Movie Review - War of the worlds

(Picture source: www.waroftheworlds.com)

Story in a line:
Aliens want to take over the planet so they try to destroy mankind. Tom Cruise saves his family

The Verdict:
Spielberg rocks. Dakota Fanning is the best actress in Hollywood. Tom Cruise cannot act (though he tries real hard)

Virivaana Review:

The movie succeeds in a number of ways (making it extremely watchable). An eerie doomsday like atmosphere is created, and sitting in the theater, I was absolutely involved. The special effects are so good, I almost jumped out of my seat a few times. The alien's destructive tripod machines are brilliantly portrayed - with their blaring horns and huge headlights (which make them look like they have eyes!)

The father-daughter relationship has been portrayed well. Dakota Fanning (cheers to her make up artist) looks adorable, and acts brilliantly (only Spielberg and Maniratnam can make children act this way). Even her constant screaming is not irritating, and you really want mankind to win the war of the worlds so that a child like her can grow up to see a happy world!

Being a big Spielberg fan and an even bigger sci-fi fan and believer in ET intelligence, I was waiting for this movie with great expectations and I am not entirely disappointed. The war of the worlds is a dark movie, brilliantly shot, and pretty entertaining. Unfortunately, the movie ends on a disappointing note with a complete fairy tale ending, almost resembling M. Night Shyamalan's Signs. Also, Tom Cruise's mediocre actiing casts a big shadow on the movie's overall impact.

I try to not sound too critical, but really, we HAVE seen this story before, in movies like Independence Day and Signs. Also, Spielberg subtly copies some of his own stuff (like the long fingers of the aliens stretching out ET style, and the mechanical probe searching for humans - very similar to the small spider-bots in Minority Report)

Ok, now about Tom Cruise. His crazy actions in the past few months will be recorded for posterity in the hall-of-fame for biggest celebrity blunders! Hey Tom Cruise...this is a SPIELBERG movie!!! People will watch it anyway! Did you really think you could appeal to all the thaaymaargal in the audience by your antics on Oprah? Its the height of narcissism!

So is the War of the worlds worth a trip to the movie theater? Probably yes...but Spielberg, can you please make your next movie without Tom Cruise?