What is it about planet Earth that is so alluring to extra terrestrial beings? Could it be the lovely climate that fluctuates from time zone to time zone? Or maybe it’s the appeal of our once plentiful natural resources they have their eye on. Whatever the case, most of these creatures are certainly not interested in co-existing with the human race. In most circumstances, living on our planet requires the destruction of its present inhabitants. Granted, reality has yet to see a full scale alien invasion, but in film it represents a theme that is readily revisited.
In the past decade alien incursion has been taken to the next level whether driven by the incredible special effects in Independence Day, or the drama of one family’s struggle in Signs, these movies have created a positive stir amongst moviegoers. This year’s War of the Worlds directed by Steven Spielberg, adapted from the H.G. Wells novel, is a remake of sorts of its forerunner 1953 film, that is sure to cause that same stir to surface once again.
The movie begins in northern New Jersey. Tom Cruise plays Ray Ferrier, a self consumed long shore man and divorcee with two children. When his wife and new husband drop the kids Robbie (Justin Chatwin) and Rachel (Dakota Fanning) off at Ray’s place for the weekend, he is less then enthusiastic. Robbie and Rachel’s resentment towards their father is not only noticeable but warranted due to Ray’s half-ass parenting. Shortly after the children arrive, and a relationship between father and kin is established, a bizarre storm breaks out over head and masses of people exit their houses to view the odd disturbance. Strange bolts of lightning pierce the sky sparking some sort of reaction from beneath the surface of the Earth. Instead of from above, alien life forms emerge from within, piloting large machines or
“tripods” that immediately begin to wreak havoc on the cities and people around the world. Ray must now put his own life aside and do whatever necessary to protect his family from the wrath of the evil invaders.
The film works off of a shaky base. Initially you don’t really know what to think of the characters, whether you like them or dislike them, if their feuds are over dramatized and so-forth. However, once set into motion by the omniscient storm clouds above, the story as well as the characters begins to solidify. Dakota Fanning once again demonstrates her increasing acting ability by giving a dynamic and real performance. Her constant shrieking although ear shattering at times generates a much needed contrast between herself and a proactive Cruise.
As the film progresses you begin to like Ray more and more, however with Chatwin’s character Robbie, it’s somewhat the opposite. As Ray becomes more admirable, Robbie steps more into an annoyingly stubborn persona. I mean in repeated life ...
