The Refund: War of the Worlds

Welcome to a story that was 12 years in the making.

Now you're probably wondering how on earth did this take so long?

Spielberg had the idea of doing this in the late 1990's, but then a modest film called ID4 came out and pretty much blew away all the other invasion stories before it. So it got shelved. Last summer, when Indiana Jones 4 got stalled again, the Master had a gap in his schedule, and 48 hours later, War of the Worlds was greenlit with Cruise attached.

So, what does all this mean?
It means that this is different and better than ID4 in a few ways. It focuses on a normal guy, instead of an Air Force pilot and Tech Geek. It also has seemingly insurmountable foes in the Tripod invaders and a lower degree of media involvement in the flick. Combine that with some of the best action scenes you'll see this year, and this one's a winner.

Plot: Ray Ferrier, a dock worker and father who sheds responsibility like a irate dog, must get his family to safety during an extraterrestrial invasion of mankind.

His apathic desire to be a father to his two kids is especially evident in the film, and provides an interesting road of redemption, as a man who shunned his children suddenly does everything to protect them in a world gone mad.

An example: For reasons best left explained in the film, Cruise has the only working car for miles and miles. So when he drives into a mob of stragglers, the desperation and paranoia overtake them, causing a mini-riot until Cruise points a gun in the air...then is one-upped.

It's those kind of scenes that set this baby apart from the others, as humanity reveals inner vindictiveness even in its darkest, possibly final hour.

Extermination is definately the key word, as Spielberg's invaders cut a swath of destruction through most of the world, as the weapons of man are proven useless against death ray wielding tripods. If you thought the aliens in ID4 were bad, they have nothing on these guys, who don't bother with annoucements of anything except a "Let me show you my Death-ray." The origin of the invaders is also a point of contention, as they arrive by way of nature, leading some to believe that this may have been an act of a more divine nature.

Words can't do justice to the amount of memorable landscapes and panoramic view of destruction. The film's visuals become a tad disturbing at some points, as the absolute carnage that takes place in the first 20 minutes will evoke some eerie 9/11 comparisons. Especially when Cruise's face is caked with dust, looking bewildered and wondering why he's under attack.

As far as performances, Cruise carries the film as usual, but has help this time. Dakota Fanning gives an equally stunning performance, between being a trusting daughter and a terrified one. She's perfect for this role and it shows in the chemistry with Cruise.

Another standout is Tim Robbins, whose paranoia-laced character puts Cruise in an interesting conflict, as the invaders outside (and sometimes in) and an insane man with his daughter in their supposed shelter. A very nice twist, revealing once again, humanity's heart of darkness when pressed against the wall.

All in all, a masterpiece. It's a big, loud summer blockbuster movie that is really the story of a family being held together by a father who realizes how important they really are. All in the midst of the worst onslaught in human history. A must-see.

Till next time...