Saw War of the Worlds today:

I loved the H.G. Wells novel (and Time Machine as well I might add), but I 
really wasn't expecting much from the film.  So glad to say I was wrong.

I am sure everyone knows the story so I won't go into that.  

I love the direction in this film.  I really enjoy Spielberg's work anyway 
(can we say Jaws?  uhh brilliant!), but it really struck me how good he is in 
this film.  Lots of little blink and you might miss them moments.  For example, 
when the city is literally being destroyed and bits of earth, people, glass 
are flying everywhere, there is a short cut of a sign that says No Littering.  
Just a short little thing that doesn't hit you over the head at all but just is 
a nice touch.  

The special effects are really good.  I think we as moviegoers are really 
jaded today when it comes to effects, but I was impressed with this film.  
Nothing looked completely green screened or unbelievable.  
And what I really like about Spielberg vs. George Lucas for example, is that 
Spielberg really explores the characters as real people with real emotions in 
the middle of this surreal situation.  (don't get me wrong I love Star Wars 
and really liked Ep. 3 as well)  The whole of the film is not about the aliens 
and special effects.  I actually found this film quite sad.  There are a lot of 
themes of family problems - how divorce affects children, how the bigger 
issues in life sometimes get overlooked in the day to day living - and current 
world issues.  This film is about aliens attacking, but it easily could have been 
terrorists instead of aliens and it would have worked on that level as well.  
I loved the scenes of the mobs of survivors and how when subjected to fear, 
death, and chaos, their baser instincts come out.  It was very realistic.  And 
the chaos scenes of people trying to escape were  similar to things I saw 
during the L.A. Riots. Creepy.

As nuts as I think Tom Cruise has become,( I think he got too deep into this 
character and can't get out, which would explain his crazy behaviour lately) 
he was great in this film.  I found him very believable and I thought his 
character had a great arc.

Little Dakota Fanning is really a good actress for being so young.  I have 
liked her in everything I have seen her in and she is really one of the two 
leads in this film.

Justin Chatwin plays Tom's son in the film and I really liked him.  I am not 
familiar with him but he really could hold his own with some good actors and 
had a commanding presence.

Tim Robbins plays crazy just too well.  While not a huge amount of screen 
time, he is really stealing scenes when he is onscreen.

All in all a very enjoyable film

Also saw the trailers for King Kong and Elizabethtown.

King Kong looks soooooo awesome!  The trailer got applause in our theatre.  
wow does this look good!  Of Course it is PJ so I am not surprised.....

Elizabethtown also went over well.  Cameron Crowe's film about a businessman, 
Orlando Bloom returning to a small Kentucky town after his father's death 
looks great.  Of course I was on the set one day so I do have some personal 
attachment but it still looks to be good!

Have a safe 4th of July!

Suzanne

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