This post is part of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. Today is Day 251! You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE. To see the original Movie-a-Day Challenge post, click HERE.
Hey friends!
Last night, I got this sudden urge to dive into something action-packed, and, you know, sometimes you just need a good ol’ Earth-invasion flick to spice up your evening. So, I popped on Steven Spielberg’s 2005 take on “War of the Worlds,” and oh boy, was it a ride – and not just any ride, but a Spielbergian extravaganza of chaos and survival. Let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint!
First off, if you haven’t seen it yet, here’s the scoop: Tom Cruise stars as Ray Ferrier, a kinda estranged dad who finds himself thrust into the role of protector when the world goes bananas after a massive alien attack. The man’s got this chaotic energy that totally works for a dock worker suddenly turned savior of his kids. And Dakota Fanning plays his daughter, Rachel, who delivers every line with a scream that could shatter glass – seriously, the kid’s lungs deserve an award.
The plot was pretty simple, really. Ray Ferrier, a divorced dad is not exactly Father of the Year. So he’s got his kids for the weekend when these giant alien tripods emerge from the ground and start wreaking havoc. It’s chaos, pure and simple, and Ray’s just trying to keep his kids alive. The scenes where the tripods first emerge? Pure, unadulterated Spielberg spectacle. The sound alone – that horrifying horn – sent shivers down my spine. It’s like the aliens were throwing their own twisted version of a welcome party.
There’s a lot of running, screaming, and some truly terrifying moments, but what really stuck with me was the sense of helplessness. I mean, these aliens are just unstoppable, and it’s genuinely scary to see how easily they can wipe out entire cities.
One of the things that struck me was how Spielberg builds suspense. There’s this one scene where Ray and Rachel are hiding in a basement, listening to the sounds of the alien machines hunting for survivors. The tension is palpable. You’re right there with them, feeling every creak and groan of the house. Masterful, right?
And speaking of those machines, the special effects still hold up amazingly well. The tripods are terrifyingly realistic, and the way they move is just so… alien. You really believe these things are from another world.
But beyond the spectacle, the movie also packs an emotional punch. You see the breakdown of society, the desperation of people trying to survive. It’s a reminder of how fragile our world is and how quickly things can change. And amidst all the chaos, you have Ray fighting to protect his children, to hold onto some semblance of hope.
And so much running in this movie. But between sprints, Spielberg sprinkles some genuinely tender moments. Like, there’s this scene in the basement with Tim Robbins, who plays this unhinged survivalist. It’s claustrophobic and tense, a real testament to Spielberg’s knack for mixing human drama with sci-fi shenanigans.
I have to confess, though: as much as I’m here for the adrenaline, the whole father-redemption arc felt a tad undercooked. Like, can a few days on the run from aliens really patch up years of absentee parenting? I’m not totally sold, but hey, it’s a movie, right?
But honestly? Even though I felt the ending was a little too over-the-top sentimental, I did find it strangely comforting. After all that destruction and despair, a glimmer of hope is kind of what you’re rooting for, you know?
So yeah, I thought “War of the Worlds” is an explosive reminder of how tiny we are when the universe decides to RSVP to Earth without an invite. So, if you’re in for some edge-of-your-seat, action-packed thriller with a dash of existential dread, give this flick a whirl. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Catch you tomorrow!
Roger