I saw Spielberg’s War of the Worlds and would like to share a few thoughts about it. . A disappointing storyline from Spielberg.

The movie is about the old stuff which many previous attempts have been made. Aliens, Hi-tech weapons, Exterminate human beings. Independence Day is one which was (in my opinion) a very great movie, both in the story as well as the effects. With Tom Cruise in the lead role, there is very little to say about the actor’s performance. He gives an excellent show as a “human being”, and a father. Cruise is trapped between his daughter and his “save the world” bit. His stepson wants to go out and help while Cruise wants to survive. His step daughter (the one from Taken) has again given an impressive feat. She is shown like a typical 5-6yr old who still doesn’t know death and the other harsh things of life. Cruise like a protective dad tries to shield his daughter even after the slaughter has begun. The movie has no lead actress and the focus is mainly on Cruise.

The special effects used in the movie are simply mind blowing. With every minute detail taken care of, the alien machines do induce terror even into our minds. The effects of the destruction (that’s what most of us want to see!! ;) ) are very good. You can’t make out which is real and what is computer imagery. The sound effects are also superb. The thud of the machines can be felt right in your heart. Also the sudden noises make you startle. The alien (in person) though seems very similar to the one from Independence Day. Almost the same head, hands but the body without the tentacles. Overall a hats off the SFX Team!

The story of the movie is where it suffers. Spielberg has come up with great story lines so far but fails to do so with this one. Great Movies like ‘Catch Me If You Can’ simply outshine this one when it comes to the story. Although the start of the movie is good, in the 2nd half and especially the end it gets really anti climax. The start of the film creates a very good curiosity in the mind. You mind boggles and you want answers to questions like – How? When? Why? The story in the beginning along with special effects created a fear in my mind that this is it… All I know is over! I have had dreams with fears like this where something catastrophic happens and the world is going to end. This is the time when I usually get up, scared. This movie has done exactly the same thing.

Just before the interval (which is introduced in the movie but the theatre and was not originally supposed to be there) you feel that this movie is going to have a sequel to it. In the 2nd half, it starts getting a little crummy. The storyline drifts into the relationship of a dad, his stepson and his not-seen-or-heard-anything-horrible daughter. The special effects really help at getting up the movie and not let it get boring. The end is where the movie suffers. It is much unexpected after all the curiosity that has been built up. It is like the story writers just gave up over it! After the huge effects and a good story it is an anticlimax end.

Overall the movie is good for its special effects. Tom Cruise gives an excellent performance. So does the girl who plays his daughter. The story is not very good. With a very good buildup in the beginning but a very unusual end.