

From the Narrated beginning (with the Narrator being played by Morgan Freeman – good choice) the feel of the movie is very much like the old audio story released in the late 70’s.  If anyone has the old 4 LP War of the Worlds story, even some of the artwork in that book is mimicked in the movie (the scene of the woman fleeing the invaders and the scene of the boat of people under attack).  The soundtrack is not the same, but the sound effects in the movie are a great modernisation from the old LP.

Once the aliens attack, (Martians?  Its never stated) the story becomes a mental roller coaster.  When Tom Cruise (who does very well despite my scepticism and his attention seeking antics of late turning me off) is involved in the first sighting of the aliens the movie turns dramatically into a full on action with suspense movie that is well put together.  The alien attack is (to quote Tim Robbins) an extermination rather than a war and because of this, it was surprisingly effective in getting me on the edge of my seat.  The movie becomes one of survival rather than counter attack and essentially the end of the invasion is brought about by nature rather than the might of the US military machine.  In fact, the movie portrays the military as a failing ineffective group who are engaged in collective suicide.

The acting is good.  Tom Cruise does pull of the his role well as I mentioned, but the little girl (his daughter) does very well as well.  Tim Robbins has a good role as well and the scenes in the basement of the farmhouse are excellent.

The special effects are very smooth and the digital animation is perhaps the best I have seen in movies yet.  The alien tripods, the destruction of buildings and the effects of the alien ray guns are great.  The noxious red weed that starts to inhabit the world too gives the world that red (Martian?) hue.

So overall the movie is great and I would highly recommend it, but it does have its cheesy moments.

Firstly, whilst it is a movie of survival, it is incredibly unrealistic that Tom Cruise has so many encounters with the aliens that he does.  From the wholesale slaughter in the opening attack through to hiding out in the farmhouse behind enemy lines through to being picked up and half sucked in to the alien ship, it just doesn’t seem realistic when others are exterminated in the millions.

In addition, there are a few moments that are so unrealistic that it takes you out of your suspense and makes you think “yeah right”… for example the fact that a passenger jet crashes on the house that they are staying in and they not only survive but are apparently unaware of the fact until they step outside in the morning is a bit weird.  Also the fact that Tom is chosen to be eaten by the aliens when he is in the tripods “food pouch” and then everyone instantly rallies around to pull him out when previously everyone was sitting around waiting to die is unrealistic (again, this is an example of why Tom has more lives than a cat in this movie).

Also there are a few Americanisms that don’t go unnoticed.  The way the initial attacks are queried to be the work of terrorists is perhaps in poor taste.  Sure it is a fact that we live in a time in which terrorism is a massive issue, but do we need to bring in the political war of Iraq and terrorism into movies?  This scene follows a scene in which every house in Tom Cruises street has an American flag waving… the only piece, but a piece nonetheless of pro American propaganda.

So in summary, a great movie that is scarier and more suspenseful than I thought it would, but it doesn’t go untouched by a small amount of American cringe factor with cheese, but it is by no means the worst movie in this regard.

Rating:  4 Stars.