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Movies / On DVD / War of the Worlds
War of the Worlds

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War of the Worlds (2005)

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Reviews Counted:240

Fresh:176

Rotten:64

Average Rating:7/10

Consensus: War of the Worlds delivers on the thrill and paranoia of H.G. Wells' classic novel.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for frightening sequences of sci-fi violence and disturbing images

Runtime: 1 hr 57 mins

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Theatrical Release:Jun 29, 2005 Wide

Box Office: $234,141,872

Synopsis: On June 29th, 2005, Earth goes to war. From Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures comes "War of the Worlds," directed by Steven Spielberg and starring international superstar Tom Cruise. A... On June 29th, 2005, Earth goes to war. From Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures comes "War of the Worlds," directed by Steven Spielberg and starring international superstar Tom Cruise. A contemporary retelling of H.G. Wells's seminal classic, the sci-fi adventure thriller reveals the extraordinary battle for the future of humankind through the eyes of one American family fighting to survive it. The film also stars Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto, Justin Chatwin, and Tim Robbins. Cruise stars as Ray Ferrier, a divorced dockworker and less-than-perfect father. Soon after his ex-wife (Miranda Otto) and her new husband drop off his teenage son Robbie (Justin Chatwin) and young daughter Rachel (Dakota Fanning) for a rare weekend visit, a strange and powerful lightning storm touches down. Moments later, at an intersection near his house, Ray witnesses an extraordinary event that will change all their lives forever. A towering three-legged war machine emerges from deep beneath the earth and, before anyone can react, incinerates everything in sight. An ordinary day has suddenly become the most extraordinary event of their lifetimes - the first strike in a catastrophic alien attack on Earth. Ray scrambles to get his children away from this merciless new enemy, embarking on a journey that will take them across the ravaged countryside, where they become caught in the desperate tide of refugees fleeing from an extraterrestrial army of Tripods. But no matter where they run, there is no safety, no refuge … only Ray's unconquerable will to protect the ones he loves. Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures present an Amblin Entertainment/Cruise|Wagner Production, a Steven Spielberg film, "War of the Worlds." Directed by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Josh Friedman and David Koepp, based on the novel by H. G. Wells, the film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson. The executive producer is Paula Wagner. The film also stars Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto, Justin Chatwin and Tim Robbins. This film has been rated PG-13 for Frightening Sequences of Sci-Fi Violence and Disturbing Images. Spielberg's core filmmaking team, which has collaborated with the director on numerous projects, is led by director of photography Janusz Kaminski, ASC, production designer Rick Carter, editor Michael Kahn, A.C.E., and costume designer Joanna Johnston. Music is composed by John Williams. Visual effects and animation is by Industrial Light & Magic, led by senior visual effects supervisor Dennis Muren and visual effects supervisor Pablo Helman. "War of the Worlds" opens worldwide on June 29, 2005. The film's official website is: www.waroftheworlds.com -- © DreamWorks Pictures [More]

Starring: Tom Cruise, Miranda Otto, Dakota Fanning, Tim Robbins

Starring: Tom Cruise, Miranda Otto, Dakota Fanning, Tim Robbins, Justin Chatwin

Director: Steven Spielberg

Director: Steven Spielberg
Screenwriter: Josh Friedman, David Koepp
Producer: Kathleen Kennedy, Paula Wagner, Colin Wilson, Tom Cruise
Composer: John Williams
Studio: DreamWorks Distribution LLC

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Release:

Nov 22, 2005

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Reviews for War of the Worlds

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101 - 120 (sorted by date)
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Generates chills through eerie, ambient sounds, slow-panning camera shots and pants-pissingly scared characters . . . a nerve-gripping, full-throttle rollercoaster ride.

Full Review Source: Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada) | comment Comment
06/30/05
Brian Gibson
Brian Gibson
Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)

For all its technical beauty, there's something lacking. It often feels a bit like Spielberg phoned the film in or at the very least painted it by numbers.

Full Review Source: IGN Movies | comment Comment
06/30/05
Spence D.
Spence D.
IGN Movies

[A] shockingly unimaginative remake.

Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly | comment Comment
06/30/05
Steve Schneider
Steve Schneider
Orlando Weekly

The imagery is startling not just for its symbolic resonances, but for the breathless intensity with which it sears the screen.

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
06/30/05
Scott Foundas
Scott Foundas
L.A. Weekly

The screenplay ... is more intimate, eschewing a worldwide coverage of the invasion. This concept makes the calamity more immediate, more personal.

Full Review Source: Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN) | comment Comment
06/30/05
Bob Bloom
Bob Bloom
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

Pitched at a level of interpersonal experience amid the mayhem, this blockbuster offers no sense of loss. Given its ending, you'd think the power had been out for a few days.

Full Review Source: State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL) | comment Comment
06/30/05
Nick Rogers
Nick Rogers
State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL)

Spielberg directs his early scenes with a vigorous and absolute sense of terror.

Full Review Source: Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah) | comment Comment
06/30/05
Audrey Rock-Richardson
Audrey Rock-Richardson
Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah)

The moment two youngsters appear more frightening than attacking aliens, you can't help suspecting there'll be additional moviemaking trouble ahead. And you're right.

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
06/30/05
Betty Jo Tucker
Betty Jo Tucker
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

My recommendation is tempered by the fact that this started off as a great movie and ended as little more than a piece of pleasant fluff.

Full Review Source: Aisle Seat | comment Comment
06/30/05
Mike McGranaghan
Mike McGranaghan
Aisle Seat

an awesome summer movie that showcases a director and some actors at the top of their games.

Full Review Source: Sean the Movie Guy | comment Comment
06/30/05
Sean McBride
Sean McBride
Sean the Movie Guy

... the inventor of the summer blockbuster directing the biggest movie star on the planet... It’s big, it’s loud, and it’s what you expect an “event” film to be.

Full Review Source: MovieCrypt.com | comment Comment
06/30/05
Kevin A. Ranson
Kevin A. Ranson
MovieCrypt.com

A sure-footed thrill ride with more suspense and spine-tingling scares than a Tom Cruise publicity junket.

Full Review Source: Palm Beach Daily News | comment Comment
06/30/05
Frank Houston
Frank Houston
Palm Beach Daily News

Let Cruise rant and jump on furniture all he wants. So long as he can churn out movies like this one, he's free to make a fool of himself all he wants.

Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs | comment Comment
06/30/05
Scott Nash
Scott Nash
Three Movie Buffs

A Brick-breaking, glass-shattering, emotion-grabbing first half, stalls, then tailspins into a complete mess. Ending is as bad as the openning is good.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Report Card | comment Comment
06/29/05
Ross Anthony
Ross Anthony
Hollywood Report Card

... like watching 100 minutes of the actual apocalypse and then switching to the climax of a sappy TV movie about parenting.

Full Review Source: Looking Closer | comment Comment
06/29/05
Jeffrey Overstreet
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer

This is Spielberg's finest hour since 1998's Saving Private Ryan.

Full Review Source: FromTheBalcony | comment Comment
06/29/05
Bill Clark
Bill Clark
FromTheBalcony

Everybody wins with “War of the Worlds,” a fast-paced summer blockbuster that will appeal to action, sci-fi and drama fans.

Full Review Source: KWQC-TV (Iowa) | comment Comment
06/29/05
Linda Cook
Linda Cook
KWQC-TV (Iowa)

Be prepared for long intervals of holding your breath, because this is the real deal.

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
06/29/05
Bob Grimm
Bob Grimm
Sacramento News & Review

War of the Worlds may not stand up well to careful inspection and it may not be the smartest science fiction film brought to the screen, but it is an intense, visceral experience.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
06/29/05
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

An unwieldy hodgepodge of spectacular set pieces and sappy family drama.

Full Review Source: Reel.com | comment Comment
06/29/05
Timothy Knight
Timothy Knight
Reel.com
 
 
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