Tonight, I grudgingly sat through War of the Worlds. I went with Mary and another couple because we wanted to do something and all the other movies looked like garbage.
The movie promised that I would be "on the edge of my seat". And I was. But that was only because I was slumped so far into my chair that my butt was hanging over the edge of the seat.
With the exception of some truly incredible special effects, War of the Worlds is a major dud. Where do I begin?
First of all, I never really gave a rip about Tom Cruise's character. (What WAS his name, again?) He was obviously a selfish dirtbag dad who didn't really connect with his kids. His ex and her new husband drop off the rebellious teenage son and the little cow-eyed girl (yeah, she was cute and precocious). Before you know it, the aliens are attacking.
SPOILERS BELOW, if you care...
A cool storm forms in the sky. Lightning of some sort emits an electromagnetic pulse that kills everything mechanic, including all automobiles. Ok, so the aliens have planted these incredible "tripod" ships/landwalkers over a million years ago, before any people were on earth. And they are SO smart, they've been waiting for just the right opportunity to come and wipe us out. Gee, if only Osama and the other terrorists would take this long to plan a coup.
These giant machines erupt from the ground, and the stupid people are all standing there... watching... waiting... thinking exactly WHAT, I don't know. And then the destruction begins. The earth shakes and breaks apart, the ground crumbles, buildings collapse, people get zapped with rays that leave only the dirty laundry floating about in the air. Ouch, that's gotta hurt.
Some people get smart and start running, but many are still standing around.. watching. Whatever. I think there would be more people dropping dead from heart attack or stroke than anything else. Our twinkie-filled arteries would guarantee that.
So Ray (yeah, that was Cruise's character...) grabs his family and finds the only car that works. He was smart enough to tell his mechanic buddy how to fix one of the cars and then he ends up taking the thing. Hey, don't say he didn't warn his mechanic buddy who was trying to stop him from taking the car. After all, he had just got done working on it and it wasn't his. But perhaps he was too stupid to see all the chaos around him. See what happens when you don't eat your wheaties, kids? Zap. Didn't see THAT coming.
Off they drive. Where are they going? Boston, of course. Because that's where the kid's mommy is. The world is coming to an end and Ray's big mission is to get to Boston.
These aliens were impenetrable. Indestructible. They had a force field around them that no arsenal could get through. It looked pretty grim for mankind.
Now, I am convinced that the aliens weren't really out to destoy all mankind. No, it was most definitely Tom Cruise that they were after. How do I know? Because everywhere he went, they were there. We'll be the safe in the house! Nope. An airplane just crashed into the house and aliens are coming for you. Let's get in the car. Uh oh. Aliens again. How about we drive to the ferry that crosses the Hudson River? Wouldn't you know it. More aliens. I know, we'll hide out in a house with Tim Robbins. Sure, he's freaky, but he wears it well. Shucks. Blasted aliens.
I'm not sure if it was a personal vendetta for his role in Cocktail or if they are just mad him sharing the secrets of Scientology. Whatever the case is, couldn't they just abduct Tom Cruise one night while no one is looking. They can suck his brains out or whatever else they might find in there.
Anyhow, Cruise and his family are like cats with nine lives, escaping impossible situation after situation. It was all very believable. (Insert sarcasm here...)
We finally see the actual aliens outside their tripod ships in an incredibly boring and tedious scene inside a basement. And they look like Susan Sarandon! Just kidding. They look like.. every other alien you've ever seen.
Mr. Spielberg. Attention, Steven Spielberg. We've seen this movie before. Please come up with NEW alien looks for your next film or I'm phoning home. Seriously, these guys looked remarkably like the aliens from Independence Day.
Finally taken into the talons of one of the tripod beastie thingies, both Cruise and the little cow-eyed girl are tossed in a cage that the aliens use to hold them until they are ready to eat. A nasty looking tentacle comes down into the cage, grabs it's prey, and pulls it into it's synthetic-looking spongy-red belly thingamajig. Get the picture? It's actually pretty funny.
Cruise becomes desert, and as others are holding on to his feet to keep him from being totally digested, he grabs a grenade (just happened to bring them with), inserts it in the belly of the beast, pulls the pin, and is subsequently rescued from a slimy death. Boom boom, out go the lights. The beastie explodes, the cage containing Cruise and other personages falls from incredible heights (of course no one is hurt) and off they go. Boston beckons.
Cut to Boston. They have arrived and the aliens appear to be dying. The military is gathering up for an assault and Cruise points out that birds are landing on a tripod. The force field must be gone. Doh. Why didn't the military leaders think of that. Tom saves the day with his keen observations.
The tripods are blown to smithereens. The aliens die. Millions of people are dead, but the kids are reunited with their mommy and undoubtedly live happily ever after. Or in intense psychological counseling forevermore.
So what exactly killed the aliens? At first, one was led to believe that perhaps they were like a Borg collective. When Tommyboy blew up one, perhaps they were all affected. But that would be stupid, right?
Or perhaps the 30-second narrative at the end (voiced by Morgan Freeman) told the real story. It leads you to believe that the aliens had no immunity to viruses and bacteria, so they died. Um, but that's also stupid. Let me get this straight. The aliens had been hatching this plan for a million years, and they never thought to check out the atmosphere? Sigh. There really is no intelligent life out there. Or in Hollywood.
A few people applauded when the movie was over. My mom commented these are probably the same people who applaud when an airplane lands. Shaking it off, I made my way to the door to find my brain that I had to leave on the way in.
The moral of the story? If you are going to have aliens attack the planet earth, sneeze on them to defend yourself. And... Will Smith kicks alien butt better than Tom Cruise.
Why, I am surprised that you did not like this movie. After all, it was "God's" ingenuity, God's smallest creatures, bacteria, that killed the aliens. I thougt that you would appreciate that part. I like the REALITY of the movie, the suspense that made you feel as if you were there. Did you not see the 50's movie before this one? Or read the book? Or hear the musical rock concert album that told the story. It probably could have been better, but it wasn't bad. By the way, this shows what I have been talking about for awhile. If something like WOW REALLY happened, we would only have OURSELVES to rely on to try to survive. We would ALL have to bond together for a common good to survive as a race..... That is the beauty of science fiction, why I like it so much, it shows HOPE for humanity as a whole, rather than the BLEAKNESS of believe this or else you burn in Hell forever. I think humanity has a great future, but alas, it may take something akin to an alien invasion to force us to be on the same page.
Clearly a difference of opinion. I thought it was mindless drivel that was intended for the intelligence level of a 13-year old.
Humanity has no hope on its own. God is our only hope. Humanity has shown that it can not solve its own problems for 6000+ years. We ARE our own worst enemies.
As for "burning in hell for eternity", you'll have to take that up with God. He wrote the book, not me.
But one of your misconceptions is that the God of the Bible is a mean, angry God waiting to strike us down. That couldn't be further from the truth. Whatever punishment awaits people in the afterlife will be due to their rejection of His love, and not because they weren't afraid of Him. Just thought I'd clarify.
One final comment here and then I will let you to your own devices. If I seem that I am continually telling you that you are wrong, it is probably perceived that way because I usually respond to something you have said previously that seems as if YOU are the one first being judgemental. All I have ever tried to say is that many people around the planet have different views and opinions, many VERY different from myself. That DOES NOT, REPEAT DOES NOT make them all wrong. It is a quest for truth that everyone must face, and many people make different choices. I am saying that that is OKAY. I DO think that it is wonderful that you have found something to believe in so wholeheartedly. It gives you hope and balane and structure in your life. For YOU, it is necessary. For many others it is necessary. For many others, their own Gods are what get them through. I never said that God did not absolutely exist, I simply say that He, It, whatever is much different than anything we can yet imagine. The Bible is a MAN-MADE book and a MAN-MADE interpretation of one POSSIBLE truth. If you believe it is "absolute" truth, that is fine. All I have EVER said is that you8 should let it be YOUR truth and let oters make up their own minds. When you ABSOLUTELY REFUSE to accept even the slight POSSIBLILTY that anyone else could also be right, something that you ALWAYS do - refusing to even wonder that anything besides Christianity could be even remotely possible, that is when I step in and my hackles are raised. I think it wonderful that you are a Christian. But you have to remember that other people ARE NOT all misguided, stupid, and otherwise misled when they choose to believ in a different truth. When you do, you are insulting the intelligence of BILLIONS of people around the globe who have had religions for THOUSANDS of years BEFORE Christianity. To me, that is ARRGOGANT. Not ALL of those billions and billions of people are wrong. They CAN'T be. Logic dictates that. Logic says that if there were no other truth but Christianty, then there would be absolutely NO NEED for other belief systems. Christianity is only ONE of many ways of seeing the world. The reason that I say the things I do to you is NOT to make you change your religion, but simply to admit the slightest POSSIBILITY that there might be more to the story than what you believe. But you REFUSE to even show some empathy for others and continually claim that they are wrong. To me that shows arrogance, and I guess that you might consider me arrogant and intoleant from fighting against that arrogance. If so, then oh well, because that is not the intended purpose. It is too bad that we do not know each other personally. I am bettibng that we would either get along great or hate each other, but it sure would be interesting. Just thought I would clarify all of that. Why not kick back and watch some other science fiction sometime, like Stargate or Twilight Zone or something, see if you can enjoy it more than you did WOTW. Sci-fi opens up a world of possibilities, ad if any of it could be true, I think it would only increase the glory of whatever entity might be out there that we call God. To me, finding out that we are not alone in the Universe, that there is greater meaning to all of this, and that we might be part of something more is incredible. But, I guess to you, you call that experience God. I call it millions of alien races that MIGHT exist, and only the barest glimpse of what the Universe and POSSIBLE creator might be like. Now, go ahead, shoot down that theory and tell me that I am stupid and crazy like I am sure you want to. Tell me that I am wrong so that you may feel more secure in your own beliefs, if it make you happy. Tell me that there is no such thing as aliens and God is the ONLY truth and that I am crazy and idiotic for believing anything else. Hopefully, you will be the man I hope you are and say that even if I am "wrong", I am at least imaginative and hopeful and moral and have a right to believe in something greater than ourselves. Because I do believe in something greater than this world, but I think that the Bible is only a SMALL part of whatever TRUE greatness, awe and wonder may await us. Take care......
When the arrogant, self-centered Tom Cruise took a role that portrayed his attitudes in life on the big screen, why did you think it would be anything but what it was?
He has always been a pompous ass and will continue to be until people like you (and all the other 23 million that went to see his piece of crap movie) stop going to see his movies! Hello!?
By the looks of your review, the screenwriting does not justify 2 hours of pompousness.
Meanwhile, you may be able to get your $8.75 refunded, but you will never get your two hours back.
Thanks for the laughs...at your expense.
On the contrary, Robert! I DO know that other people believe many different things. And I totally accept that fact. I can respect an individual without respecting their belief system. I can separate the two.
You ARE imaginative! Your ARE hopeful! Your desire for mankind IS inspirational! I hope I have never indicated otherwise. Robert, your attitudes towards humanity are worthy of being modeled. If only more people really cared as you do, I'm certain there would not be as much strife.
Alas, the human race is broken. People are broken. Someone has got to fix it. A chair cannot fix itself. A broken down car needs a mechanic to put it back in shape. Every design needs a designer.
When we speak of the pursuit of "truth", it is noteworthy to mention that merely the pursuit of it is evidence that it exists. But more importantly, it helps us to see that if there is "truth", there is also "falsehoods". After all, why would be pursue something if everything was already true? It's because we know in our hearts that there must be a WAY!
From a logical standpoint, we can easily conclude that not every belief system is valid, merely from the fact that many contradict each other. For example, Hindus believe in many Gods. Jews believe there is only one God. Both of them can not be right! The only conclusions can be one of the following.
a) Hindus are right. There are many Gods.
b) Jews are right. There is only one God.
They are mutually exclusive. Someone is believing something false. I'm not disputing which it is, just merely pointing out that your theology of all paths leading to truth is logically impossible.
There is so much in your message to be discussed, but its late and I am willing to let it rest. I'll leave you with the documented words of Jesus Christ Himself, whose position you would undoubtedly classify as supreme arrogance...
"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but through me"
:-)
Joel
One last goodbye here for awhile (hopefully without the usual typos thanks to an ancient keyboard) as I have a busy summer (completing my master's degree) and much work ahead and probably will not get the chance to post often. Just wanted to thank you, Joel, for your kind words and to see you proved your mettle as a generally kind hearted soul. This has been what I have been talking about all along - even though we may not agree on everything, it is the COMMON good between us that matters. The same goes for the rest of the world. I think you might agree that most people focus on the DIFFERENCES between them rather than what is the same. We ALL need to see past the color of one's skin, what they choose to do in the bedroom, and what political orientation one has to see the GOODNESS AND SIMILARITIES in our hearts and souls. We need to find those COMMON traits and bond on them - because we are ALL people. THAT is what will save humanity, the ACCEPTANCE of differences, instead of continually killing each other over stupid differences. Jesus Christ also said to "love thy enemy." I do think that we need to heed those words he spoke more often. All the goverments around the world should heed them, instead of sending their children into battle because of trivial differences. Thanks, Joel, for helping to prove that it IS possible for people to see the COMMON traits that they share, even if they do not agree on every idea. Now, if only more Liberals and Conservatives could learn to do the same thing, we might just avoid the stupid, PATHETIC fighting that I hear all the time between them. This nation, this WORLD might finally be a better place. Think on these things when you next feel you have to criticize liberals. Remember that you took a step towards unification with a "liberal" once (even though I do not consider myself really "liberal" or "Conservative". It has been a fun experience.....Take care of you and yours until we meet again...Oh, and as for the afterlife, if your God is the real truth and he is loving, caring and compassionate, he will be understanding of why I believed in different things, love me anyway (unconditionally), and give me a second chance, am I right? If he does not, then I guess he is not very loving, now is he? If my beliefs are the truth, then we have a great rollercoaster to ride yet, and the human race is just BEGINNING its journey to the stars, the dreams and mysteries that await us are mind-boggling, and I will hopefully stand beside people like you for the ride...... Farewell for now.....
If you have read the book, I think you can say that it is reasonably close adaptation. Updating the story requires bastardization of the original (like the fact that these guys didn't come from mars.) Generally, I think the story was well followed. Simple, maybe. Mindless, I doubt it. It was written over one-hundred years ago and was well ahead of its time. I think it needs to be appreciated in that light.
The key point to remember is that the movie is based on a book that was written in 1898. In the book, the aliens died from food poisoning -- humans being the food, and the poisoning, the common cold.
The movie is less believable from our point of view because we have the benefit of vaccines, anti-biotics, and cures for various diseases that once plagued mankind. For example, at the time the book was written, they didn't even have Penicillin.
Anyway, just my 2 cents.
Hey Robert, I really like you chain of thought. Write back, perhaps we can converse more. BTW the movie was alright...lol...
He's got a point. Even though you think the movie is mindless drivel, I doubt you can create a story that has spawned 3 adaptations including a radio play that caused panic in the US when played on the airwaves in the early 1900s
But of course, every movie critic thinks that writing a story people would like is easy... thats why I don't listen to you people.
Just have to say this. Religion in so many ways gives people something to live for. But religion in so many ways gives people something to kill one another for, more so than anything else in history.
3 out of 5 for WOTW.
Wow.. Is everybody christian or what? I dont believe in any, "God". So illogical. ::) I suppose you believe in the tooth fairy, and santa claus?
You mean Santa isn't real?!?!? Whaaaaa! mommy! ;-)
No, I believe in God because it is incredibly rational. In fact, a scholarly study of the sciences end up leaving the thinking person with more evidence for God than for against Him. I know it is easier to just toss belief aside as something as juvenile as believing in the Easter Bunny. I know, because I used to think that way myself. But actually gathering information and forming a knowledge base ended up having a far greater impact on me than I could ever have imagined.
Anyway. Seekers will seek. Scoffers will scoff. You are free to decide which is the fool. :-)
Amen!
�I lament that we waste so much time and money in punishing crimes and take so little pains to prevent them�we neglect the only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government; that is, the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by means of the Bible; for this Divine Book, above all others, constitutes the soul of republicanism.� �By withholding the knowledge of [the Scriptures] from children, we deprive ourselves of the best means of awakening moral sensibility in their minds.�
-Benjamin Rush
I just finished watching this pile of shite! I personally thought it sucked horribly. Ray was a character that we couldn't even care about, and just absolutely had no plot or character development.
Next to Eyes Wide Shut, it was the worst Tom Cruise movie I have ever seen. I definitely wanted my 2 hours back from this drivelous crap.
If Spielberg is going to make more crap like this, I suggest that he gets out of movie making.
Thumbs wayyyyyyyyy down! 1 star out of 5 ... blech! Maybe it was the writers that the aliens were spitting out, 'cuz they couldn't stand the script!
I thought this was a pretty wicked movie. The people who arn't going to go see it simply because Tom Cruise is in it, truly shows how narrowminded they are. The story isnt even based around him. He is just a window, a way of showing what is happening. Not a character that the movie revolves around.
I loved your review. You sumed up my thought exactly! Although the SFX were awesome--I left feel quite empty. Hey, any thoughts on how mommy (etc.) survived so grandly without a scratch. And didn't I see the son head right into the path of the tripods? Go figure?
I think everybody thats has bad things to say about the movie should shut up and realize it's just a movie, the movie stays true to the book as much as it can. It was entertaining and the SFX were brilliant. Cruise is very convincing in his middle class character and Dakota Fanning excels yet again. The movie has a lot of heart and is definately worth the 2 hours. I cant believe u people are bitching about Cruise because of whats happening in his private life, get over it, he's a brilliant actor which he has proven over and over again. The end was a bit weak i must admit because prior to that it was suspence and action all the way. I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars!
Well I'm a sci-fi freak, so naturally I enjoyed it. Also when I go to the movies I relax and enjoy the ride.
It seems some people are just so critical.
Of course there are parts of it that are silly.
But its just entertainment, nothing to get so up tight about. I bet you were planning your blog entry from the opening scenes!
YOU'RE LIKE A GAY MADDOX WITHOUT THE WIT OR INTELLIGENCE
So you (the mayor) are christin-somethin' and for this reason you hate Tom Cruise for his stupid scientology trend...
What all this concerns with this (nice) movie???
Movie....Not bad...Not a big sci-fi fan cauz I always overanalyze these types of movies instead of taking them for what they are meant to be: escape from reality. Tom Tom, well he's pimp status in my book, most ppl just hate. Bet those who do look/act like the magazine guy in the Simpsons. Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, wow...katie, not bad, not hot though...keep keepin on TomTom.
As for religion. Adam/Eve...kids, gotta have incest to get rest of the world.....again after noah gets all animals on 1 boat, ONE BOAT?!?! I can barely get my dog in the house..then some kid in a whale's stomach? really pushin my fait on that one, same dude who wrote that prob caught a 50pound bass fish,...aye...if the stuff in the bible really happened, u'ld think there were other books sayin something to the effect of "dude, you should've been there, the water parted, and we ran like crazy."
Ummm, what else? went to a christian private school so many yrs. ago...cant remember all the nonsense.....BUT definitely good kind-hearted people there. Just a bit mislead in MY book.
Despite this, if u talk the talk, but walk the walk, more power to ya. religion stuff is just supposed to make us better people...at least more behaved....but really, did they bang their own sisters?
-Rob
I have a comment on 1 or many gods. Since you were speaking logically and rationally. Either can be true statements based on relativity. If a god is something more superior to us. Then the angels could be considered gods. But if there is 1 supreme being we called God compared to the angels there is only 1 supreme being, thus being only 1 God. Part of Satans plan for our life is to convince us he is God. With the continual output of science fiction movies, it makes it easier for us not to believe in the One true God, but in many gods, which Satan happens to be in control of. Put yourself in Gods shoes if you will. We are all undeserving of heaven, because of Gods love he has given us a choice. Take the choice he offered, you will see wonders more incredible than any science fiction movie will ever offer. Or take plan B, Satans plan and live an eternity without God.
After reading everyone?s comment on religion and the movie, I have come to an understanding that some feel that the belief in a higher being should be cut and dry for everyone to make a decision. However, some people fail to realize that not everyone is born into a culture that allows them to come to their own opinion. I see belief as what you are raised to believe. I also am a Christian and believe in God. But I am not as closed minded as some who believe in Christianity to think that it is wrong for others to hold their own beliefs. The God that I believe in would never turn his back on innocent humans just because they were being faithful to the religion that they were raised to be true! I truly believe that it is how you portray yourself through the following of your religion. It is not so much that the person picked the wrong religion, as it is an innocent was born and raised to believe that religion. The reasoning why I say this is because if, by chance, I am following the wrong God, I would not want the true God to disregard me because of the beliefs my parents and ancestors had and passed down to me!!
About the movie, I enjoyed it for what it was, a MOVIE!! To discuss if there is other life in the universe; I don?t know, but I would think that it is an awful waste of space if all the stars had their own solar system and not one planet in those solar systems had no life on them! God may have created earth, but who is to say that he didn?t create another place for life to live on?
Wow, you are the first to say what I thought. We, with our primitive technology, know about microscopic forms of life. The producers tried to tell us that a superior civilization with superior technology did not take the time to investigate the microorganisms? Even today, WE do that. The first thing that comes to mind is the bacterial or viral environment in the new places we visit. That is so lame that the movie tries to convince us that this superior race did not think of viral infections. It is so ridiculous, it is truly insulting. When will Hollywood stop treating us like we are idiots? And this is from a guy who love movies! I am not a rocket scientist, but I know the FIRST thing to check on a new planet that I am about to take over is the microorganism environment! We cant travel through space to conquer other worlds, but we sure as hell know to check for all signs of life. Even now, we are wondering if there is a microscopic life on Mars... Can someone please explain to me when we all became idiots?