War of the Worlds (2005)

Steven Spielberg's latest science-fiction extravaganza is grandiose in production but unusually lacking in story and character. The characters are all generic and the father-son relationship feels thrown together just so it can really be called a Spielberg film. I still like Tom Cruise, though, and he manages to bring some good moments to David Koepp and Josh Friedman's lacking script. And poor Dakota Fanning who continues to prove that she's the best young actor since Haley Joel Osment, gives the best performance of the lot. For that matter, Spielberg is still no slacker when it comes to directing children. As for the production, it's incredibly impressive with the visual effects and monumental scenes of distruction. For his last couple of films, Spielberg seems to have been battling himself between the child and the adult; unfortunately, he has not yet mastered the art of balance and at moments that should be filled with awe and spectacle, he makes weighty and self-conscious, which at times borders on offensive. While it does manage to avoid most of the cliches of the disaster film, it falls when it should soar and creates all new problems. There are certainly sights to behold, but I just wish there was more. I prefer Byron Haskin's 1953 adaptation, if for no other reason than it was more sure of what it was.