Don't have any problems with this masterpiece. Just here to defend the 2005 remake from all the angry old fans of the original! War of the Worlds 2005 is equally just as much of (even MORE SO!) a masterpiece CLASSIC and pays very fair tribute to this also classic. So...here goes! :)
2005 War of the Worlds: Also a 5/5 from me!!
While perhaps not quite in the top 3-4 Steven Spielberg titles, his reimagining of the 1953 original projects an identity of its own, and with solid tension spanning all three acts, itโs undoubtedly a feature film that delivers time and time again, particularly on the sonic front.
With a great cast and inventive direction, Spielberg captures the imagination with a dark menace often absent from his cinematic style, and yet the narrative keeps true to a simple formula, which in many respects underpins its success and lasting appeal.
Whatโs ultimately great about โWar of the Worldsโ is that you can watch this never having seen its predecessor, and lose nothing in the appreciation itโs apocalyptic scale, while I for one would welcome am extended cut were the opportunity to present itself, and so in conclusion itโs an easy recommendation to newcomers, and a gentle reminder to those whoโve perhaps forgotten just how good it really is.
This is an excellent remake of the 1953 classic. Superb special effects drive this increasingly intense & frightening film from start to finish. Spielberg's excellent direction elicits strong performances from his cast, especially Cruise who totally inhabits his role warts & all. By the end he has redeemed/redefined his character from a self-centered part time Dad & sob to an heroic figure. Two caveats however: Dakota Fanning's otherwise very good performance is marred by too much shrill screaming. A little goes a long way only in the appropriate places please -enough already! And why oh why Tim Robbins & his character? They were unnecessary to the story & to me actually stalled the flow of the film. Cruise & Fanning could have effectively handled this segment of the film without him. Otherwise an effectively told tale & an entertaining two hours of fun & scariness.
Now, for the kids in this movie, people are way too harsh on them. Both Robbie & Rachel are actually 10x smarter than Ray during the Martian attacks. And Rachel's screaming isn't nearly as annoying as Mary Jane's screams from the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy. She's a child who just witnessed mass homicide, give her a break.
So glad I watched this again. I wanted to compare it to the current series, which goes a little too far afield from Welles' source novel. I appreciate films like this that go farther than just being entertaining. The post 9/11 paranoia was definitely running under the surface of this film. In this current time of isolation and, for many, growing desperation, this film is a sobering reminder of what our world might look like if we fail to work together globally, with science, to address the challenges of the continued existence of our species on this planet. The irony that a virus that is killing hundreds of thousands of humans in our world would be a savior to us from an invasion from another world..is rich. With that thought, go back and watch Spielberg's War of the Worlds again! And stay safe!!