Too bad Tom Cruise went nuts just before the release of "War of the Worlds." No, his goofy off-screen behavior doesn't effect the movie one iota, but I do know a lot of people who couldn't get past Cruise's couch-hopping antics enough to separate the actor from the character, and chose not to see it. Unfortunately for Cruise, we live in a world where folks assume who they see on talk shows and the roles they play on screen are one in the same. I even know a guy who would 'be goddamned if I'm gonna support a crazy Scientologist.' What an idiot. This isn't a Tom Cruise film. It's a Steven Spielberg film, and I'm sure, upon watching his star berate Matt Lauer with his incoherent psychobabble on the eve of the movie's release, Steve buried his face in his hands and cried out, "You stupid motherf**cker!" Even though Cruise unconsciously did everything in his power to derail the movie, "War of the Worlds" still made a shitload of money, and deserved to. This is Spielberg returning to what he does best, directing from-the-hip, and offering more straight thrill-ride fun than any movie since...well, his own "Jurassic Park." Still, one can't help but wonder the pile of cash "War" COULD have raked in if Cruise hadn't decided to show the world how touched-in-the-head he is.

Despite his new image as Hollywood's latest nutjob, Cruise turns in one of his best performances as Ray, a divorced slacker dad looking after his two kids when all hell breaks loose in the form of hellish alien tripods. Popping up in the middle of New Jersey (an obvious homage to Orson Welles' radio version of the story), they burst from the ground after an inexplicable lightning storm and commence incinerating everything in sight. Being the sort of self-centered turd that he is, it's some time before he realizes his kids are waiting at home for him. Coming to his senses, he and his family high-tail it out of town, hoping to make it to the kids' mother's house ahead of the marauding aliens. Ray doesn't really have much of a plan beyond that, and is forced to improvise when the house turns out to be abandoned. Meanwhile, as we learn from an on-the-run news crew, hordes of tripods have popped up all over the world, wreaking havoc where ever they go. Ray decides to head to Boston, where his ex-in-laws live, though he's given no reason why they'd be any safer there; his estranged son, Robbie, is constantly defiant and challenges many of Ray's decisions (though he's often given good reason to, and sometimes demonstrates more selfless heroism than Ray, who's simply concerned about survival). Ray's daughter, Rachel (Dakota Fanning), depends on them both, though it seems as though she trusts her brother more than her dad. The relationship between these three is the crux of the story, and is what separates "War of the Worlds" from most special effects extravaganzas. The entire attack is seen through their eyes; we get no news flashes, extended battle scenes taking place elsewhere, military strategies, sub-plots or attacks on Washington. The world is simply getting its ass kicked while we watch this family run, hide, argue, deal with mass hysteria, and run some more, while Ray is forced to think about people other than himself. Ray never kicks alien ass or saves anyone other than Rachel; his heroism comes from finally becoming the trusted & protective father he hadn't been before. The movie is more faithful to H.G. Wells' novel than the 1953 version. Giant tripods may not be the most efficient way to exterminate the human race, but they're awesome - and scary - to behold, looking pretty much as I once pictured them when reading the book. To me, watching one stare malevolently down on a crowded ferry from atop a hill is one of the coolest images I've seen in movies this year. Despite some astounding attack scenes and jaw-dropping visual effects, they don't overwhelm the story, and the movie maintains a gritty look & feel throughout. Spielberg wisely presents every shot from the POV of those fleeing for their lives; whenever the tripods arrive, we are almost always looking up at their towering frames, like everyone else in the picture. I know a lot has been said (even by Spielberg) about this being a post-9/11 parable, but to be honest, I'm sick of everything being tied to 9/11. Yeah, such connections can be made, but to me, attaching such underpinnings to a kick-ass invasion flick is sort of like being reminded of the spike in the national suicide rate during Christmas. Who needs it?

The first thing most viewers will notice is that the look of the film is unlike any previous mega-budget action flick, with considerable grain, tons of haloing and washed-out color. This is not a clean, sharp & pristine image, which actually helps to make the film work on a more visceral level, rather than yet-another effects-driven epic. Still, if one wasn't aware of Spielberg's intentions, you'd be tempted to think Dreamworks really screwed up the transfer. There's no problem with the sound, though, which is as crisp, clean & loud as one could hope for. There is often creative use of balance (or lack of) as there was during the D-Day scenes in "Saving Private Ryan," and when the tripods trumpet their arrival, the overall effect is nearly as chilling on home video as it was in theaters.

Of course, being a Spielberg film, there is no commentary, but there are several interesting documentaries included in this 2-disc set, such as a feature on the influence of Wells' original novel, interviews with Spielberg & Cruise, segments on characterization, the visual effects (most notably the horrific tripods), and numerous interviews with various personnel (including co-screenwriter David Koepp) about how they tried to make this version of "War of the Worlds" different from any similar film which came before. The pre-visualization pieces (using computer animation) are also pretty cool.

"War of the Worlds" offers a highly original and entertaining spin on the old alien invasion genre while still remaining true to the spirit of H.G. wells' classic novel, accomplishing the rare feat of outclassing the 1953 film (which I always thought was overrated anyway). Spielberg is again in top form, as is Cruise; he may have suddenly gone wacky in real life (in need of some of the same psychiatric care he spits at), but onscreen, he successfully confounds our expectations with a performance that holds its own against a barrage of special effects. A must-own. Similar Movies: "War of the Worlds" (1953); "Independence Day"