Movie :: War of the Worlds

Hey friends,

I know I have a separate blog where I put my movies, books and music reviews, but I felt no one would really check up on that, so from now on, I will post such articles here. Last night my friend and I saw War of the Worlds at the movie theatres. It was an experience for me, with so much going on. To cut it short: I loved this movie!

War of the Worlds stars Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning and Tim Robbins in a cameo. Tom is Ray, a divorced husband whose wife drops off their two kids at his place. Dakota, who is Rachel, and her elder brother Robbie are least interested in spending time with Ray. Ray comes across as a cynical, arrogant father. Robbie makes off with his father's car, and that is when all the action and tension start. Ray is startled to see huge swirls in the skies above, with gray and black clouds, all swirling in circles, like an upside down whirlpool. Rachel comes outside as well, where the wind is blowing, the clouds have covered the town and lighting strikes.

My gosh, each time the lighting struck, I could feel the sensation sitting in my seat. Everytime the wind blew, or the lighting struck, I thought I was actually there. For the rest of the movie, Ray tries to saves his family from the devastation and destruction that begins to take place. The ground is ripped apart, telecommunications fail and scenes were reminiscent of the end of the world as described in the religious books. My friend and I were scared during these moments.

Soon, alien tripods come out from the grouds below and exterminate people. Aliens have invaded planet earth and killing the people. I will not spoil the rest of the movie. It's essentially a science-fiction movie, but it is extremely realistic, so much so it could almost be a documentary on Discovery channel. We go along the whole journey with Ray and his two kids.

I loved the direction of this movie, in particular when we witness Ray and his kids leaving frantically in the car, and the camera just captures all the action within the car in one long shot, which goes round and round the car. Another scene, when the alien investigates a basement, which holds Ray and his daugter, is so full of tension, I was actually fidgeting in my seat, developing sweaty palms.

It is also a very symbolic movie, at least in my mind. The movie begins and ends with the narrator commenting on the idea that all living things exists even in the smallest of all places, like a water drop on a leaf. What I gathered from the movie is that too often man destructs nature, wihout realizing that nature is one huge living organism. So the movie is symbolic of what the sitution would be like if a higher force would invade us and terminate us like the way man terminates nature (deforestation and pollution). However, it is also this nature with saves us- think about how plants give out oxygen! There are also religious symbolism as well, especially when the trumpets sounds, announcing the death of the people.

The special effects are awesome. Direction is top-notch, and if watched with the mind-set I talked about, I think one would love this movie as well. A must watch!

Mansur