Bheja Fry. Review on War of the Worlds Movie

I'm writing a review after a loooong time in MS... and I'm really sorry that I've to write a review about such a stupid film. I have seen more sci-fi movies than any other genre and a big fan of such movies, but this was simply torture.

I just don't understand why Steven Spielberg, perhaps Hollywood's best known producer-director and one of the wealthiest filmmakers in the world, who has been associated with timeless movies such as E.T., Jurassic Park, The Mask of Zorro, etc. decided to do this film.

The Story (was there any????)

The writing credits of War of the Worlds goes to H. G. Wells... yup, the same guy who wrote The Time Machine and The Invisible Man.

Ray Ferrier, played by Tom Cruise, is a not-so-rich guy living in New Jersey with his daughter, Rachel and son, Robbie. He's estranged from his family, his life isn't in order, and he's too caught up with himself. When all of a sudden, his life takes a huge turn when aliens-on-tripods (huuuuuge machines that have come from far away land (not Europe!) to destroy Earthlings), and he wants to run away to his wife staying in Boston. But, in the middle of things, he decides that he'll fight back and save Planet Earth from being taken over.

The Cast

The main story revolved around three people (later two) Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise), his son Robbie Ferrier (Justin Chatwin) and his daughter Rachel Ferrier (Dakota Fanning). Tom Cruise was okay, Justin Chatwin didn't have much role but Dakota Fanning was pretty good in screaming!

Sound Effects

Sound Effects were pretty good... as any other Hollywood film. You can actually feel the sound of the thunder in your heart (depends on the theatre though!).

SFX

Steven Spielberg is known for his good use of special effects in his films, and this one is no exception.

The Goof-Ups

There were certain things about the movie, which I couldn't understand:

1. After the lightning, i.e. before the (Aliens-on-Tripods) AOTs appear, all electronic equipment stops working. Still, when the first AOT appears, one guy films the whole scene with a camcorder!!!

2. It is shown that the AOTs use human blood as food and fuel. Okay... understood. But where they were all this while? I mean, how did they survive for all these years without human blood??

3. That Anaconda-look-alike search robot is such a sophisticated machine... it had a self-opening lens cover, probably a 20 megapixel lens with auto-focus and two light souces beside the lens... and Tom Cruise fools it by showing it a mirror?!?!?!? Come on, they already know everything about light and optics, and they don't know about a mirror?

4. Even after the huge disaster which happened around Ray's wife's house (even an airplane had crashed), there was a perfect road paved for their car to move freely.

5. What was the ultimate motive of the AOTs? Suck the blood of each and every human on the planet, and then.....? Then, what? Or turn them into slaves and take them home to work without wages??

6. Why were the AOTs making such grumbling noise when they were just about to attack? Was that sound earlier recorded for Jurassic Park, and Spielberg didn't want to waste his money?

My Verdict

The movie seemed more Bollywood masala-ish than Hollywood sci-fi. In fact, it seemed as if the AOTs were actually inspired by our very own Dharmendra ''khoon pee jaoonga'' Deol. And Tom Cruise was more like Sunny Deol, who takes on the AOTs when the whole US Army (not whole actually, coz a majority of them is in Iraq!) fails. Destroying the mother-ship with hand-grenades, which removed the protective shield off the other AOTs seemed a rip-off of Independence Day. There was also a scene which reminded me of The Burning Train. As earlier told, that search engine (sorry, robot) seemed Anaconda look-alike. Some scenes were similar to The Day After Tomorrow when people were running away in huge numbers. And the alien (not the AOT) looked similar to all the aliens that we've seen till now.

This movie could have been a treat to watch had there been a better storyline. Too much of mixing-up of different movies seemed like we've already seen it earlier. In the middle, the film also slows down and you really feel like sleeping. The camera effects were good (great, rather) as typical of Spielberg's films. I wouldn't suggest watching this film at all... even if you don't have anything to do. And definitely not in multiplexes. And even if you have to go, do take a pack of Saridon with you :)