Austinist Reviews Movies We Haven't Seen: War of the Worlds

Rejoice! This day is finally here! The day we have all been breathlessly waiting for since, oh, around the time we now call “The Dance of Psychosis That Is Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’s Great Love Affair” began. Not that we buy into media hype, of course. Because their love is REAL and PURE and MAGNIFICENT, not to mention sanctioned by the upper echelons of Zorbit IV-OA. Or something. Come on! Spielberg! Cruise! Aliens! It’s a recipe for awesomeness.

Most news sources (and we use the term loosely) are actually giving this flick decent reviews. We have to admit that as much as we resisted, every time we saw a preview of this film we got goosebumps. The quick flashes of massive destruction. The booming drumbeats, signaling danger ahead. Tom Cruise’s weird and slightly crooked face, his piercing eyes; Dakota Fanning’s inherent creepiness, her almost adult-like presence. It hooked us.

In typical Spielberg fashion, the film (based on the H.G. Wells seminal classic) combines suspenseful terror, relentless action, amazing special effects, and a family-based, sweet nougaty center. Critics are pointing to the obvious post-9/11 references and the subtext of American colonialism (those Hollywood types, always trying to talk politics!). We imagine there is plenty of screaming, people running aimlessly in various directions, stuff blowing up, general alien badassery, and scenes of a teary-eyed Tom Cruise just trying to be the best dad he can be in light of the unusual circumstances. Kinda makes you want to hug your kids or your mom or your aunt and tell them you love them, just in case malicious aliens suddenly and inexplicably decide to destroy the planet.

For an extra (and bizarre) bit of fun, you can watch Moviefone’s ”Unscripted” interview between Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg, in which Tom peers intensely into the camera, willing us to believe, and states unequivocally that Spielberg is “the greatest storyteller cinema has ever known.” Which is much more convincing publicity than, say, getting engaged to Joey Potter at the Eiffel Tower.

War of the Worlds
Rated: PG-13
dir: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto, Tim Robbins, Justin Chatwin
Opens today: Showtimes