ditto. i hated cameron crowe for this mistake too, though i loved his "almost famous". should've never been remade.

despite my hatred for cruise (whoever said last samurai was good... ugh !), i actually enjoyed the movie.

Sorry but this movie was just wrong.

War of the Worlds should be a story about the struggle of man against the Aliens not a man struggling to contrrol his kids.

It was originaly set in 19th century rural England, where man only had cannons, guns, his best weapon was a steam ship called the thunder child (which was destroyed very quickly).

The shield protecting the aliens was the only way to have the Aliens defend themselves.

To me the movie suffered the same thing as Titanic and The Day After Tomorrow, the story was secondary the FX was what you went to see.

nyone let down by the look of the Aliens?

Looked like under-nourished "ID4" Aliens with rickets!

The description (so well read by Burton) in the Musical Version is must better and far more gross.
Something like...
"A huge rounded bulk, larger than a bear, rose up glistening. It's mouth quivered and salivated, and tenticles writhed as it's body heaved and pulsated". Great stuff!

And I think the tripods were built around them, as there is that great painting (and description again) of red shreds hanging from the huge eyes of the tripods that the hungry birds were tearing at.
far more impressive imho.

Yeah great movie:D

I disagree, Lee Challenger. There was absolutely nothing scary, menacing, intense, dark, violent or foreboding about this remake. At best, it was another Jurassic Park. Your average rollercoaster-ride family film. Where monsters and spaceships come at you unexpected, in full dazzling CGI effects and eardrum-breaking soundscape.

It's not so much that the story is secondary, as crippler666 mentioned. A re-make story is supposedly created and they impose all manner of elements that convey the director's ideas (which/and) appeal to the viewing public. And in the end, nobody important was killed, they're all together and have nothing to fight about anymore. A re-affirmation of family values lies at its most distilled form. And sometimes, I really can't understand why children have to be protected from violence and death to the point that they grow up to be emotional/psychological cripples who are unable to handle the harsh cold realities of life.

What I can agree with, though, is the point you made with the following statement: "Spielberg really shows his class in this film and some of the imagery was fantastic." This is just the kind of creation that is very characteristic of Spielberg. Big thrills and big effects. Popcorn entertainment. I think that the interests of all horror fans would be better served with Spielberg keeping to it.

Spielberg does indeed incorporate some "horrific" elements in his films - and the censors are very kind to him because of his lofty status in Hollywood.

Witness the violence and gore in Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan for example - the latter escaping with an uncut 15 certificate in the UK despite one of the most protracted stabbing sequences in the history of cinema.

The BBFC wave away any protests from indie filmakers when their own - less graphic - films are cut or banned reminding us that Mr Spielberg is a responsible and accomplished artist (remember the "monkey brains" sequence in Temple of Doom?).

They even invented a brand new take on the Parental Guidance certificate for him with The Lost World.

http://www.filmthreat.com/Reviews.asp?Id=3023

The Good
Rainman
Born on the Fourth of July
Risky Business

The Bad
Days of Thunder
The Last Samurai
MI

The Ugly
Top Gun
Color of Money
Minority Report

I thought pretty much everything Tom Cruise has done is mostly dribble.

You can just see the batshit insanity seeping out every time that nut talks.

You forget Legend. Basically the only movie I have on my shelf which has Tom Cruise. He has no input in the DVD extras...I wonder why.

A beautiful fairytale from Ridley Scott, of whom I am a follower.

Him getting squirted in the face by Channel 4 was very funny indeed.

"Why... why would you do that?"

"No no, don't run away..."

"Why would you do that?"

Priceless - I hope they broadcast it in the finished show, and aren't too scared of his lawyers.