I had great expectations for this movie after all the hype with Tom Cruise and the imminent release of one of the greatest sci fi movies of all time. All I could say was WOW! This movie hit every button with me.
The story is about a man who is a real deadbeat Dad. Ray (Cruise) is the real epitome of a slacker who really does not appreciate his life and children. He is a big child who cares about his car and really nothing else. When lightening begins to strike and it is apparent that all is not normal in the big city. He ventures out and comes to realize that he has to get out and save his children; His teenage son Robby and his young daughter Rachel. Both children have different needs of their father and the drama that unfolds presents that opportunity. As the crisis intensifies, Ray is very conscientious about his daughter’s seeing death and destruction and covers her eyes. He even murders a man to save his daughter’s life. His son who is estranged and has true contempt for his father bonds with him at that moment when he becomes a man and helps others who are in more crisis than he.
This is one story line. The other is that of the most horrendous alien attack imaginable. From the time that the lightening comes from the sky to the earth and buildings splitting in two to the pavement buckling and blowing up, I sat at the edge of my seat. The special effects were outstanding. The best! Seeing this film in the theatre with the Dolby surround sound intensified the effects. Predictable in some parts, perhaps, but that just added to the intensity, foreshadowing what was to come. Spielberg has a great sense of cinematry, of course being one of the top Directors of our time, but he also uses some very creative effects such as texture and comedic relief. Each scene is like a well-composed photograph with texture and balance.
In the beginning of the movie, in the city, the houses are lined up one next to the other and you see the stairs and the rails. There is perfect texture. You see this again with the scene where Rachael is seeing bodies flowing down the river, rather Hitchcock-ish. When the story becomes intense which is quite often, Spielberg uses comedic relief. For instance, when the aliens are on land and searching the home of Timothy Robbins, also a great character, one cannot help but giggle. The aliens are in the house searching for prey and for a second happens that is reminiscent of E.T.
If you look closely, you’ll also see street signs that read: ’’No littering’’. Funny when in the background the city is blowing up and debris is flying in the air. Also interesting is that there is no actual blood.When the aliens attack and people are obliterated, they just evaporate. This is another great effect that adds to the viewer’s fear. Later, the ’’blood’’ that is everywhere is not human and a sign that although things appear to be devastated, relief is to come...
Great acting by all. Tom Cruise played himself in some scenes but I cannot remember a time when he showed such depth. He even cried and I felt his pain. Rachel was very good as his daughter and she showed the fear of a little girl that all could sympathize with. Robby, played the typical teenager with great accuracy and I was very sympathetic to his point of view and appreciated was struggles as well. Tim Robbins, always a great and intense actor, played an insane man who epitomized the freak who locks himself up and stockpiles supplies to wait for the ’’big one’’. Shotgun in hand, accent and dirty white tank top and all.
I recommend this movie and suggest not to bring young children under 12. There are some pretty scary scenes and Spielberg did not add such special effects to entertain but to scare. And I was! You should be too!