War of the Worlds (2005) Reviews?
 

Has anybody seen a DVD review for War of the Worlds (2005) ?

There will likely not be one, at least until after street date, as this is (unless I'm mistaken) a Dreamworks title.

I'm skipping it regardless.

I'd rent it again to see the great SFX work... but the acting - eesh!

There was nothing particularly wrong with the acting. As much as Tom Cruise made a buffoon out of himself in the media this year, his performance in the film was solid. It's the writing that was the big problem, as usual per Steven "I'm Going to Make 3/4 of a Good Film and Then Totally Fuck It Up in the End" Spielberg.

I'm really looking forward to watching this again on DVD. The DTS should be AMAZING!!!!! Hoping for a review soon...

Picked up and early release copy of the R1 limited edition yesterday (based in UK). Just a few impressions...

First off, the limited edition is a pretty decent looking package on the outside. The outer slipcase has a sort of silvery sheen to it, and the alien hand encircling the earth is raised to give a sort of 3D effect. When you remove the wrapping, you have one of those removable pieces of paper on the back with the back cover detail. Always find those somewhat redundant and very rarely keep them. The inner case is a gatefold type with excellent artwork mixed in with scenes from the film - all appropriately in red hues. Ni insert, for those who care about such things.

I watched the movie last night, and pleased to report the pic and sound are nothing less than first class. Yes - the DTS track rocks, and really jolts you out of your seat, especially during the opening sequences of destruction. Lots of use of surrounds, and lots of lovely bass. The varied colour palette is captured perfectly, and pic is sharp.

No commentary, but extras are plentiful and informing. There are a few short pieces on the inspiration provided by the original novel and movie, a feature on Wells himself, scoring the film, realising the Alien designs, galleries, production notes, and a short piece discussing the link between CET3K, ET and WOTW.

But the real meat is in the 4 production diaries, which total about 90 mins altogether. Focusing on the various stages of the films production it covers pretty much all the bases and tells you everything you need to know, almost. Lots of on set stuff, ILM and various effects work, involvement and interviews with all the principals etc. Interesting to see how much was shot on location using practical effects, and how that was married in with the CGI work. There is some insight into Speilbergs decisions to change certain story elements and make certain choices, though it would have been nice to hear more.

I wanted to see how the car ride sequence at the start was done, when Cruise and his kids are fleeing just after the bridge blows up behind them. Unfortunately this is not covered.The sequence goes on for a few minutes with the camera swinging in and around the moving car - I was curious to see if the actors were on a soundstage and the backgrounds were cgi, or if it was a real car ride with some cgi enhancement for the camera moves. Either way it's a superb shot.

I really enjoyed this on first viewing, and did so just as much last night. I know it has it's detractors, and people have major issues with the last third of the movie. But I like Speilbergs approach to the film, the realistic way in which the action is captured by the camera - often not full on in a big sci-fi effects movie kind of way, but from a distance, through windows, from moving cars, through trees or crowds etc. Pretty much as it would be in real life. It's an interesting approach, though I can see how those wanting a full-on ID4 type of movie may have been dissapointed with it.

Some also had issues with the device of centering the story on Cruise's determination to save his children, and telling it from the perspective of the little man on the ground. Yes, there are times when this got a little cloying, especially at the end, but most of the time I thought it worked very well, and in fact by using this approach it illustrated the disaster elements of the story over the sci-fi spectacular cliches, and showing the futility of human resistance, the depths to which man is prepared to descend and the hoplessness of fighting back.

Though there are spectacular sequences in the movie, I thought it was brave of Speilberg to hold back and not deliberately show major battles in glorious detail, particularly in the battle on the hillside. We don't really need to see it, the effects and the aftermath are far more disturbing.

As for the sequence with Tim Robbins character in the basement, yes it went on too long, and it was not nescessary to show the aliens in so much detail. But apart from that I thought it worked very well. We complain that modern action sci-fi movies are all effects and explosions, and here was a different approach that for me worked largely very well.

As for the ending which again a lot of people seemed to have an issue with (and I'm talking about the demise of the Aliens, not the reunion), I just don't see the problem. It actually makes perfect sense, and avoids having to have a cliched, last-ditch hero rescuing humanity type ending. And it's the ending which Wells wrote anyway. Curious that so many people always claim about story changes in remakes, but yet still complain about this ending.

Actually, Speilberg kept pretty much to the original story, despite the modern day updating. Elements such as the red weed, the harvesting, the villainous character (Robbins), the ship sequence, and the clever way in which much of the action takes place in rural areas, which echoed the original English setting of the story.

As for the nitpicking, like how the aliens remained undetected for so many years - come on, it's sci-fi, there could be any number of reasons why. The fact that this is not answered should not be viewed as a problem, I don't think it's the primary job of filmakers to answer and address every question, the main focus is to entertain. And we all know by now that all filmakers will always go for what creates the best effect and looks good, even if it does not always make sense. If you go with it, I find you enjoy the film much more. If you want to sit there and nitpick and go "Huh?" - fine, but I think you're just putting barriers up to your enjoyment.

Wow, sounds good! :up: Can't wait to hear the DTS!

Thanks for the review... really looking forward to this.

So you're confirming that there is, in fact, NO trailer for the film to be found anywhere, correct?

Yep...no trailer, no commentary, no insert.

Problem?

A big one, but I'll still be happily buying it...

At least you have decided you will be buying it, and I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I just don't understand these people who don't actually pay any attention to what the disc does contain, and the fact that it's and excellent transfer - it's just that knee-jerk "no insert/commentary/trailers - no sale" attitide that gets me.

Commentary - well surprise surprise, it's a Speilberg movie, so no surprise there.

Insert - gatefold design of the limited edition packaging has no holder for an insert, so it's not like there is an empty holder like on other discs.

Trailers - I really cannot understand this - you have the darn movie in your hand, what do you want the trailers for, and how often are you going to watch them?

I just find it hard to fathom that some people will happily pass on an excellent disc just to make a point because one or all of the above are missing - and in the naive belief that their protest is somehow going to affect the sales figures.

I understand your stance on "no [x]--no sale" and agree, it's usually a little over the top. Even I won't pass on a title if the trailer is left off (hell, these days I'd hardly be buying DVDs if that was the case), but IMO, they are the single most important extra a DVD can have, and no matter how many other extras are layered on, no disc will ever be really Special/Deluxe/Ultimate without one. As far as my reasons why, just do a search--I've opined with others like me on the issue ad infinitum before and I'm too tired to type out the old argument again...

Thanks for the early review, can't wait! And I agree with your opinions on the film 100%. It actually did contain many (updated) scenes from the novel, just with a diff twist to most of them.

If anyone has any info on the BB exclusive book - let us know. With that included I don't mind paying the higher price.

you're kiddin' right? cause Dakota's performance made her seem manic. Very very inconsistant acting.

She's an 11-year old kid on the run from evil space aliens who have just blown up the city she lives in, and you're complaining that she's too "manic"?

one minute, she's all freakin' out, the next she's calm as a bug, "let me cry and scream now, oh wait, let me get sassy"- just shoot her, I've liked her roles before, but here, she is downright annoying.

Joseph Mazzello and Ariana Richards were far superior in 'Jurassic Park' than Dakota was in this film IMO.

Good call Josh Z. I mean, think about it. Worldwide extermination by these seemingly unstoppable machines, that infiltrate every nook and cranny they can find to wipe everyone out. How would all of us feel?

Oh, so in real life disasters and emergencies you hit 'manic' and stay that way permanently, do you?

Saw the DVD over the weekend. Good movie but the ending, what up with that After such a good build up and such a let down ending. Everyone was disappointed. Dakota's character did get on our nerves.

Good FX and that is about it. Grade: */****.

Giles is correct. Fanning was annoying (both kids were). She gave a strong performance in "Man on Fire" but seemed more like a prop in this movie (which is the director/writer's fault...not Fannings).

Fellas,

I'll have one up today for all of you.

I thought it was OK. It's one of Steven Spielberg's money movies. Something he does just for a paycheck. The movie is OK, but it's by his movie making formula where in the end everything is well and everyone lives happily ever after.

Doesn't compare to Schindler's List.

I really enjoyed this film, but one aspect annoyed me. This film was filled with so many plotholes and inconsistencies that just made me roll my eyes.