Post by George Willson on Dec 16, 2005 17:36:07 GMT -5
KIM Rating: 1.6.4
The modern Steven Spielberg adaptation of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds is a refreshing modern update of the classic story. It begins as an action flick, drops into a basic (almost low-budget-like) thriller for a sequence around the Act II/Act III mark, and then back to the action for Act III. While some have criticised this genre break mid-film, I think it works very well.
This film is generally paced very well, with only a few slow-downs in the second act, where you have to wonder what they're going to do next. Perhaps it is done this way on purpose to feel safe, but it slows down too much. The characters were fairly well-rounded, although the son's instense desire to go fight the machines is a little odd, considering he hadn't lost anyone close to him to their attack. It's a little too hot-headed, in my opinion, to be willing to leave his little sister in his father's hands, since he considers his father to be incompetent.
The imagery of the machines is very well conceived and true to the novel as well as the strange look of the aliens, although they are six-legged instead of three. Lots of cool shots of the various ways in which the aliens attack, and the first use of their heat rays is definitely something to behold as people pop into ashes before our eyes.
The trek the family takes is about 95% believable. Tom Cruise's character wants to get his kids to his ex-wife, so that sets up the journey. One leg of his journey that really turned his tables was a little hard to swallow that he would actually go there (even though he had planned to). Seeing the situation at the ferry, I think I would have turned and gone around inside of driving right into it.
Overall, the film was a good watch. Spielberg still knows what he is doing, so the directing was fantastic. The reasoning of the novel is still intact. Great imagery, and believable plot. I would watch it again, given the chance. Worth checking out.
The modern Steven Spielberg adaptation of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds is a refreshing modern update of the classic story. It begins as an action flick, drops into a basic (almost low-budget-like) thriller for a sequence around the Act II/Act III mark, and then back to the action for Act III. While some have criticised this genre break mid-film, I think it works very well.
This film is generally paced very well, with only a few slow-downs in the second act, where you have to wonder what they're going to do next. Perhaps it is done this way on purpose to feel safe, but it slows down too much. The characters were fairly well-rounded, although the son's instense desire to go fight the machines is a little odd, considering he hadn't lost anyone close to him to their attack. It's a little too hot-headed, in my opinion, to be willing to leave his little sister in his father's hands, since he considers his father to be incompetent.
The imagery of the machines is very well conceived and true to the novel as well as the strange look of the aliens, although they are six-legged instead of three. Lots of cool shots of the various ways in which the aliens attack, and the first use of their heat rays is definitely something to behold as people pop into ashes before our eyes.
The trek the family takes is about 95% believable. Tom Cruise's character wants to get his kids to his ex-wife, so that sets up the journey. One leg of his journey that really turned his tables was a little hard to swallow that he would actually go there (even though he had planned to). Seeing the situation at the ferry, I think I would have turned and gone around inside of driving right into it.
Overall, the film was a good watch. Spielberg still knows what he is doing, so the directing was fantastic. The reasoning of the novel is still intact. Great imagery, and believable plot. I would watch it again, given the chance. Worth checking out.