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Best film I've seen in I don't know how long.
Fantastic
Fantastic
Posted: 22:07 Jun 30 2005
War of the Worlds review
Directed By: Steven Spielberg
Written By: H.G. Wells (novel), David Koepp & Josh Friedman (screenplay)
Starring: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Tim Robbins
Certificate: 12a
Trailer: Quicktime
Tagline: They're already here.
Put quite simply, War of the Worlds is Spielberg's best blockbuster since, and perhaps including, Jurassic Park. He's back on form.
The action scenes, the quiet, poignent moments and the gut wrenching scenes are all shot with the same quality. Effects shots work to great effect and there are a *lot* of them, but it never feels gratuitous and it never detracts from the story.
Of course, no good director can direct a good film without good actors. And Spielberg got them. Tom Cruise is Tom Cruise, in the good way. I always tend to end up liking Tom Cruise's character, even when i'm not supposed to. In War, his character is an alright guy, but he's a bit of a tit. He's a Dad, got two kids, one of which is in his teens, but he's got no idea how to be a Dad, and doesn't seem to care. But I liked him.
Dakota fanning is scary. Scarily good. I hope she can keep a sense of normalcy in her life and continue to make good films, because she's great here.
Not sure what else to say really... except it rules, go see it.
(Edited by Maffrew 30/06/2005 22:06)
Written By: H.G. Wells (novel), David Koepp & Josh Friedman (screenplay)
Starring: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Tim Robbins
Certificate: 12a
Trailer: Quicktime
Tagline: They're already here.
Put quite simply, War of the Worlds is Spielberg's best blockbuster since, and perhaps including, Jurassic Park. He's back on form.
The action scenes, the quiet, poignent moments and the gut wrenching scenes are all shot with the same quality. Effects shots work to great effect and there are a *lot* of them, but it never feels gratuitous and it never detracts from the story.
Of course, no good director can direct a good film without good actors. And Spielberg got them. Tom Cruise is Tom Cruise, in the good way. I always tend to end up liking Tom Cruise's character, even when i'm not supposed to. In War, his character is an alright guy, but he's a bit of a tit. He's a Dad, got two kids, one of which is in his teens, but he's got no idea how to be a Dad, and doesn't seem to care. But I liked him.
Dakota fanning is scary. Scarily good. I hope she can keep a sense of normalcy in her life and continue to make good films, because she's great here.
Not sure what else to say really... except it rules, go see it.
(Edited by Maffrew 30/06/2005 22:06)
8 Replies and 6379 Views in Total.
Have to say that imho this is not the best of thesummer blockbusters by any stretch of the imagination 
Like Maff I'm all in favour of Mr Cruise he always plays character that everyone can emote with for one reason of another and does so perfectly again here as the failed-father type.
By far my favourite part of the film is the opening sequece of the "jack the lad dad" coming home late to look after his kids, finding that his son has turned traitor and wears a red sox cap not a yankees logo as he used to.
But then the whole storm scene was fatastic, spielberg captured that terrified fascination we have with lightning perfectly. Then even better is when Cruise goes to a) find his car and b) stumbles on the lightning stike site. Absolute perfection.
Once things get going, I lost interest. screamy bratlings and angst ridden teans are jsut SO boring
The whole red-strewn landscape though was horrific yet fascinating all at the same time.
I wanted sci-fi war, not family melodrama. Oh well
Overall, a far more sophisticated and far less enjoyable version of Independence Day
Like Maff I'm all in favour of Mr Cruise he always plays character that everyone can emote with for one reason of another and does so perfectly again here as the failed-father type.
By far my favourite part of the film is the opening sequece of the "jack the lad dad" coming home late to look after his kids, finding that his son has turned traitor and wears a red sox cap not a yankees logo as he used to.
But then the whole storm scene was fatastic, spielberg captured that terrified fascination we have with lightning perfectly. Then even better is when Cruise goes to a) find his car and b) stumbles on the lightning stike site. Absolute perfection.
Once things get going, I lost interest. screamy bratlings and angst ridden teans are jsut SO boring
The whole red-strewn landscape though was horrific yet fascinating all at the same time.
I wanted sci-fi war, not family melodrama. Oh well
Overall, a far more sophisticated and far less enjoyable version of Independence Day
Posted: 16:27 Jul 03 2005 
I thought this was a quite good film but with an absolutely attrocious ending. They just seemed to get bored with the story and tacked an "and they all lived happily ever after" ending onto it. Tom Cruise was pretty good, the effects were fantastic (especially the tripod things), the kids were both incredibly annoying.
I thought the best scene, and the scariest bit by a long way, was when they were driving towards the ferry and got mobbed and attacked by the crowds of people.
I've not seen the original, but I imagine it to be a whole lot different and better than this...
I thought the best scene, and the scariest bit by a long way, was when they were driving towards the ferry and got mobbed and attacked by the crowds of people.
I've not seen the original, but I imagine it to be a whole lot different and better than this...
Posted: 21:06 Jul 04 2005
I wasn't impressed by anything other than Dakota Fanning's superb acting and the amazing special effects - I want one of those tripods, they were WAY cool
The rest of it was pretty mediocre (including Tom Cruise) and there were so many parts of the movie that annoyed me, but I can't really mention them because I'd give away too much of the ending.
Needless to say, I wish I'd gone to see almost ANYTHING else that was showing that day.
The rest of it was pretty mediocre (including Tom Cruise) and there were so many parts of the movie that annoyed me, but I can't really mention them because I'd give away too much of the ending.
Needless to say, I wish I'd gone to see almost ANYTHING else that was showing that day.
Posted: 21:12 Jul 04 2005 
That was my favourite scene too. The panic induced herd mentality of the refugees was scarier than any of the alien bits.
by PictureOfFlowers
I thought the best scene, and the scariest bit by a long way, was when they were driving towards the ferry and got mobbed and attacked by the crowds of people.
Posted: 21:16 Jul 04 2005 
I saw it last night and really liked it. Without spoiling, I liked the way Spielberg had a different take on parts of the story. And I liked Morgan Freeman doing the H. G. Wells narration at the beginning and end.
Good film
Good film
Posted: 18:32 Jul 05 2005
I thought it had potential to be such a great film, but the stupidity of the characters and the whining of that little girl in it, made me just want them to die so the film could be over.
Although I must say I did think two parts of the film were superbly done. The first one was when the bodies were floating down the river, first one, then two, then a dozen, then hundreds. And the second was when the man was ripping the glass off the windshield with his own bare hands, that really showed the desperation.
So yes, not one of my favourite films in the whole world.
Although I must say I did think two parts of the film were superbly done. The first one was when the bodies were floating down the river, first one, then two, then a dozen, then hundreds. And the second was when the man was ripping the glass off the windshield with his own bare hands, that really showed the desperation.
So yes, not one of my favourite films in the whole world.
Posted: 09:17 Jul 15 2005
i've not been a fan of tom cruise for a long time now so when i was asked by a friend to go see it i said yes but only because i didnt have to listen to his self-rightious-i-love-to-hear-myself-talk rants. the fact that it was in italian i thought it would be fine, i wouldnt understand, but having been a fan of the original when i was little and knowing the history of the story as well i pretty much understood everything that was happening and even had to explain a bit to my friend (she cant wait for the info she must know as soon as she's curious) i enjoyed but again ONLY because it was in italian and i didnt have to listen to TC, the effects were brilliant so it was just pretty much special effects for me though despite the lanuage difference Dakota Fanning i thought was really good i hope she remains so as she gets older.(i understood more then i thought i could and yes i know it's dubbed by other actors 
but if you can still be taken with someone's acting despite that hinderence it surely shows they're GOOD no?)
(Edited by bipolar 10/09/2005 15:56)
but if you can still be taken with someone's acting despite that hinderence it surely shows they're GOOD no?)(Edited by bipolar 10/09/2005 15:56)
Posted: 15:54 Sep 10 2005