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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
AN ALIEN INVASION MASTERPIECE..., Jul 24 2006
I confess that I am a sucker for sci-fi flicks, and this adaptation of H. G. Wells' classic novel, which was first published in 1898 and often touted as the world's first published work of science fiction, is no exception. I simply loved this film and was riveted to the screen the entire time. Updated to reflect the world of today, the film does the book justice, maintaining the core of the story and keeping many of its moral imperatives at the forefront. Steven Spielberg definitely pulls out all the stops, rendering a first class, alien invasion film.
When the film begins, the world is just as we know it. Our intrepid working class everyman, Ray Farrier (Tom Cruise), is a divorced, blue collar worker and an irresponsible father of two, who is estranged from his children, precocious pre-teen daughter, Rachel (Dakota Fanning), and rebellious teenage son, Robbie (Justin Chatwin). When his ex-wife (Miranda Otto) leaves their reluctant children with him for the weekend, while she and her current husband go and do some visiting in Boston, they all think that it is just another weekend. Little do they know that the world, as they know it, is about to change.
What at first appears to be an unusual atmospheric weather condition, a series of electrical storms that seem to be peppering the world, soon reveals itself for what it really is, and weather has nothing to do with it. All electricity is suddenly sapped, cell phones stop working, cars drop dead in their tracks, and another unwanted weekend at Dad's place turns out to be something else altogether, as the world is plunged into total chaos. Ray is forced to think not only of himself but also of his children, for once, as they try to make sense of their new, incomprehensible reality and struggle to stay alive. The alien invasion is seen through the eyes of the Farriers as they flee, and the viewer knows only what they know of the events into which the world has suddenly been plunged. The film is grounded entirely in this context.
This is an exciting film with spectacular special effects. Spielberg has outdone himself. Giant alien tripods traipse across the landscape, destroying everything in their path with their incinerating death rays. The concept of mercy never even enters the picture when the aliens come marching along, and the loud trumpeting sound that they make, heralding their presence, will chill the blood of even the most equanimous viewer. Resistance initially appears to be futile, as mankind's conventional warfare just does not do the trick when confronted with the superior technological capabilities of the aliens. The aliens' plans for the human race, which the alien invaders are hell bent on annihilating, are ghastly, and Ray Farrier is forced to grow up in a hurry and keep his head, while all around him others are losing theirs. During the ongoing maelstrom, the relationships between the three main protagonists undergo a change for the better, while the world undergoes a change for the worse.
Tom Cruise, notwithstanding all his negative personal publicity of late, gives a marvelous performance, infusing his character with just the right amount of initial cock-of-the-walk insouciance. His swagger, however, quickly dissipates when faced with the surreality of his new circumstances. As disaster strikes, his character rises to the occasion, struggling to keep himself and his children alive amidst the chaos and carnage, while trying to make sense of the changing circumstances around them. It begins to dawn upon him how much his children mean to him, just when he is on the very verge of losing them. Cast out into a world that he no longer recognizes and given a clear purpose by his children, Ray is a man who is forced to do the unthinkable to ensure their survival. Tom makes the transition of the character from irresponsible to caring totally believable. Make no mistake, however, Ray is no superhero, and Tom Cruise maintains the everyman frailty of his character throughout the entire film.
Dakota Fanning, as always, gives an excellent performance, infusing the role of the tormented Rachel with the right amount of angst and shock, but make no mistake, this is Tom Cruise's film all the way, and she fails to steal the show. Justin Chadwick also rises to the occasion as Bobbie, the irritating teenage son who wants to do things his way. Tim Robbins gives a compelling performance as Ogilvy, an ambulance driver in a pre-invasion world, who has seen his entire family annihilated by the alien invaders. Ogilvy is clearly a man on the edge of reason, who wants to destroy the aliens and get the better of them. As he is armed only with a shotgun and a shovel, however, his prospects do not look good. When he gives sanctuary in the basement of his home to a fleeing Ray and Rachel Farrier, he expects Ray to become a sort of resistance fighter to the death with him. Ray, however, sees things differently, as he still has something to live for: his children and their survival. This brings about an eventual conflict between the two with an unsettling and primal resolution.
The film begins and ends with a voice over narration masterfully done by Morgan Freeman, whose mellifluous voice lends just the right note to the film. Coupled with a great story, really spectacular special effects, fine performances, and deft direction by Steven Spielberg, this film, despite its flawed final scene, has all the makings of a great sci-fi flick. It is a film worthy of being in one's personal collection. Bravo!
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