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War Of The Worlds (2 Disc Special Edition) [2005]


RRP: £24.99
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Despite super effects, a huge budget, and the cinematic pedigree of alien-happy Steven Spielberg, this take on H.G. Wells's novel is basically a horror film packaged as a sci-fi thrill ride. Instead of a mad slasher, however, Spielberg (along with writers Josh Friedman & David Koepp) utilizes aliens hell-bent on quickly destroying humanity, and the terrifying results that prey upon adult fears, especially in the post-9/11 world. The realistic results could be a new genre, the grim popcorn thriller; often you feel like you're watching Schindler's List more than Spielberg's other thrill-machine movies (such as Jaws or Jurassic Park). The film centers on Ray Ferrier, a divorced father (Tom Cruise, oh so comfortable) who witnesses one giant craft destroy his New Jersey town and soon is on the road with his teen son (Justin Chatwin) and preteen daughter (Dakota Fanning) in tow, trying to keep ahead of the invasion. The film is, of course, impeccably designed and produced by Spielberg's usual crew of A-class talent. The aliens are genuinely scary, even when the film--like the novel--spends a good chunk of time in a basement. Readers of the book (or viewers of the deft 1953 adaptation) will note the variation of whom and how the aliens come to Earth, which poses some logistical problems. The film opens and closes with narration from the novel read by Morgan Freeman, but Spielberg could have adapted Orson Welles's words from the famous Halloween Eve 1938 radio broadcast: "We couldn't soap all your windows and steal all your garden gates by tomorrow night, so we did the best next thing: we annihilated the world." --Doug Thomas, Amazon.com


War of the worlds
Review date: 2008-10-31 Rating: 8 out of 10

Dakota Fanning what a performance. Tom Cruise played a great father to her and the two worked together well. Tom should stick to action films as they are much better than his comedy ones. This film is very clever as it appeals to the science fiction fan and a general film watcher. there are clever sci fi bits however the CGI is also good and its a general feel good film. much better than independence day!

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Reviews


An everlasting classic
Review date: 2008-08-14 Rating: 10 out of 10

There are too many good things in this movies to list, do not pay attention to 1 stars reviews, even though this film contains different settings and parts in the story, it still contains the basic ingridients from the book.
GOOD POINTS:-
Impossible CGI
Strong Story
Excellent acting
Classic Alien tripods
Best film of 2005, if not, of all time
BAD POINTS:-
NONE
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Ok, but the original British version would have been better!
Review date: 2008-08-11 Rating: 6 out of 10

Generally speaking the film has been well made with good effects. The script, however, follows a predictable, cheesy Hollywood format with Hollywood actors to prop it up. Had this film been produced under the directorship of someone like Peter Jackson, and stuck to the original British storyline, im sure this film would have been a far greater spectacle.

Shaken out of a trouser leg.
Review date: 2008-08-11 Rating: 2 out of 10

This film was doomed the moment you're expected to accept Tom Cruise as a believable lead character. He can't pretend professionally like other actors do. You can tell he's pretending every time. Also, Mr Spielberg might have made some good films ages ago like Duel, but this one is poor. Whats the point in making whats happening look real (which it doesn't) and then having the camera do silly movements which show that it cannot be real? Its just CGI being shown off to other studios. Also if the martians had zapped all the cameras and phones etc why is one shown filming whats happening during the crowd panic scene? It's silly. Also aliens are green and I find it hard to believe that aliens would die because of a cold caught from us, because they have no nostrils. You can forgive H G Wells because colds were new back then and he may have been unaware of the lack of nostrils among aliens, but to update the story but then leave this glaring inconsistancy still in makes it all hard to swallow. Top it off with Tom Cruise surviving at the end and it makes you wonder why you sat through it all.

The Running, Screaming and Shouting Show!
Review date: 2008-07-31 Rating: 4 out of 10

You can forget most of H G Wells, this is pure Spielberg at his corniest. We have the screaming female (young Dakota Fanning, very irritating); the monster slowly searching for the main characters as they hide under tables or behind things (here it's a tentacle with a light bulb on the end); a monster's face suddenly jabbing at the screen (cue for audience screams), and expensive special effects (the Tripods weren't bad).

Unfortunately it all adds up to a basic, noisy chase film, with Cruise and Fanning one step ahead of the Martians, and it ends with a schmaltzy family re-union. Millions have died but there's grandad and grandma outside their undamaged Boston home, so everything's OK.

I accept that this was made for the big screen, and not (as I watched it) for a small TV. If I'd seen it in the cinema I might have enjoyed it more. Or I might have begrudged my ticket money. Probably the latter.


Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Tom Cruise
Tim Robbins
Dakota Fanning
Justin Chatwin
Miranda Otto

Creators:
Tom Cruise (Primary Contributor)
Dakota Fanning (Primary Contributor)
Colin Wilson (Producer)
Damian Collier (Producer)
Kathleen Kennedy (Producer)
Paula Wagner (Producer)
David Koepp (Writer)
H.G. Wells (Writer)
Josh Friedman (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Paramount Home Entertainment (UK)
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Entertainment (UK)
EAN: 5014437888334
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Anamorphic, Box set, PAL, Special Edition,
Release date: 2005-11-14
Number of discs: 2
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 112 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2005-06-29
Language: Arabic (Subtitled)
Language: Danish (Subtitled)
Language: Dutch (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Finnish (Subtitled)
Language: Norwegian (Subtitled)
Language: Swedish (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)

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