WAR OF THE WORLDS
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The new WAR OF THE WORLDS is full of stuff, some of which we've seen before. It has all the special effects, the Irwin Allen Meets Roland Emmerich action sequences and an overpowering feeling of dread. It has pathos and human drama. It even has a master in the director's chair to bring it all to the screen. The one thing it seems to be missing above all else is a soul. And alas, that is what keeps WAR OF THE WORLDS from achieving greatness.
Clocking in at two hours that play like four, we begin with a most promising sign. The very words of H.G. Welles set the stage for the ultimate battle between the little guy and the alien menace. We then quickly segue into a first act so tedious, it seems like it lasts nearly an hour, instead of the relatively brief fifteen minutes. We learn that Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) is basically a loser as a dad. He's long since divorced from his wife, and while he does not resent his children, he isn't overly enthusiastic about them visiting. A telling sign of his own selfishness, he goes through the paces of fatherhood, playing uncomfortable games of catch and half-listening to what they want to say, only to be bewildered when they don't greet his grade-C parenting with abundant gratitude.
This is a recurring theme throughout the film - how Ray learns to be a responsible parent, protecting his children from a horrible fate. It's a common theme in films these days, and one that has been visited by director Steven Speilberg many times. Too many times, if you ask me. I mean, of course we want to have some dramatic tension between characters. Otherwise, all we have is a film where spacemen zap everything. But after seeing this drama play out time and again, it is becoming labored and tedious. There is nothing fresh about this dynamic here and the film's continuing interest in what is quickly becoming a Speilbergian fallback is a large chink in its armor.
A strange storm occurs which puts Ray on edge. For one thing, the wind seems to be sweeping towards the storm, not away from it. For another, lightning is usually accompanied by thunder and does not generally strike the same spot two dozen times in a row. Ray is right to be scared as the earth begins to crumble and quake and large alien tripods emerge from the depths.
You may remember that the previous Cruise-Speilberg collaboration, the very entertaining MINORITY REPORT, had the tagline "Everybody Runs." That could easily sum up WAR OF THE WORLDS as well, since people start running like mad and don't stop for the rest of the film. Folks sprint down the street and are zapped into ash by the tripod's lasers. It's a long sequence that draws comparisons with INDEPENDENCE DAY, and not favorable ones. Oh, I know, INDEPENDENCE DAY was not exactly a great film. It was shameless summer popcorn, manipulative and really very hokey. But it was more fun than I had in WAR OF THE WORLDS, sad but true.
For his part, Ray does not leave his kids to fend for themselves. He returns to his house and gathers the two children up. Ray's youngest daughter Rachel (Dakota Fanning - , MAN ON FIRE) has fear issues, while his son Robbie (Justin Chatwin - THE CHUMSCRUBBER) is an angry teen who resents his underachieving dad. Ordinarily, I would think anyone who playfully names their kids Rachel and Robbie and pretty sick in the head, but Speilberg seems intent on giving them a fighting chance.
These are some of the most interesting moments of the film, the moments directly following the first zapping. Screenwriters David Koepp (JURASSIC PARK, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, SPIDER-MAN) and Josh Friedman (THE BLACK DAHLIA) have of course updated Wells' story from its 1898 setting. Speilberg has gone the extra mile in showing the invasion as seen through the eyes of post-9/11 America. Scenes of people looking at pictures of missing loved ones amidst a wasteland that was once a metropolis are far too familiar for comfort. Likewise, Wells enviably never imagined that two separate people would reasonably react to the invasion by asking, "Is it the terrorists?" The scenes of devastation and telltale signs of human casualties, which continue long after the film has shifted focus to the countryside, are quite striking.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Ray packs his kids up and they head to the hills in the only working car around. Why is it the only working car? Because when everyone else was pondering why their cars had stopped, Ray tells his friend in passing to try fixing something specific on the car (I'm not a gearhead, so it sounded like gibberish to me). Turns out he's right, although how he figured out exactly what the aliens broke and why is still beyond me. They flee from the city, rest up a bit, find out some shreds of info and flee some more. Then they rest, get info and flee once again. And rinse, wash, repeat.
The film is one big chase. For some, this will mean nonstop action. But for a film where the stakes were so high, what surprised me most about WAR OF THE WORLDS is that it was slow, dull and yes, boring. Everyone keeps running for the duration of the film. One character even mentions how pointless this is, and it would have been a good idea to listen to him. But alas, the script seems to be blindly running forward as well. Aliens are always in the distance, blowing their horns which sound an awful lot like Gregorian chants. Characters are introduced without explanation and are then discarded just as quickly. Too often it plays like just another disaster movie, with everyone running in a panic as aliens vaporize extras in the street. But in the film's constant need to keep moving, it seems to be standing still.
It's also another one of those films that avoids an "R" rating simply because it is a summer tentpole release, making the MPAA's claims that they aren't biased towards studio productions all the more ludicrous.
Steven Speilberg shows once again that he is beloved for a reason, and that reason is that he happens to be very good. He finds inventive ways to shoot the action, retaining images not only from Wells' novel but also Orson Welles' legendary radio broadcast which sent the country into a panic. Speilberg's use of editing, with the help of Oscar-winning longtime collaborator Michael Kahn, is top drawer.
But the thing that keeps people coming to Speilberg films is not just his crowd-pleasing mentality, but his versatility and prolific output. This time, much like in Stephen King's DREAMCATCHER, one can pick out entire sequences that seem lifted directly from earlier Speilberg films. When Ray runs from a tumbling tripod, it might as well be the Indiana Jones and the boulder from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. When Ray and his family take refuge in a basement, lights and colors dance from the windows and housewares start crashing everywhere, much like the abduction scene in CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND. Rachel is trapped in a minivan, screaming at rampaging hordes outside, which could be mistaken for the beasts of JURASSIC PARK. Aliens are rising from the deep? Seen it before in JAWS. Even the lonely, haggard walk of displaced victims of the invasion recalls similar images from EMPIRE OF THE SUN and SCHINDLER'S LIST. And the family theme, well I've already mentioned how Speilberg has mined that to death lately. Speilberg finds new ways to shoot some of these scenes, but it all feels like we've been here before.
The acting is hit-and-miss. Much like HOUSE OF WAX a couple months back, WAR OF THE WORLDS has been eclipsed by a celebrity's headline-grabbing antics. I won't criticize Cruise's arrogant remarks here, but I will criticize his performance. He is an actor that I think has produced a fine body of work. He can deliver solid summer entertainment (MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE) but also some amazing dramatic performances (MAGNOLIA, BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY). In WAR OF THE WORLDS, Cruise is fine, but he seems oddly detached. It's a much less effective performance than he gave in Speilberg's MINORITY REPORT. Dakota Fanning is once again almost supernaturally good. Completely convincing and one of the film's greatest characters, she upstages just about everyone. However, she does spend a lot of time screaming and hanging around Cruise's neck, so while she's very good, I would argue this year's is a better showcase for her talents. I swore up and down that Justin Chatwin's character was played by Jake Gyllenhall until the end credits proved me wrong. Since Gyllenhall happens to be a fine actor, you may take that as a compliment. Tim Robbins gives a performance that seems like a cross between his earlier work in JACOB'S LADDER and MYSTIC RIVER. He sometimes goes over the top, but Robbins' more subdued moments are amongst the best in the film. The screenplay also allows him to sneak in the line, "Occupation is always bad! History has taught us that!" Stick that up your keester, Mr. Prez.
Since most of the reviews seem to be positive, I guess I'll be the stick in the mud to say that I was severely disappointed in WAR OF THE WORLDS. This is a film that had everything going for it. One of the greatest directors around adapting the quintessential alien invasion classic. One of our most celebrated actors in the lead, bringing along one of our most amazing rising stars along for the ride. Everything seemed to work for this one. And while it certainly isn't one of the worst films of the year, it is all so tragically underwhelming.
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Comment on this review in our , but please no spoilers.
- Scott W. Davis
WHAT YOU SAID [VIEW]
42nd Street Freak saidTop notch review.
Not seen the film yet, but you do seem to describe it as I feared. We shall see....
42nd Street Freak said
Not seen the film yet, but you do seem to describe it as I feared. We shall see....
*SPOILERS*
"War of the Worlds" - Hmmm...The tripods were great, the atmosphere was great, the FX were impressive, it was nice to see the tripods realised at last and the red weed. All very good.
BUT....1hour 40 minutes! You get comedies longer than that, let alone films about the World being invaded by Aliens! Much too rushed.
Just as the red weed appeared it was dead for example!
The army scenes were alos dull, with yet more pitch black scenes of guns firing at noting. The shiled idea was a wastes, as it a llowed for no fight back moments. The war ship "Thunder Child" in the original story, fighting to gain time for the steamer to escape was a wonderful moment. Nothing here at all though
And where were all the epic scale visuals of destruction?
You had 3 (count 'em!) 3 shots of destroyed cities.
One on a tiny TV monitor, one as a far away shot and one at the end.
Where were all the epic scale scenes of destoyed cities with tripods standing over them and striding through the ruins? Where was the full horror of the aftermath?
Where were the long, long shots of the red weed draped countryside with tripods striding over the land?
Instead we had ONE long shot of the weed, in almost pitch blackness.
When Cruise came out of Robbin's house it looked like he was on a big set! It was all so localised and cramped looking.
The black smoke atmosphere makes for a great written description but not a good movie visual when it is so rampant.
When Cruise walked out there was no sky, no horizon, no open space...it was just black. It looked like a bloody great plane hanger set, not a devastated, changed World.
One of the strengths of the story is the aftermath, as things settle down after the initial attacks. As the weed chokes the land...as the people catchers pursue people over hills...we needed to SEE these sights in daylight. To really see how the world had changed and the scale of that change.
And where were the characters? Robbins was obviously the stand-in for the Artillary man in the original story. But his throwaway, crazy speech about the World man would build in these mythical tunnels, the cities they would build and live in right under the Alien's noses and how they would build an army to fight back...Great stuff, and totally wasted in the film as a few mumbled lines.
Going by the famous 'Musical Version' one character that really stood out (again, part of the extended aftermath, in the movie so rushed over) was the Priest who was certain that the Aliens were Devils, sent from hell in the final judgement. A great idea, a powerful set-up. And another interesting event that the lead character (Cruise) would come across. the film (Robbin's aside) was ALL running and hiding from tripods with nothing actually HAPPENING!
And as far as I remember, the silly idea that the Alien's had arrived on Earth millions of years ago and simply buried tens of thousands of HUGE machines in the ground (none of which, despite all our excavations, tunneling, mining and deep core drilling have never found!!!) was a change unique to the film.
And it did not add up.
Please! Someone tell me WHY the stupid Aliens arrived on this planet they wanted, when there was no men in their way, or buildings taking up space, and spent christ knows how long building and burying these huge machines ONLY TO FUCK OFF AGAIN!
And then wait all this time to go BACK, and go through a shit load of fuss to take control of a planet...THEY ALREADY HAD CONTROL OVER ANYWAY MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO WHEN THEY BURIED THE MACHINES!
Talk about going around in circles and making work for yourself!
And seeing as the first life to ever form on this World would have been countless germs and viruses..How come they did not drop down dead while spending all that time burying those damn tripods!
Great moments and ideas...but sadly too full of holes, too rushed and too localised in it's visuals to fully show the destruction.
JohnShaft said
"War of the Worlds" - Hmmm...The tripods were great, the atmosphere was great, the FX were impressive, it was nice to see the tripods realised at last and the red weed. All very good.
BUT....1hour 40 minutes! You get comedies longer than that, let alone films about the World being invaded by Aliens! Much too rushed.
Just as the red weed appeared it was dead for example!
The army scenes were alos dull, with yet more pitch black scenes of guns firing at noting. The shiled idea was a wastes, as it a llowed for no fight back moments. The war ship "Thunder Child" in the original story, fighting to gain time for the steamer to escape was a wonderful moment. Nothing here at all though
And where were all the epic scale visuals of destruction?
You had 3 (count 'em!) 3 shots of destroyed cities.
One on a tiny TV monitor, one as a far away shot and one at the end.
Where were all the epic scale scenes of destoyed cities with tripods standing over them and striding through the ruins? Where was the full horror of the aftermath?
Where were the long, long shots of the red weed draped countryside with tripods striding over the land?
Instead we had ONE long shot of the weed, in almost pitch blackness.
When Cruise came out of Robbin's house it looked like he was on a big set! It was all so localised and cramped looking.
The black smoke atmosphere makes for a great written description but not a good movie visual when it is so rampant.
When Cruise walked out there was no sky, no horizon, no open space...it was just black. It looked like a bloody great plane hanger set, not a devastated, changed World.
One of the strengths of the story is the aftermath, as things settle down after the initial attacks. As the weed chokes the land...as the people catchers pursue people over hills...we needed to SEE these sights in daylight. To really see how the world had changed and the scale of that change.
And where were the characters? Robbins was obviously the stand-in for the Artillary man in the original story. But his throwaway, crazy speech about the World man would build in these mythical tunnels, the cities they would build and live in right under the Alien's noses and how they would build an army to fight back...Great stuff, and totally wasted in the film as a few mumbled lines.
Going by the famous 'Musical Version' one character that really stood out (again, part of the extended aftermath, in the movie so rushed over) was the Priest who was certain that the Aliens were Devils, sent from hell in the final judgement. A great idea, a powerful set-up. And another interesting event that the lead character (Cruise) would come across. the film (Robbin's aside) was ALL running and hiding from tripods with nothing actually HAPPENING!
And as far as I remember, the silly idea that the Alien's had arrived on Earth millions of years ago and simply buried tens of thousands of HUGE machines in the ground (none of which, despite all our excavations, tunneling, mining and deep core drilling have never found!!!) was a change unique to the film.
And it did not add up.
Please! Someone tell me WHY the stupid Aliens arrived on this planet they wanted, when there was no men in their way, or buildings taking up space, and spent christ knows how long building and burying these huge machines ONLY TO FUCK OFF AGAIN!
And then wait all this time to go BACK, and go through a shit load of fuss to take control of a planet...THEY ALREADY HAD CONTROL OVER ANYWAY MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO WHEN THEY BURIED THE MACHINES!
Talk about going around in circles and making work for yourself!
And seeing as the first life to ever form on this World would have been countless germs and viruses..How come they did not drop down dead while spending all that time burying those damn tripods!
Great moments and ideas...but sadly too full of holes, too rushed and too localised in it's visuals to fully show the destruction.
Scott, your review of WotW prepared me for the movie perfectly, and I couldn't be more in agreement.
A very slow start that seemed twice as long as it was. Cruise and kids being chased from one place to another for the whole film. No story, nothing happening. However I don't *entirely* blame the film, I think the book isn't the most filmable - it has a main protagonist who travels enitrely alone, worse still he is completely passive and has no affect upon the conclusion. Don't get me wrong, I love it, it's just a novel, not a movie.
As for the this version there were a number of problems. First of all I thought there were some really dumb bits.
The Alien probe in the basement. The height of alien technology with the observational powers of Stevie Wonder with ear mufflers, it really was quite comical. Not to mention that all it took to fool these universal travellers was a mirror and a boot.
I didn't buy his son going off to "fight the good fight". First of all there was no fight to be fought, it was obvious suicide. Second of all, the film just wanted to ditch him at that point. Their was a potentially much more emotional and satisfying experience to be had by his death at the hands of these aliens. It left me feeling shortchanged.
The woman he 'knew' trying to get on the ship was just manufactured and convoluted. And the whole ship scene was pointless and had none of the power of the Thunderchild, mankinds last hope, falling to the invaders.
I didn't really understand why they changed the tripods from crash-landed capsules into aeon-buried weapons, it just didn't seem to serve a purpose. And it was made worse by a thoroughly unconvincing explanation for how the Martians made it into these crafts.
I thought the first third of it started well enough, even if it was solely due to the spectacle of the attacks and the mindshatteringterror of seeing your world end in front of you. It just had nowhere to go storywise. A missed opportunity.
One of the strongest visuals of Wells' story is the scenes of the ruined and desolate London. The symbol of a defeated world. The end of the greatest empire at that time. Spielberg should have taken the opportunity, if he wished to update it, to set it in a modern day New York City. Cue much shots of a ruined and desolate Manhattan island, the end of the greatest empire....
Whether he didn't dare make that choice out of fear of how it would be received I don't know. But I don't see how it's much different than the recent United 93 and 9/11 movies. If you're going to make WotW a metaphor for the current state of the world then you might as well be completely honest about it. The movie might then at least have had some power and emotional resonance.
VIDEODROME said
A very slow start that seemed twice as long as it was. Cruise and kids being chased from one place to another for the whole film. No story, nothing happening. However I don't *entirely* blame the film, I think the book isn't the most filmable - it has a main protagonist who travels enitrely alone, worse still he is completely passive and has no affect upon the conclusion. Don't get me wrong, I love it, it's just a novel, not a movie.
As for the this version there were a number of problems. First of all I thought there were some really dumb bits.
The Alien probe in the basement. The height of alien technology with the observational powers of Stevie Wonder with ear mufflers, it really was quite comical. Not to mention that all it took to fool these universal travellers was a mirror and a boot.
I didn't buy his son going off to "fight the good fight". First of all there was no fight to be fought, it was obvious suicide. Second of all, the film just wanted to ditch him at that point. Their was a potentially much more emotional and satisfying experience to be had by his death at the hands of these aliens. It left me feeling shortchanged.
The woman he 'knew' trying to get on the ship was just manufactured and convoluted. And the whole ship scene was pointless and had none of the power of the Thunderchild, mankinds last hope, falling to the invaders.
I didn't really understand why they changed the tripods from crash-landed capsules into aeon-buried weapons, it just didn't seem to serve a purpose. And it was made worse by a thoroughly unconvincing explanation for how the Martians made it into these crafts.
I thought the first third of it started well enough, even if it was solely due to the spectacle of the attacks and the mindshatteringterror of seeing your world end in front of you. It just had nowhere to go storywise. A missed opportunity.
One of the strongest visuals of Wells' story is the scenes of the ruined and desolate London. The symbol of a defeated world. The end of the greatest empire at that time. Spielberg should have taken the opportunity, if he wished to update it, to set it in a modern day New York City. Cue much shots of a ruined and desolate Manhattan island, the end of the greatest empire....
Whether he didn't dare make that choice out of fear of how it would be received I don't know. But I don't see how it's much different than the recent United 93 and 9/11 movies. If you're going to make WotW a metaphor for the current state of the world then you might as well be completely honest about it. The movie might then at least have had some power and emotional resonance.
Lots of good points in these reviews. I thought this movie had a few really strong points. The first emerging Tripod we see and the devestation it started to unleash was stunning to watch in the theater.
For the most part I didn't really like any of the characters though. I thought Tom Cruise was okay. The rebel teenager annoyed me though. My hope was that at the end of the movie we'd seem him really beat up from fighting. Maybe even wearing a army jacket after having been in the fight against the aliens. Just something to show he matured a bit. The kid Rachel was just there to scream and freakout. I don't know maybe Fanning is a decent child actor but I didn't like her character. I think the final thing I hated was the cliché when she was just standing out there to get scooped up the the Tripod. How many times in movies has a character almost gone out of their way to get in trouble so that the hero has someone to rescue while putting himself in danger. Okay one more, I hated Ogilvy to. That whole basement scene was a waste.
Storywise there was some subtle forshadowing with Rachel's splinter when she says her body or immune system will just push the splinter out when it is ready to. So I guess while I was let down by the characters I did kind of find it interesting as an analogy to the aliens being the equivalent of a disease and the Earth's germs being like an immune response pushing it out.
If I remember right the final shot was a close up bacteria and moving out to show a tree. I think if the final shot was a microscopic shot that zoomed out to show her splinter falling out it might have connected with the audience better.
JohnShaft said
For the most part I didn't really like any of the characters though. I thought Tom Cruise was okay. The rebel teenager annoyed me though. My hope was that at the end of the movie we'd seem him really beat up from fighting. Maybe even wearing a army jacket after having been in the fight against the aliens. Just something to show he matured a bit. The kid Rachel was just there to scream and freakout. I don't know maybe Fanning is a decent child actor but I didn't like her character. I think the final thing I hated was the cliché when she was just standing out there to get scooped up the the Tripod. How many times in movies has a character almost gone out of their way to get in trouble so that the hero has someone to rescue while putting himself in danger. Okay one more, I hated Ogilvy to. That whole basement scene was a waste.
Storywise there was some subtle forshadowing with Rachel's splinter when she says her body or immune system will just push the splinter out when it is ready to. So I guess while I was let down by the characters I did kind of find it interesting as an analogy to the aliens being the equivalent of a disease and the Earth's germs being like an immune response pushing it out.
If I remember right the final shot was a close up bacteria and moving out to show a tree. I think if the final shot was a microscopic shot that zoomed out to show her splinter falling out it might have connected with the audience better.
QUOTE (VIDEODROME;18492)
Lots of good points in these reviews. I thought this movie had a few really strong points. The first emerging Tripod we see and the devestation it started to unleash was stunning to watch in the theater.
Thanks for the thoughts VD, I'm widely in agreement.Lots of good points in these reviews. I thought this movie had a few really strong points. The first emerging Tripod we see and the devestation it started to unleash was stunning to watch in the theater.
I absolutely agree on the opening attack scene. That first scene until Cruise gets home really gives you a feeling of the power and terror unleashed on the world. I actually had hopes built up at this point that it was going to pleasantly suprise me, despite what I'd heard.
What I will say though is that I wasn't that keen on the look of the tripods. The legs looked fine, but I just didn't like the look of the top of them. They didn't have that alien look that the tripods drawn for the Wayne Musical version did. The whole peaked head just looked weird to me. They looked very featureless. Whereas the Wayne tripods had two green windows, looking out like monstrous alien eyes, the movie ones had no defining features.
QUOTE For the most part I didn't really like any of the characters though. I thought Tom Cruise was okay. The rebel teenager annoyed me though. The kid Rachel was just there to scream and freakout.
You sum up my views on the characters pretty well. Fanning had to do little more than be a scream machine, which was a shame. The rebel kid was just pointless. Did he do anything in the film that justified his existence in the narrative? And Cruise's character... Scott mentioned Spielberg's recent overreliance on his "irresponsible parent learns to care" schtick, my problem with it is that *very little in the film actually showed this change in him*. There were only a couple of moments (the lullaby scene, and erm, something else) that effectively portrayed his realisation and need to change. And there was no definite moment towards the end where he "got it", or any examples of him reverting to type and resisting change along the way. In essence I therefore think Spielberg did a poor job of showing Cruise's character arc, and it therefore added little meaning to the film.QUOTE Storywise there was some subtle forshadowing with Rachel's splinter when she says her body or immune system will just push the splinter out when it is ready to. So I guess while I was let down by the characters I did kind of find it interesting as an analogy to the aliens being the equivalent of a disease and the Earth's germs being like an immune response pushing it out.
Ya'know I was split on that "splinter" line VD. I liked the idea, but I actually found it TOO direct, and unnatural. The whole "when my bodies ready it will push it out" line just didn't seem like something someone her age (and in a way any age) would say in that way. And I don't particularly blame her delivery of it. To me it just screamed "Look! I'm making a point about what's going to happen with the Martians! See!". Yes, I liked the subtext, but it was too little sub for my liking. Maybe that's just me though. I'm sure there's been legions who've seen WotW and didn't even notice it at all.
DIRECTOR
Steven SpeilbergCAST
Tom CruiseDakota Fanning
Justin Chatwin
Tim Robbins
Miranda Otto
RELEASE DATE
2005REVIEWER
Scott W. DavisREVIEW DATE
8th July 2005 - 7:32AMLinks
Complete E-Text of WAR OF THE WORLDS by H.G. Wells - READ IT, IT'S A CLASSIC!!!Complete Radio Broadcast Script of WAR OF THE WORLDS by Orson Welles - READ THIS ONE TOO!!!
Trailers
Teasers and TrailersNet Trailer
Taglines
- They're Already Here.
- This Summer, the Last War on Earth Won't Be Started By Humans
Trivia
- Initially estimated to have a 2007 release date, this film was abruptly greenlit in mid-August 2004, for a 2005 release, when director Steven Spielberg and star Tom Cruise happened to become available when other projects stalled.
- During the filming of the Underwater scenes, Steven Spielberg played a prank on Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning by playing the dramatic music from JAWS through the Massive underwater speakers on the sound stage. This was also Dakota Fanning's first ever st
- While filming in Athens, New York, extras were provided free food which gave most of them food poisoning.
- According to an interview with Miranda Otto, she originally turned down the part offered by Spielberg as she was newly pregnant. However, Spielberg wanted her to play the part and changed the script to incorporate her pregnancy into the role.
- In the cellar, note the multi-colored lights just prior to the probe entering. This references the red, blue and green lights from the probe in the 1953 version of the film, though no part of the probe in this film emits any of those colors.
- Tim Robbins' character is a combination of three different characters from the Wells novel: is named Ogilvy after a friend to the Narrator, the Curate who gets trapped in the ruined house with the main character, and the Artilleryman whose behaviour and d
- The lullaby is 'Hushabye Mountain' from CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG.
- When Ray first encounters the aliens, there is a street sign behind him displaying 'Van Buren'. Van Buren was the surname of Ann Robinson's character in the 1953 version of WAR OF THE WORLDS.
- To decieve people and discourage pirating, early prints were shipped to theatres as PARTY IN FRESNO.
- While filming in Bayonne, New Jersey, studio Paramount Pictures offered quick cash to residents who lived on First Street and Pointview Terrace to move their cars off the block, between a Tuesday and Friday. This was in order for the film crew to resume s
- The crew started filming only seven months prior to its release. In order to finish all 500+ CGI effects, Steven Spielberg did all the big action scenes in the early stages of shooting.
- Had a 72 day shooting schedule.
- Steven Spielberg owns one of the last copies of the Orson Welles radio script, which he purchased at an auction. The director wanted to make the film years ago, but decided against it when INDEPENDENCE DAY was released. However, the director wanted to wor
- While filming in a residential neighborhood in Howell, New Jersey, residents lined up for autographs. Tom Cruise said if anyone pushed or shoved or acted rudely he would stop immediately. One woman pushed her way through and Cruise stopped, just like he w
- # While filming nearby, Tom Cruise along with a 20 member entourage including Steven Spielberg visited a Lexington, Virginia, Dairy Queen. Cruise saw a jar on the counter with a photo of Ashley Flint and her story. Flint was in a go-cart accident a few m
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