Movie Review: War of the Worlds

I wanted to like this movie. I have enjoyed nearly every movie Tom Cruise has starred in. I like most of Steven Spielberg's stuff--even A.I.. And I really found Minority Report entertaining. I'm a big sf (science fiction) fan--I have fond memories of a b&w version of War of the Worlds that I saw on the late night show, not to mention a darn fine yarn by H.G. Wells.

I am sorely disappointed in this one.

Spielberg and his buddy, George Lucas, are fascinated by special effects. To paraphrase Jeff Goldblum's character in Jurassic Park, they're so busy figuring out what they can do that they forget what they should do.

There are two parts to the story of "WOTW". The first is about aliens trying to take over the earth and the effort to stop them. The second, in the Spielberg version, is a journey a man must take to bring his children to safety. Now, when a man (or a woman) makes a journey, they should not be the same person at the end as they were at the beginning. Nor should their traveling companions. While Spielberg's aliens are good at creating havoc, Tom Cruise's character is lacking in personal and emotional growth. Dakota Fanning plays Tom's daughter. She is either screaming or catatonic. The actor who plays Tom's son is even worse. His role is the sullen teenager. Whatever Dad says, he, as Teen, must do the opposite.

However, Hubs liked it. As he said, "Aliens come and blow things up. What's not to like?" DS#2 also liked it, sort of. He didn't like the ending--the Spielberg ending, not the H.G. Wells ending.

Warning: these aliens are not the Drew Barrymore "E.T." types. These aliens are more "Independence Day" or "Signs."

On the March Hare Rating System: Wait until it runs on cable.

This movie did lead to some interesting discussion on the way to the family barbecue.

**WARNING: THE FOLLOWING MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS. CONTINUE READING AT YOUR OWN RISK!**
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One of the discussions centered on the effects an EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) might have on the functioning of automobiles. In the movie, there is an EMP and nothing electronic works after, including cars. Tom's character is running out to investigate and passes by a repair shop. A friend asks him for advice on what he might try next. Tom yells, "Replace the selenoid." The mechanic does and the car works. Now, wouldn't an EMP wipe out a selenoid if it were in the box as well as in the car? The car is actually a late-1980's/early-1990's minivan. From personal experience (we had an '87), these vans have electronic ignition. They also have computer-processors that act as sensors. Wouldn't these have been fried by an EMP? And, if so, changing a selenoid won't fix it. AFAIK, EMP's are blocked only by lead. DS#1 who is studying electronics in community college, agreed.

Another discussion centered on the backstory of the characters. Spielberg hints at it, but doesn't develop it. In the opening scene, Tom's character is show at work as a container crane operator. There were several things wrong with this scene (where's his hard hat? where's his safety vest?), but I know this is a highly skilled union job and pays really well--usually into six figures. Yet he drives a heap and lives in next to a freeway.

When his ex-wife shows up to drop off their kids for the weekend, she walks through the house and there's an engine on the dining room table. He apologizes for it being there, but the implication is this is nothing new. He repairs engines as a hobby (confirmed by the mechanic asking him for advice later). Now, one of the rules of drama I have learned is that if there is a gun on the mantle in the first act, it must be fired in the third. So the character's hobby of tinkering with engines should be important, right? Not in Spielberg's universe. Other than the "replace the selenoid" remark, his mechanical ability or skill with the container crane have no relevance. Is Spielberg trying to contrast Tom's character as a blue-collar worker with his ex-wife's new husband as a white-collar executive? The new husband has even less of a purpose in the movie than the ex-wife.

Dakota Fanning's character has issues. These are hinted at and handled by her brother. Her dad (Tom) is clueless about what is going on: why she's freaking out, what to do to help her. His estrangement from his children is hinted at in other scenes, but never explained. Did he leave them? Was he pushed away? Did he have an obession that alienated him from his wife and kids? I have no idea.

What DS#2 objected to the most was the contrived ending. It's a Spielberg movie, after all--it has to have a happy ending. We were not convinced.

Independence Day was on the next night. A much better alien invasion movie, even though it was made in 1996.