War of the Worlds (2005 film): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox |
{{Infobox film |
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| name = War of the Worlds |
| name = War of the Worlds |
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| image = Payoff_poster.jpg |
| image = Payoff_poster.jpg |
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| image_size = 200px |
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| alt = Depicting an alien holding the Earth with the film's title, WAR OF THE WORLDS, the main actor, TOM CRUISE, and the release date, JUNE 29. The casts and crews' names are featured on the bottom of the poster in small letters. |
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| director = [[Steven Spielberg]] |
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| caption = [[Theatre|Theatrical]] [[film poster|poster]] |
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| director = [[Steven Spielberg]] |
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| writer = '''Novel:'''<br />[[H. G. Wells]]<br />'''Screenplay:'''<br />[[Josh Friedman]]<br />[[David Koepp]] |
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| producer = [[Kathleen Kennedy]]<br />[[Colin Wilson]]<br />[[Damian Collier]] (executive)<br />[[Paula Wagner]] (executive) |
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| writer = [[Josh Friedman]]<br />[[David Koepp]]<br />[[H. G. Wells]] (novel) |
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| narrator = [[Morgan Freeman]] |
| narrator = [[Morgan Freeman]] |
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| starring = [[Tom Cruise]]<br />[[Dakota Fanning]]<br />[[Justin Chatwin]]<br />[[Miranda Otto]]<br />[[Tim Robbins]] |
| starring = [[Tom Cruise]]<br />[[Dakota Fanning]]<br />[[Justin Chatwin]]<br />[[Miranda Otto]]<br />[[Tim Robbins]] |
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| music = [[John Williams]] |
| music = [[John Williams]] |
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| cinematography = [[Janusz |
| cinematography = [[Janusz Kaminski]] |
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| editing = [[ |
| editing = [[Michael Kahn]] |
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| studio = [[Amblin Entertainment]]<br />[[Cruise/Wagner Productions]] |
| studio = [[Paramount Pictures]]<br />[[DreamWorks]]<br />[[Amblin Entertainment]]<br />[[Cruise/Wagner Productions]] |
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| distributor = [[Paramount Pictures]]<br />[[DreamWorks]] |
| distributor = [[Paramount Pictures]]<br />[[DreamWorks]]<br />[[United International Pictures]] |
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| released = |
| released = [[United States]]:<br />{{Start date|2005|06|29}}<br />[[United Kingdom]]:<br />{{Start date|2005|07|01}} |
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| runtime = |
| runtime = 117 minutes |
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| country = |
| country = [[United States]] |
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| language = [[English language|English]] |
| language = [[English language|English]] |
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| budget = [[US dollar|US$]]132 million<ref name="BOM">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds (2005) |url=http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=waroftheworlds.htm |date= |work= |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |accessdate=11 September 2009}}</ref> |
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| budget = $132,000,000 |
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| gross = $591,745,540<ref name="BOM"/> |
| gross = [[US dollar|US$]]591,745,540<ref name="BOM"/> |
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| preceded_by = |
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| followed_by = |
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}} |
}} |
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'''''War of the Worlds''''' is a [[ |
'''''War of the Worlds''''' is a {{fy|2005}} [[live action]] [[science fiction film|science fiction]] [[film adaptation]] of [[H. G. Wells]]' [[novel]] ''[[The War of the Worlds|of the same name]]'', directed by [[Steven Spielberg]] and written by [[Josh Friedman]] and [[David Koepp]]. It stars [[Tom Cruise]] as Ray Ferrier, an estranged from his family, who is living separately from his family. As his wife gave their children to him to take care a few days, the [[Earth]] is [[invasion|invaded]] by [[extraterrestrial life|alien]]s in [[Tripod (The War of the Worlds)|Tripod]] form. Due to responsibilities, Ray and his children protected them and begun their journey to [[Boston]] to meet with Ray's wife. |
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''War of the Worlds'' marks Spielberg and Cruise's second collaboration, after ''[[Minority Report (film)|Minority Report]]''. Cruise admired Spielberg and planned to collaborate with Spielberg again, Cruise visited Spielberg during the filming of ''[[Catch Me If You Can]]''. After discussions, Cruise and Spielberg chose to develop The War of the Worlds into a film adaptation. Filming locations were at [[Connecticut]], [[New York]], [[California]], [[Virginia]] and [[New Jersey]]. Several scenes were filmed at studios of [[20th Century Fox]] and [[Universal Studios]]. |
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It is one of four [[The War of the Worlds (film)|film adaptations of the novel]], preceded by two straight-to-video versions released in the same year and [[The War of the Worlds (1953 film)|the original 1953 film version]]. Spielberg's film transposes the setting of Wells' story from [[Victorian England]] to modern [[New Jersey]]. |
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Tie-in promotions were made with several companies, including with [[Hitachi]]. The film released in [[United States]] on [[29 June]] and in [[United Kingdom]] on [[1 July]]. The film generally received positive reviews, the film received 73% "fresh" certificate based on 240 reviews. The film was a box office success, as it grossed [[US dollar|US$]]234 million inside United States and [[US dollar|US$]]357 million at foreign countries, bringing the total gross to [[US dollar|US$]]591 million. The film was often compared to ''[[Independence Day (film)|Independence Day]]''; which has similar storyline compared to ''War of the Worlds''. |
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==Plot== |
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The story opens in [[Newark, New Jersey]], with dock worker Ray Ferrier ([[Tom Cruise]]) finishing the [[third shift]] in the morning. His pregnant ex-wife Mary Anne ([[Miranda Otto]]) and her wealthy new husband Tim ([[David Alan Basche]]), drop off Ray's 10-year-old daughter Rachel ([[Dakota Fanning]]) and teenage son Robbie ([[Justin Chatwin]]) at his house. They are staying with him in [[Bayonne, New Jersey]], while Tim and Mary Anne visit her parents in [[Boston, Massachusetts]] for the weekend. Rachel suffers from a [[panic]] disorder, while Robbie harbors resentment and outright disrespect towards his father. Later that day, Ray wakes up from a nap and is told by Rachel that Robbie has stolen his car and left. |
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==Production== |
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Ray immediately sets out to find him, but is distracted by a strange [[wall cloud]] formation near his neighborhood. As he and Rachel view it from the garden, the clouds begin to unleash [[electromagnetic pulse]]s, disabling all of the working electronic devices in the area, including cars. Ray finds an apologetic Robbie, and tells him to take care of Rachel in the house while he goes to look at a hole in the ground that Robbie mentioned. Traveling past a garage, he sees a mechanic he knows and advises him to replace the [[Solenoid#Automobile_starter_solenoid|solenoid]] of a [[Plymouth Voyager]] he is repairing. Ray and many other people find the mysteriously cold hole in the intersection, from which a large [[Tripod (The War of the Worlds)|Tripod]] machine emerges. It begins to scorch all the people within its range with a scorch ray gun, and starts to destroy all the buildings in its path. Ray however, manages to escape and returns to his house. After packing food, Ray and the kids abandon their home and steal the Plymouth Voyager, which, due to Ray's advice of changing the solenoid, is the only operational vehicle in town. |
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===Development=== |
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|style="text-align: left;"|"I grew up watching [[Steven Spielberg filmography|his movies]], studying them. I often tease him that I know his movies better than he does! It's a real lesson in storytelling - every time I look at his films, I learn something." |
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|style="text-align: left;"| — Tom Cruise admiring Steven Spielberg<ref name="d3"/> |
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[[Steven Spielberg]] and [[Tom Cruise]] collaborated together for the first time in {{fy|2002}}'s ''[[Minority Report (film)|Minority Report]]''.<ref name="d1">{{cite web |title=Minority Report (2002) |url=http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1807592183/info |date= |work= |publisher=[[Yahoo! Movies]] |accessdate=11 September 2009}}</ref> Minority Report generally received positive reviews and gross approximately [[US dollar|US$]]358 million at [[box office]].<ref name="d2">{{cite web |title=Minority Report (2002) |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=MinorityReport.htm |date= |work= |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |accessdate=11 September 2009}}</ref> Since then, Cruise admired to collaborate along with Spielberg, either Spielberg does likes to collaborate with Cruise. Spielberg stated about Cruise, "He's such an intelligent, creative partner, and brings such great ideas to the set that we just spark each other. I love working with Tom Cruise."<ref name="d3">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds Production Notes (2005) |url=http://madeinatlantis.com/movies_central/2005/waroftheworlds_production_details.htm |date= |work= |publisher=Made In Atlantis |accessdate=11 September 2009}}</ref> Cruise met with Spielberg during the filming of Spielberg's ''[[Catch Me If You Can]]'' and gave three options of films to create together; the third option was [[The War of the Worlds]].<ref name="d3"/> Spielberg chose ''The War of the Worlds'' and stated, "We looked at each other and the lights went on. As soon as I heard it, I said `Oh my God! ''War of the Worlds'' - absolutely.' That was it."<ref name="d3"/> |
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The film primarily focused on [[extraterrestrial life|alien]], which marks Spielberg's third film about alien visitation since ''[[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]'' and ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]''.<ref name="d3"/><ref name="d4">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds - Production Notes |url=http://www.waroftheworlds.com/productionnotes/index.html |date= |work= |publisher=''War of the Worlds'', Official Site |accessdate=11 September 2009}}</ref> Producer and longtime collaborator [[Kathleen Kennedy]] notes that with ''War of the Worlds'', Spielberg had the opportunity to explore the antithesis of the characters brought to life in ''E.T.'' and ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind''.<ref name="d4"/> "When we first started developing `E.T.,' it was a much edgier, darker story and it actually evolved into something that was more benign. I think that the edgier, darker story has always been somewhere inside him. Now, he's telling that story."<ref name="d4"/> Spielberg stated that he just thought it would be fun to make a really scary film with really scary aliens, which I had never done before.<ref name="d3"/><ref name="d4"/><ref name="d5">{{cite web |title=Spielberg's family values |url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-06-23-spielberg_x.htm |author=Anthony Breznican |date=23 June 2005 |work= |publisher=[[USA Today]] |accessdate=12 September 2009}}</ref> Spielberg was intent on telling a contemporary story, on bringing the aliens. Kennedy stated the story may be something born out of a [[fantasy]] notion but in fact is dealt with in a hyper-realistic way.<ref name="d4"/> |
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The family drives to Tim's house, and take refuge in the basement for the night. During the night, a tripod destroys an [[airliner]] that crashes into the development, demolishing many of the houses. In the morning, Ray meets a small [[news]] team, who show close-up video footage to Ray of the lightning in the previous "storm". In [[slow-motion]], they see what they believe to be a pod, deducing that the aliens "rode" down the [[lightning]] into the ground where the Tripods were located. The reporter believes that the machines were buried in the Earth long before the rise of humanity. After hearing the siren of a nearby Tripod approaching the area, the news crew flees. Ray gathers Rachel and Robbie and they leave to join their mother in Boston. |
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Numerous [[screenplay|script]]s were written for the film. [[Josh Friedman]] and [[David Koepp]] wrote the final script for the film, which Spielberg accepted it.<ref name="d6">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds |url=http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/War-of-the-Worlds.html |author=[[Josh Friedman]], [[David Koepp]] |date= |work= |publisher=[[Internet Movie Script Database]] |accessdate=12 September 2009}}</ref><ref name="d10">{{cite web |title=War Of The Worlds: Script by David Koepp & Josh Friedman (2005) |url=http://www.war-ofthe-worlds.co.uk/war_worlds_shooting.htm |date= |work= |publisher=[[The War of the Worlds]] |accessdate=12 September 2009}}</ref> The script was focusing on one family only, the Ferriers. Spielberg accepted the script after finding it has similarities with his [[Steven Spielberg#Personal life|personal life]]. Several similarities includes the [[divorce]] of his parents (Ray and Mary Ann's divorce) and other reasons by Spielberg was because the survival of the survivors reflects his own uncertainty after the devastation of the [[terrorism |terror attacks]] of [[September 11 attacks]].<ref name="d5"/> For Spielberg, the survival needed to be a part of the main focus, as it features the [[Americanism]] style of not [[give up|giving up]].<ref name="d5"/> In ''Close Encounters'', a suburban dad (played by [[Richard Dreyfuss]]) abandons his life on Earth, including his wife and children, to explore the heavens aboard a spacecraft.<ref name="d8">{{cite web |title=Close Encounters of the Third Kind |url=http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=Variety100&reviewid=VE1117789972&content=jump&jump=review&category=1935&cs=1&p=0 |date=9 November 1977 |author=A. D. Murphy |work= |publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |accessdate=12 September 2009}}</ref> In {{fy|1982}}'s ''E.T.'', a little boy (played by [[Henry Thomas]]) from a broken home and a gentle alien marooned on Earth help each other deal with abandonment.<ref name="d9">{{cite web |title=The Little Alien That Could |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,297520,00.html |author=Kirsten McCumber |date=9 June 1995 |work= |publisher=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |accessdate=12 September 2009}}</ref> Spielberg calls ''War of the Worlds'' "a polar opposite" to ''Close Encounters''. |
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As the family continues on their journey and stop for a bathroom break, Rachel is horrified by the sight of thin mutilated corpses floating along the [[Hudson River]]. They are passed by a convoy from the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]]. Robbie begs the soldiers driving by to allow him to join and fight, but is ignored until Ray confronts him along with Rachel. In the evening, as they drive along [[NY 385]] their van is attacked by a [[Flash mob|mob]] along their travel route, who are desperate for transport. However, after a man steals the van by holding Ray at gunpoint, Ray and his children are forced to continue on foot. They reach a [[Hudson River]] [[ferry]] in [[Athens, New York]], but as a Tripod appears over the hills on the horizon (joined by two others), the crowd panics and the ferry immediately sets off. However, escape proves futile as a fourth Tripod hiding underwater capsizes the ferry. Ray, Robbie, and Rachel manage to escape and swim to safety, while other refugees are captured or killed. On a hill, they witness the town of Athens being destroyed. |
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Although accepting the script, Spielberg went through several changes in the script. Spielberg had been against the idea of the aliens arriving in [[Tripod (The War of the Worlds)#Novel|spaceship]]s.<ref name="d10"/> The original [[Martian (War of the Worlds)|Martian]] cylinders were discarded, where Spielberg replaced the origins of the [[Tripod (The War of the Worlds)|Tripod]]s with stating they were buried in the underground of the Earth long time ago.<ref name="d10"/><ref name="d11">{{cite DVD-notes |title=Robot Genre Movies [DVD] |titlelink=Science fiction film#Robots |titleyear=1987-2008) (numerous films |director=Various directors |format= |publisher=Lenovo |location= |publisherid= |year= |language= }}</ref> Koepp fitted in a really neat homage to the cylinders, and specifically, the unscrewing of the lid.<ref name="d10"/> Koepp stated far more clearly in the script, "''as ray climbs to his feet, that entire circle starts to rotate again, like a big turntable, causing tremors that ripple out from its center.''"<ref name="d6"/><ref name="d10"/> Naven Bradford also wrote a script for the film, which features a whole number of difference in the [[character]]s and the storyline.<ref name="d12">{{cite web |author=Naven Bradford |title=War of the Worlds |url=http://www.scifiscripts.com/scripts/WAROFTHEWORLDS1.rtf |archiveurl=http://74.125.153.132/custom?q=cache:mlhtjxJX-b0J:www.scifiscripts.com/scripts/WAROFTHEWORLDS1.rtf+War+of+the+Worlds&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2&client=pub-7685866183814465 |date= |archivedate=16 June 2001 |work= |publisher=[[Google]] |accessdate=12 September 2009}}</ref> ''Party in Fresno'' was used as a [[title ruse|fake working title]] for the film.<ref name="d13">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds - Also Known As |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407304/releaseinfo#akas |date= |work= |publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]] |accessdate=12 September 2009}}</ref> |
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Later, the family come across [[United States Military|U.S. Military]] forces somewhere in [[Massachusetts]], attacking a group of Tripods; an entirely fruitless effort as the machines are protected by [[force-field]]s. Although their weapons are ineffective, the military continues with their assault to delay the advance of the Tripods, and give some time for the refugees in the area to escape. Robbie attempts to join the battle, and Ray reluctantly lets him go in order to save Rachel from being taken away by a couple nearby, who see her waiting alone by a tree and worry for her safety. In the ensuing chaos an enormous fireball erupts in the area where Robbie was last seen and Ray and Rachel assume he is dead. |
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===Filming=== |
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As they flee the battle, Ray and Rachel are offered shelter in the basement of a nearby house by a man named Harlan Ogilvy ([[Tim Robbins]]), who lost his family to the Tripods. The invaders settle close to the house where the trio are hiding, and tensions start to emerge between Ogilvy, who wants to strike back at the aliens, and Ray, who is preoccupied with his own safety and that of his daughter. Later that night, a Martian probe gains access to the basement, and the three barely manage to escape detection. A small contingent of aliens enter to explore the basement, and Ray struggles to stop Ogilvy from attacking them with a [[shotgun]]. The aliens are summoned back to the Tripods by a siren before Ogilvy has an opportunity to shoot them. Meanwhile, the invaders begin cultivating a strange "[[red weed]]", which appears to be a mysterious plant fertilized with the blood of captured humans. Subsequently, Ogilvy suffers a mental breakdown after witnessing one of the Tripods harvesting blood and tissue from a helpless human victim. Ray, concerned that the commotion Ogilvy is creating might draw the attention of the invaders to himself and his daughter, makes the decision to murder Ogilvy and thereby silence him. Rachel goes to comfort her father, who is clearly affected by having to carry out the killing. The pair then fall asleep, but are awoken by another probe entering the basement, which sights Rachel. Ray attacks the probe with an axe and it retreats, while Rachel flees the house. |
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[[Image:WarOfTheWorlds-Set.jpg|275px|right|thumb|Destroyed [[Boeing 747]] used on the ''War of the Worlds'' set. Currently, the destroyed airliner is used as a memory in Universal Studios's back-lot-tour.]] |
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The film was shot for 72 days (estimated; 2 months 12 days),<ref name="f1">{{cite web |title=Close Encounters of the Worst Kind |url=http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.06/war.html |date=June 2005 |work= |publisher=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |accessdate=13 September 2009}}</ref> Filming locations was mainly at [[United States]]. which was the similar amount of time used by Spielberg to filmed his ''[[Schindler's List]]'' ({{fy|1993}}) and ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'' ({{fy|1981}}).<ref name="f2">{{cite web |title=Schindler's List |url=http://ralph-fiennes.net/filmography/sl/film_sl.php |date= |work= |publisher=[[Ralph Fiennes]] |accessdate=13 September 2009}}</ref><ref name="f3">{{cite book | last = McBride | first =Joseph | authorlink =Joseph McBride (writer) | title = Steven Spielberg | publisher =Faber and Faber | date =1997 | location =[[New York City]] | pages =309–322 | isbn = 0-571-19177-0 |chapter=Rehab}}</ref> On [[2004]], the production crews quickly were set up on both coasts to prepare for the start date, [[scout]]ing locations up and down the [[Eastern Seaboard]] and preparing stages and sets which would be used when the company returned to [[Los Angeles]] after the [[winter holiday]].<ref name="d4"/> [[Pre-production]] took place in essentially half the amount of time normally allotted to a film of similar size and scope. Spielberg notes, however, "This wasn't a cram course for ''War of the Worlds''. |
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This was my longest schedule in about 12 years. We took our time."<ref name="d4"/> [[Cinematographer|Director of photography]] and longtime Spielberg collaborator [[Janusz Kaminski]] and Spielberg noted that they wanted to complete the film as fast they could.<ref name="d4"/> Spielberg had been working with the crews in a computer since the beginning of pre-production through a process called [[previsualization]], in which traditional [[storyboard]]s are animated into [[3D]] digital sequences. The scene, which depicts Ray and other pupils viewing the [[Tripod (The War of the Worlds)|Tripod]]s was filmed at [[Newark]], [[New Jersey]].<ref name="f5">{{cite web |title=More on War of the Worlds Filing in New Jersey |url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/movies/news/article_1954.php |author=James Wray |date=9 October 2004 |work= |publisher=Monsters and Critics |accessdate=13 September 2009}}</ref> Later, Spielberg filmed several scenes at [[Virginia]].<ref name="f6">{{cite web |title=Spielberg to film in Shenandoah Valley |url=http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2004-11-29-war-of-worlds_x.htm |date=29 November 2004 |work= |publisher=[[USA Today]] |accessdate=13 September 2009}}</ref> The continuous scene was filmed at [[California]].<ref name="f7">{{cite web |title=Worlds Collide |url=http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/warofworlds.html |date=20 June 2005 |author=Mark Schatzker |work= |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |accessdate=13 September 2009}}</ref> |
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Ray attempts to find Rachel, but is attacked by a Tripod. As he tries to find safety in a truck which the Tripod tosses upside down, Ray spots his daughter standing nearby, screaming as the Tripod advances towards her. The Tripod captures Rachel and ignores Ray's provocation, forcing him to harass it with some [[hand grenade]]s he finds nearby. Though the shield protects the Tripod, it immediately captures Ray and deposits him in a metal cage with many other captives, and a traumatized Rachel. A closed chute above the cage releases an arm which periodically grabs a human to be violently processed within the machine. After it grabs Ray, the other prisoners fight to save him, and successfully pull him out from within the interior of the Tripod. Ray reveals that he left the remaining grenades primed within the Tripod, and the grenades detonate, destroying it. The cage is dropped on a tree, and Ray and Rachel - along with the other surviving captives - escape. |
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The [[ferry]] scene was filmed at [[Athens]], whereby Mary Ann's house was located at [[Brooklyn]] (but was featured in the film at [[Boston]]).<ref name="f8">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds (2005) - Filming locations |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407304/locations |date= |work= |publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]] |accessdate=13 September 2009}}</ref><ref name="d11"/> The plane, a [[Boeing 747]], which crash landed was filmed at [[Howell]], New Jersey, where the crashed landed plane was kept for [[Universal Studios]] back-lot tour.<ref name="f9">{{cite web |title=If A Plane Crashed Into Your Neighborhood... |url=http://greensboring.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=5445 |date=27 May 2007 |auhtor=Liv |work= |publisher=Greens Boring |accessdate=14 September 2009}}</ref> Scene depicts Ray's house was filmed at [[Bayonne]] (at a [[soundstage]]), New Jersey, meanwhile the valley war sequence was filmed at [[Lexington, Virginia|Lexington]], [[Virginia]] and Mystery Mesa in California.<ref name="f8"/> Half the film was scheduled to shoot on five sound stages at [[California]]: [[20th Century Fox]], JF Kennedy Blvd., [[Sony Pictures Studios|Sony]], [[Universal Studios Hollywood|Universal]] and [[Warner Bros.]]<ref name="f8"/> |
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Soon afterwards, Ray and his daughter continue to move towards Boston. It is there that they find that all the "red weed" is dying, and the Tripods are beginning to seriously malfunction. After seeing birds fly near, and land, on one still-moving Tripod, Ray realizes that the shields are no longer operational. He draws this to the attention of a group of soldiers who are trying to lead refugees to safety, and the soldiers attack the Tripod with several [[FGM-148 Javelin|Javelin missile launchers]] - successfully bringing it down. With the threat gone, Ray finally brings Rachel to Mary Anne and Tim at her parents' house, where she has been waiting for them. Robbie also comes out of the house, revealing that he survived too. The movie closes with Ray and Robbie hugging, and Ray crying in relief. |
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===Design and visual effects=== |
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Afterwards, the narrator ([[Morgan Freeman]]) reveals that the Tripods were breaking down because the invaders and their weeds were suffering from [[Earth|terrestrial]] diseases, for which they had no [[Immunity (medical)|immunity]]. |
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The [[Tripod (The War of the Worlds)|Tripod]]s used for the film was different than [[The War of the Worlds (film)|the Tripods in other film adaptations]].<ref name="d4"/> The Tripods' first scene was where Ray and other neighbors face off the Tripods coming out of the street.<ref name="d11"/> While Spielberg had used the computer to help visualize sequences in [[pre-production]] before, Spielberg said, "This is the first film I really tackled using the computer to animate all the storyboards."<ref name="d4"/> [[George Lucas]], Spielberg's good friend whom collaborate together in many films,<ref name="e3">{{cite web |title=Steven Spielberg and George Lucas: The EW Q&A |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20192282,00.html?xid=rss-movies-20080417-Spielberg+%26+Lucas:+The+EW+Q%26A |author=Steve Daly |date= |work= |publisher=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |accessdate=14 September 2009}}</ref> was visited by Spielberg himself who showed him how the process was working for him. Lucas said, "I got all the [[professional|expert]]s who had been working with [[Industrial Light & Magic|ILM]] on '[[Star Wars]]: Episodes [[Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace|I]], [[Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones|II]] and [[Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith|III]]' for George. When they wrapped, I took most of them with me."<ref name="d4"/> Spielberg hired Star Wars' [[previsualization]] [[supervisor]] Dan Gregoire and Star Wars' [[special effect]]s artist [[Dennis Muren]] to create previsualization and special effects for the film.<ref name="d4"/><ref name="e1">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds |url=http://www.frankrose.com/war_of_the_worlds_43613.htm |date=June 2005 |work= |publisher=Frank Rose |accessdate=14 September 2009}}</ref><ref name="e2">{{cite web |title=Review of The War Of The Worlds (Steven Spielberg, 2005) |url=http://www.war-ofthe-worlds.co.uk/war_of_the_worlds_spielberg.htm |date= |work= |publisher=[[The War of the Worlds]] |accessdate=14 September 2009}}</ref> [[Industrial Light & Magic]] was the head of the special effects category for the film.<ref name="e1"/><ref name="e2"/> |
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A scene which depicts Ray and his family are driving in their [[minivan]] when they come upon an increasing number of wandering people, which [[Janusz Kaminski]] and Spielberg wanted a lot of interactive light in that scene. So, they added different kinds of lights, including [[Coleman lamp]]s, [[oil lamp|oil lantern]]s, [[flashlight]]s and Maglights.<ref name="d4"/> Crews of Industrial Light & Magic admitted that the [[#Plot|bridge scene in the film]] was the most toughest scene to be made with heavy usage mix of [[CGI]] effects and [[live action]] elements.<ref name="e4">{{cite web |title=Industrial Light & Magic |publisher=Autodesk |url=http://www.autodesk.com/xnab2006/pdf/ILM.pdf |author=Claudia Kienzle |format=PDF |accessdate=14 September 2009}}</ref> The scene involved Tripods shooting [[Heat-Ray#2005 film|Heat-Ray]] towards the minivan and minivan escapes from it involved a lot of CGI layers to work out. The visual effects suited the storyline of the film, concluding a tribute to [[Science fiction film#1930s–1950s|science fiction film of the 1950s]].<ref name="e5">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds (2005) - Widescreen DVD |url=http://filmfreakcentral.net/dvdreviews/waroftheworlds2005.htm |date= |author=Bill Chambers |work= |publisher=Film Freak Central |accessdate=14 September 2009}}</ref> Over 500 CGI effects were used in the film.<ref name="e6">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds (2005) - Odds & Ends |url=http://www.themoviemark.com/moviereviews/waroftheworlds.asp |date= |author=Johnny Betts |work= |publisher=The Movie Mark |accessdate=15 September 2009}}</ref> |
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==Cast== |
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* [[Tom Cruise]] as Ray Ferrier |
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* [[Dakota Fanning]] as Rachel Ferrier |
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* [[Justin Chatwin]] as Robbie Ferrier |
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* [[Tim Robbins]] as Harlan Ogilvy |
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* [[Miranda Otto]] as Mary Ann |
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* [[David Alan Basche]] as Tim |
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* [[Lenny Venito]] as Manny |
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* [[Ann Robinson]] as Grandmother |
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* [[Gene Barry]] as Grandfather |
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* [[Morgan Freeman]] as Narrator (voice) |
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[[Costume designer]] Joanna Johnston created 60 different versions of Ray's [[leather jacket]], to illustrate the [[degree]]s to which he is weathered from the beginning of the journey to the end. "He begins with the [[jacket]], a [[hoodie]], and two [[t-shirts]]," explains Johnston.<ref name="d4"/> One piece of [[Dakota Fanning]]'s costume that takes on a special importance is her [[lavender]] [[horse]] [[purse]]. "I wanted her to have something that made her feel safe, some little thing that she could sleep with and put over her face," Johnston notes. "That was the lavender horse purse. We tied it up on a [[ribbon]] and Dakota hung it on her body, so it was with her at all times."<ref name="d4"/> Johnston dressed Robbie for an unconscious emulation of his father, "They're more alike than they realize, with great tension on the surface," Johnston says.<ref name="d4"/> |
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==Production== |
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The film was produced by [[Cruise/Wagner Productions]], [[Amblin Entertainment]], [[DreamWorks SKG]], and [[Paramount Pictures]]. |
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===Music=== |
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{{see also|Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds}} |
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''War of the Worlds'' draws elements not only from the H. G. Wells novel, but also the [[The War of the Worlds (radio)|1938 radio play]] and the [[The War of the Worlds (1953 film)|1953 film]]. Hence, to place this film in proper historical context as an adaptation requires some knowledge of all three [[The War of the Worlds (disambiguation)|previous incarnations]] of Wells' story. |
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[[John Williams]], who collaborated with [[Steven Spielberg]] in ''[[Indiana Jones franchise|Indiana Jones]]'' series, ''[[Schindler's List]]'', ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]'', ''[[Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park]]'' and ''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]'', also scored music for the film. The soundtrack ran for a duration of sixty-one minutes and eight seconds.<ref name="s1">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds (2005) |url=http://www.soundtrackinfo.com/title/waroftheworlds.asp |date=28 June 2005 |work= |publisher=Soundtrack Info |accessdate=16 September 2009}}</ref> The film's [[narrator]], [[Morgan Freeman]], also narrated track one and track fourteen.<ref name="s1"/><ref name="s2">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds (2005) |url=http://www.jwfan.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=812 |date=6 June 2007 |work=Ricard L. Befan |publisher=[[John Williams|John Williams Fan Network]] |accessdate=16 September 2009}}</ref> Spielberg wrote the liner notes for the soundtrack, where Spielberg notices that "this music is so rhymic and [[primal]] that one has to wonder how a composer with such a background could have so much abandoned his own style."<ref name="s3">{{cite album-notes |title=War of the Worlds |albumlink=War of the Worlds (2005 film)#Music |bandname=[[John Williams]] |year=2005 |notestitle=Notes Title |url=http://www.filmtracks.com/comments/titles/war_worlds/index.cgi?read=96&expand=1 |first=Tomek |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |pages=1 |format= |publisher=Filmtracks |publisherid= |location= |mbid= }}</ref> The soundtrack was mixed by [[Shawn Murphy]] at Sony Pictures Studio, [[Culver City]], [[California]].<ref name="s1"/><ref name="s4">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds Soundtrack CD |url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6861364&style=music&frm=lk_fmsr |date= |work= |publisher=CD Universe |accessdate=16 September 2009}}</ref> The track list includes 15 tracks, "Prologue", "The Ferry Scene", "Reaching the Country", "The Intersection Scene", "Ray and Rachel", "Escape From the City", "Probing the Basement", "Refugee Status", "The Attack On The Car", "The Separation of the Family", "The Confrontation With Ogilvy", "The Return to Boston", "Escape From the Basket", "The Reunion" and "Epilogue".<ref name="s5">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds: John Williams: Music |url=http://www.amazon.com/War-Worlds-John-Williams/dp/B0009A3ZZI |date= |work= |publisher=[[Amazon.com]] |accessdate=16 September 2009}}</ref><ref name="s6">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds - Soundtrack |url=http://www.waroftheworlds.com/?lcode=2_27 |date= |work= |publisher=''War of the Worlds'', Official Site |accessdate=16 September 2009}}</ref> |
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==Cast and characters== |
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As in [[The War of the Worlds|the original novel]], which takes place in and around London, the narrative is told from the point of view of civilians caught up in the conflict. Whereas the novel portrayed the experience of a solitary British journalist late in the 19th century, ''War of the Worlds'' is, according to Spielberg, purported to show the war "through the eyes of one American family fighting to survive it". It is set in the early 21st century, and as in the radio play begins in [[New Jersey]]. Part of the movie was filmed in the [[Newark, New Jersey]] [[Ironbound]] District. The scene in which the alien first appears from the hole in the ground was shot on Ferry Street. Filming in Newark was reportedly canceled due to the noisy environment and prospect of storefront owners losing business from the closed off set. Main parts of the film was shot in [[Bayonne, New Jersey]], with the [[Bayonne Bridge]] being destroyed. |
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* '''Ray Ferrier''', played by '''[[Tom Cruise]]'''. Being an estrange father and ex-husband for his children and wife, Ray works as a [[dock worker]]. Ray always keeps his house in a [[messy]] condition and both his children dislikes him, however they starts to love him [[post-war|post-invasion]]. Ray tries to satisfy his children, despite always fails. |
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* '''Rachel Ferrier''', played by '''[[Dakota Fanning]]'''. A ten year old [[girl]] and Ray's daughter. Rachel's [[character]]s was far difference then her elder brother, since her brother ignores her sometimes. Rachel is easily hit by [[panic]] disorder, resulting more [[tension]] on Ray. To simply lost Rachel's panic disorder, Rachel's mother invents a special technique only to be known by her mother and brother. |
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* '''Robbie Ferrier''', played by '''[[Justin Chatwin]]'''. A [[teenage]]r and Ray's son. Robbie is the most in the film family to dislike Ray, however in the ending, he [[regret]]s his doing, cries and hugs Ray. Robbie disobey his father's orders and disrespects him, such as driving his father's [[automobile|car]] out of the house without his [[permission]]. |
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* '''Mary Ann''', played by '''[[Miranda Otto]]'''. An [[Ex (relationship)|ex]]-wife of Ray, after a [[conflict]]s (not described in the film) occurred between them. Now, Mary lives with wealthy Tim and dumps Ray. |
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* '''Harlan Ogilvy''', played by '''[[Tim Robbins]]'''. Harlan was the only [[survival|survivor]] in his family, eventually helps Ray and Rachel (Robbie goes away from them) to have a shelter. Harlan was in motive to destroy the aliens to seek [[revenge]], meanwhile Ray doesn't wants to attack them to protect Rachel. Later, Harlan suffers [[mental breakdown]] after seeing the aliens harvesting [[blood]] and [[Tissue (biology)|tissue]] from a helpless human victim. |
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Meanwhile, the other small-role characters are '''[[David Alan Basche]]''' as '''Tim'''; Mary's new wealthy husband, '''[[Lenny Venito]]''' as '''Manny''' and '''[[Ann Robinson]]''' and '''[[Gene Barry]]''' as grandmother and grandfather for Rachel and Robbie respectively. [[Morgan Freeman]] narrated the film in the beginning and ending of the film. |
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===Quotes from Spielberg=== |
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[[Image:WarOfTheWorlds-Set.jpg|275px|right|thumb|Destroyed [[Boeing 747]] used on the ''War of the Worlds'' set. It is also used in [[The Fray]]'s [[Never Say Never (The Fray song)|Never Say Never]] music video]] |
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On the web site [[Dark Horizons]],<ref>http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/warworlds.php/ On-Set Interview: Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg</ref> Spielberg described his preferences for [[long take]]s in special effect-heavy movies: |
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:"I'm more interested in concept shots and money shots than I am in tons of [[MTV]] coverage, which certainly takes a lot of time. But if I can put something on the screen that is sustained where you get to study it and you get to say, 'How did they do that?' That's happening before my eyes and the shot's not over yet, it's still going and it's still going and my God, it's an [[special effect|effects]] shot and it's lasting seemingly forever. I enjoy that more than creating illusion with sixteen different camera angles, where no shot lasts longer than six seconds on the screen. To pull a rabbit out of a hat, because you are really a smart audience and you're in the fastest media, the fastest growing new media today and you know the difference between sleight of hand visually and the real thing. I think what makes ''War of the Worlds'', at least the version that we're making, really exciting, is you get to really see what's happening. There's not a lot of visual tricks. We tell it like it is, we show it to you, and we put you inside the experience." |
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==Plot== |
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He described the story as follows: |
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The film opens with [[Newark]]-based Ray Ferrier ([[Tom Cruise]]) returning to home after finishing his [[third shift]] as a [[dock worker]]. At his home, Ray encounters his [[ex (relationship)|ex]]-wife, Mary Ann ([[Miranda Otto]]), who is leaving his children, Rachel ([[Dakota Fanning]]) and Robbie ([[Justin Chatwin]]), to him to take care temporarily as Mary goes to [[Boston]] to meet with her parents, ([[Gene Barry]] and [[Ann Robinson]]). As Ray sleeps for a while, Robbie took Ray's car out of the house without his permission. Meanwhile, Rachel take cares of the house, Ray, who wakes up, goes out to search for Robbie. However, he's motive to search for Robbie was stopped by a strange [[wall cloud]], which forms [[electromagnetic pulse]]s, disabling any [[electronic device]]s there. Ray and a few peoples encounter a [[Tripod (The War of the Worlds)|Tripod]] emerges from the ground, which has a cold hole. Ray runs to the house, along with Robbie, bringing Robbie and Rachel out from the house by driving the only operating car in the town. |
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:"It's nothing you can really describe. The whole thing is very experiential. The point of view is very personal — everybody, I think, in the world will be able to relate to the point of view, because it's about a family trying to survive and stay together, and they're surrounded by the most epically horrendous events you could possibly imagine." |
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At the world premiere in Tokyo, Spielberg said he was proud to bring it to Japan, referring to Japanese [[monster movie]]s including [[Gamera]] and [[Godzilla]], and explained the first tripod is killed in [[Osaka]] because "Osaka has a lot of experience [with monsters]."<ref>{{ cite news |
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| title=Time is ripe for 'War of the Worlds': Spielberg |
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| date=2005-06-13 |
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| publisher=[[CTVglobemedia]] |
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| author=AP |
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| accessdate=2007-11-29 |
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| url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1118671356993_114080556 |
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}}</ref> |
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===Budget=== |
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In August 2004, the ''[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]'' reported that the film was "poised to make history in Hollywood as the most expensive film ever made — surpassing ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> $198 million budget." The report stated that "so far rumors are pushing the ''Worlds'' budget well beyond that figure".<ref>{{cite news|title=Movie Mojo|last=Longino|first=Bob|coauthors=Eleanor Ringel Gillespie|date=August 20, 2004|publisher= ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution''|pages=2C|accessdate=2008-06-01}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'', the original source for this number, ran a notation a few days later that the budget was actually $132 million. |
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==Critical reaction== |
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The film garnered a positive box office response,<ref name="BOM">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=waroftheworlds.htm |title=War of the Worlds (2005) |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |accessdate=2009-02-05}}</ref> with reviews being generally positive. As of August 8, 2008, [[Rotten Tomatoes]] had the movie rated as 73% fresh.<ref> [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/war_of_the_worlds/ 230 Reviews] on ''[[Rotten Tomatoes]]''</ref> Overall reviews have praised the film for its special effects and the direction of Steven Spielberg, but have criticized the film for putative gaps in the logic, and holes and inconsistencies in the story line. Some critics such as Glenn Whip (''L.A. Daily News'') and Bruce Westbrook (''[[The Houston Chronicle]]'') consider the film a near masterpiece.<ref> [http://u.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,211~24684~2942487,00.html Review by Glenn Whip] on ''LA Daily News''</ref><ref> [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ae/movies/reviews/3244603.html Review by Bruce Westbrook] on ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''</ref> Critic [[Armond White]], who also named the film the second best of the year, stated that "the film steps beyond the simple conventions of genre filmmaking (a sci-fi flick about an invasion from Mars) and expresses our very contemporary concern with survival", also describing the scene where the Rachel Ferrier character asks "Are we still alive?" as the "unexpectedly avant-garde moment" in the film<ref>White, Armond. [http://www.nypress.com/18/32/film/ArmondWhite.cfm "AVANT-LARD: Is anyone still waging the fight against junk populism and elitism?"], ''New York Press''. Retrieved on 2008-10-12.</ref>. |
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Critic [[James Berardinelli]] gave the film 3 out of 4 stars, he wrote in his review: "''War of the Worlds'' may not stand up well to careful inspection and it may not be the smartest science fiction film brought to the screen (although, when considering movies such as the like-themed ''[[Independence Day (film)|Independence Day]]'', it's far from the dumbest), but it is an intense, visceral experience."<ref> [http://www.reelviews.net/movies/w/war_worlds.html Review by James Berardinelli] on ''Reel Views''</ref> |
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Some thought otherwise. Critic [[Roger Ebert]] gave the film 2 out of 4 stars, calling it "a big, clunky movie containing some sensational sights but lacking the zest and joyous energy we expect from Steven Spielberg."<ref>[http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050628/REVIEWS/50606007/1023 Review by Roger Ebert] on ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''</ref> |
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Ray drives the car to Mary's new wealthy husband, Tim's ([[David Alan Basche]]) house to take refuge that night. An [[airliner]] ([[Boeing 747]]) destroyed by a Tripod fells and crashes nearby houses. On the next day in morning, a small [[news]] team showed Ray in [[slow-motion]] about a pod, deducing that the aliens "rode" down the [[lightning]] into the ground where the Tripods were located. After hearing the [[siren]] of a nearby Tripod approaching the area, the news crew and Ray, along with his children, flee to join with Mary in Boston. On their journey to Boston, they take break as Rachel wants a bathroom break. During [[pee]]ing, Rachel sees sight of thin mutilated corpses floating along the [[Hudson River]], however Ray closes her eye afterwards. Suddenly, the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] passes, Robbie takes interest to join them and begged them. Ray stops Robbie from begging and continue their journey. During driving along [[NY 385]], they come across a [[flash mob|mob]], whom are attacking them as they want the transport. A man manages to steal the transport from Ray, Ray and his children are desperate to walk with the mob. They reach at the Hudson River [[ferry]], where many people fight to get in the ferry. Ray and his children manage to get on the ferry, however a Tripod appears and destroys the ferry. Ray and his children escape from the attack along with the other survivors. |
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Critic Isabela Boscov from ''[[Veja]]'', Brazil's main weekly magazine, noted that the film was modeled after the taste of the United States' post-[[9/11]] audience by downplaying the original notion of the stronger civilization subjugating the weaker one and the moral questioning of that, as H. G. Wells had intended when writing during the height of the [[British Empire]] domination. Instead, she wrote, Spielberg tried to demonstrate that conservative values, such as family, can withstand any evil. She otherwise praised the film for its realism.<ref>[http://veja.abril.com.br/060705/p_102.html]</ref> |
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As the family come across an ongoing-[[war]] in [[Massachusetts]], they see the U.S. Army attacking the Tripods. The family started to move away from the war, however Robbie declines Ray's decision to do so as Robbie wants to help the U.S. Army. As Robbie runs away from Ray and Rachel, an enormous [[fireball]] crashed at the last place Robbie is seen, Ray and Rachel assumed Robbie is [[death|dead]]. Left Ray and Rachel, they were offered [[shelter]] and [[protection]] by an unknown stranger, named Harlan Ogilvy ([[Tim Robbins]]). Harlan claimed his family was killed by Tripod and vows for [[revenge]], but Ray denied from joining with him as Ray wants his daughter to be safe. Suddenly, a strange [[red weed]], a mysterious [[plant]] fertilized with the [[blood]] of captured [[human]]s, enters the house almost kills Rachel. Harlan suffered [[mental breakdown]] as he witnesses one of the Tripods harvesting blood and tissue from a helpless human victim. Harlan makes noises, so Ray kills Harlan to keep silence. The red week leaves, however another probe enters. Ray chops it with an [[axe]], scaring Rachel, who runs away. |
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==Criticism and controversy== |
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===Tom Cruise, Scientology, and the film=== |
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Press coverage in May and June 2005 leading up to the film's release focused on Tom Cruise's [[proselytism|proselytizing]] for [[Scientology]]. Around this time, Cruise had changed publicists, from Pat Kingsley to his sister, Lee Anne DeVette, and spoke to interviewers more frequently about Scientology — and his sudden engagement to actress [[Katie Holmes]], as well as his public argument with [[Brooke Shields]] — than about the film itself. |
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Ray chases Rachel, however Rachel is caught by a Tripod, causing Ray to pick up several [[hand grenade]]s to destroy the Tripod. The grenades didn't work as the Tripod has [[force-field]] [[shield]]. The Tripod catches Ray, puts him in a metal [[cage]] with many other captives, and a [[trauma]]tized Rachel. In the cage, a metal arm grabs Ray, the other prisoners fight to save him, and successfully pull him out from within the interior of the Tripod. Ray reveals that he left the remaining grenades primed within the Tripod, and the grenades detonate, the Tripod was successfully [[explode]]d. The cage drops and Ray and Rachel, along with other prisoners escape. Soon afterwards, Ray and Rachel continue to move to Boston, finding the red weeds are dying meanwhile the Tripod is getting weak as their shield was no longer operational. Nearby guarding soldiers attacked the Tripod with [[FGM-148 Javelin|Javelin missile launchers]] — successfully bringing it down. As the threat is gone — all the Tripods are destroyed — Ray meets with his family, where he finds Robbie is there, revealing he survived. The film ends with Ray and Robbie hugging, Ray cries in relief, meanwhile the narrator ([[Morgan Freeman]]) reveals the Tripods were dying because they were suffering from [[Earth|terrestrial]] [[disease]]s, for which they had no [[immunity (medical)|immunity]]. |
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Some press coverage noted<ref>[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=100&ObjectID=10328889 NZ Herald - The Latest New Zealand, World, Business, Sport and Entertainment News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> the similarity between the film's promotional poster and the front cover of ''The Invaders Plan'' (volume one of ''[[Mission Earth (novel)|Mission Earth]]'') by [[L. Ron Hubbard]], founder of Scientology. This similarity is not singular to the film, however, as the image of a hand grasping the Earth is a recurring one in science-fiction: it was used, for example, for the [[1975 in film|1975]] film ''[[Rollerball (1975 film)|Rollerball]]''. Moreover, the image used to promote it is very similar to the image that was often used in advertising Paramount's ''[[War of the Worlds (TV series)|War of the Worlds]]'' TV series during its first season. |
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==Story== |
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===Press coverage and anti-piracy controversy=== |
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===Themes=== |
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The press preview of the film raised severe criticism, since every journalist who wanted to take a preview of ''War of the Worlds'' before it premiered had to sign a [[non-disclosure agreement]]. This NDA stated that the undersigned could not publish a review of the film before its worldwide release on June 29, 2005. |
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The film was described as an [[anti]]-[[war]] film, as [[civilian]]s run and only trying to save themselves and their family instead of fighting back the [[Tripod (The War of the Worlds)|Tripod]] [[Extraterrestrial life|alien]]s.<ref name="t1">{{cite web |title=Spielberg's anti-war 'War of the Worlds' |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/07/10/EDGBBDKPB61.DTL |last=Saunders |first=Debra |authorlink=Debra Saunders |date=10 July 2005 |work= |publisher=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |accessdate=16 September 2009}}</ref> [[Debra Saunders|Debra J. Saunders]] of ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' described the film as "If aliens [[invasion|invade]], don't fight back. Run." Saunders compared the film to ''[[Independence Day (film)|Independence Day]]'', where the civilians do run, but they support the [[military]] efforts.<ref name="t1"/> ''[[Reader's Digest]]'' described the film's theme as "Dark, Ominous, and Very Loud". Reader's Digest stated [[Steven Spielberg]]'s aliens in ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]'' and ''[[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]'' were benign, even cuddly, and they ultimately inspired [[optimism]], not [[fear]], calling it "Time Has Changed".<ref name="t2">{{cite web |title=Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise: The Fascinating Truth Behind "War of the Worlds" |url=http://www.rd.com/the-truth-behind-spielbergs-war-of-the-worlds/article14939.html?trkid=rdcom_ntscp_artcl14&wtid=rdcom_artcl14&wtgroup=rdcom_ntscp |date=June 2005 |work= |publisher=[[Reader's Digest]] |accessdate=16 September 2009}}</ref> The [[survival]] of the [[survivor]]s and the missing-persons displays was used by Spielberg in the film to create the [[Mood (psychology)|atmosphere]] of [[September 11 attacks]].<ref name="t3">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds (2005) |url=http://www.decentfilms.com/sections/reviews/waroftheworlds2005.html |date= |author=Steven D. Greydanus |work= |publisher=Decent Films |accessdate=16 September 2009}}</ref> The film also played major role in [[religion]] of [[Christian]]ity, as a Tripod destroyed a [[church]] as it's first target in the film.<ref name="t3"/> |
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===Cultural references=== |
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Furthermore, at the New York premiere of the film at the [[Ziegfeld Theatre]], all members of the press were required to check all electronic equipment — including [[mobile phone|cellular phones]] — at the door, as part of a larger sweeping anti-piracy campaign by the film's producers hoping to keep the film from leaking on the [[Internet]]. |
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The fil also featured "''[[Hushabye Mountain]]''", sung by Ray Ferrier for his daughter, Rachel, was adapted from {{fy|1968}}'s ''[[Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (film)|Chitty Chitty Bang Bang]]''.<ref name="chitty">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds Review (2005) |url=http://www.thespinningimage.co.uk/cultfilms/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=1280 |date= |author=Jason Cook |work= |publisher=The Spinning Image |accessdate=17 September 2009}}</ref> Two [[Steven Spielberg]] films' references was also featured in the film, where ''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]'''s [[film poster]] was in Ray's room.<ref name="jaws&3encounters">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds (2005) - Movie Connections |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407304/movieconnections |date= |work= |publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]] |accessdate=17 September 2009}}</ref> The shots of the [[pickup truck]] and Dakota before the aliens pick her up, camera shots appear to be modelled after ''[[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]''.<ref name="jaws&3encounters"/> The [[action figure|toy]]s of [[Son Goku (Dragon Ball)|Son Goku]] appeared as Rachel's toy in her room; [[List of Dragon Ball characters#Emperor Pilaf|Emperor Pilaf]] in [[List of Dragon Ball characters#Hercule|Mr. Herculese Satan]]'s car.<ref name="dragonballz">{{cite web |title=Dragon Ball Z (1989/I) - Movie Connections |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0214341/movieconnections |date= |work= |publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]] |accessdate=17 September 2009}}</ref> Poster of ''[[The Saddle Club]]'' was also featured in the film; as it was sticked on the wall of Rachel's room.<ref name="jaws&3encounters"/> |
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==Release== |
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Among other efforts to curb piracy, the producers also prevented theaters from screening the film at midnight the night of June 29, despite the recent success of midnight screenings of such films as ''[[Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith]]''. The producers also chose not to screen the film in any [[Digital Light Processing|DLP]]-equipped theaters. |
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''War of the Worlds'' was premiered at the [[Ziegfeld Theatre]] on June 23, 2005, ahead of its [[worldwide]] June 29 release date. The public and media was revealed by [[Tom Cruise]] and [[Katie Holmes]] about their relationship at the premiere after sharing a few kisses.<ref name="premiere">{{cite web |title=Cruise, Holmes step out |url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-06-23-war-of-the-worlds-premiere_x.htm |author=Donna Freydkin |date=23 June 2005 |work= |publisher=[[USA Today]] |accessdate=17 September 2009}}</ref> The film was released in approximately 3908 theaters worldwide, and was rated PG-13 (parental guidance 13) during it's release.<ref name="BOM"/><ref name="PG-13">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds (2005) |url=http://www.parentpreviews.com/movie-reviews/war-of-the-worlds-2005/ |author=Kerry Bennett |date=22 June 2005 |work= |publisher=Parent Previews |accessdate=17 September 2009}}</ref> |
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== |
===Secrecy=== |
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[[Steven Spielberg]] kept most of the parts secret in the [[filmmaking]], as the casts and crews were left confused about how the aliens look.<ref name="sec1">{{cite web |title=Headgame 7: War of the Worlds |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/628/628781p1.html |author=Steve Head |date=24 June 2005 |work= |publisher=[[IGN]] |page=1-2 |pages= |accessdate=18 September 2009}}</ref> The media reporters' questions about the rumored plot was answered, but the reporters' said we may not get "straight answers".<ref name="sec1"/> An [[IGN]] reporter interviewed [[David Koepp]] about the secrecy of the [[screenplay]], Koepp answered, "[Spielberg] wouldn't give [the screenplay] to ''anybody''". Koepp explained he would [[e-mail]] it to him, and he would give a section of the script that was relating to whatever somebody was doing.<ref name="sec1"/> Marry Ann Ferrier's portrayer, [[Miranda Otto]], thought of not even discussing the story with her [[family]] and [[friend]]s. Otto said, "I know some people who always say, 'Oh, everything's so secret.' I think it's good. In the old days people didn't get to know much about [[Cinema of the United States#Rise of Hollywood|movie]]s before they came out and nowadays there's just so much information. I think a bit of [[mystery]] is always really good. You don't want to blow all of your cards beforehand."<ref name="sec2">{{cite web |title=Headgame 7: War of the Worlds |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/628/628781p2.html |author=Steve Head |date=24 June 2005 |work= |publisher=[[IGN]] |page=2-2 |pages= |accessdate=18 September 2009}}</ref> |
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''War of the Worlds'' received positive reviews and made an impressive box-office performance. As of November 22, 2005, (the last day it was at the box office), it has earned $234,280,354 domestically and $357,465,186 overseas, making the total $591,745,540. It is the 4th highest grossing movie of 2005 (after ''[[Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith]]'', ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]'' and ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''). |
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Spielberg admitted that after keeping things secret for so long, there is in the end the temptation to reveal too much to the detriment of the story at the [[press conference]] of ''War of the Worlds''. So, Spielberg only revealed the hill scene (Ray tried to stop his son) and not the other scenes, as he stated, "To say more would reveal too much."<ref>[[Press Conference]] of ''War of the Worlds''. [[Tom Cruise]], [[Steven Spielberg]]. 23 June 2005.</ref> [[British Board of Film Classification]] refused to reveal the identities of ''War of the Worlds'' censors, a controversial [[British Board of Film Classification#Current certificate|12A]] rating, keeping habit of secrecy.<ref>{{cite web |title=A deeply insidious culture of secrecy.... |publisher=Families Link |url=http://www.familieslink.co.uk/download/july07/New%20labour%20and%20secrecy.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=25 September 2009}}</ref> The actual [[budget]] of the film was [[US dollar|US$]]132 million,<ref name="BOM"/> currently fortieth most expensive film ever made.<ref>{{cite web |title=Movie Budgets |url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/records/allbudgets.php |date= |work= |publisher=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]] |accessdate=25 September 2009}}</ref> The budget were not confirmed till the release of the film, several British publications claimed the film's budget surpassed budget of ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]'',<ref>{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds -- Most Expensive Movie Ever |url=http://www.showbizdata.com/news/36377/IWAR-OF-THE-WORLDSI--MOST-EXPENSIVE-MOVIE-EVER |date=18 August 2004 |work= |publisher=[[ShowBIZ Data]] |accessdate=25 September 2009}}</ref> as the budget of ''Titanic'' was US$200 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Titanic (1997) |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=titanic.htm |date= |work= |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |accessdate=25 September 2009}}</ref> |
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Spielberg had not seen such a massive success since ''[[Saving Private Ryan]]'' in 1998 ($481,840,909) — another Paramount/DreamWorks co-production — and the $100-million ''[[Minority Report (film)|Minority Report]]'' in 2002 — his first collaboration with Cruise — earned a reasonable $358,372,926 worldwide. In the case of Cruise (whose 43rd birthday coincided with the movie's release), ''War of the Worlds'' is the biggest blockbuster of his career, since the film opened its first weekend with $65 million (which is a record high for [[Paramount Pictures]]), beating ''[[Mission: Impossible II]]'''s nearly $58 million (also from Paramount). By July 31, it had surpassed ''Mission: Impossible II'' in terms of total domestic box office receipts, a film that earned $546,388,105 worldwide on a $125 million budget. |
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== |
===Marketing and home media releases=== |
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[[Paramount Pictures|Paramount Pictures Interactive Marketing]] debuted a [[survival skills|human survival]] [[online game]] on it's [[website|official website]], <code>waroftheworlds.com</code>, on April 14 to promote the film.<ref name="onlinegame">{{cite web |title=Paramount Pictures Interactive Marketing to Place Online Gamers Into the Action With 'War of the Worlds' Online Game |url=http://www2.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/04-12-2005/0003386837&EDATE= |date=12 April 2005 |work= |publisher=Prnewswire |accessdate=26 September 2009}}</ref> [[Hitachi]] collaborated with Paramount Pictures for a [[worldwide]] [[promotional campaign]], under the title of ''“The Ultimate Visual Experience”''. The agreement was announced by Kazuhiro Tachibana, [[general manager]] of Hitachi’s Consumer Business Group.<ref name="hitachi">{{cite web |title=Hitachi goes global for "War of the Worlds" |url=http://www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/050421.html |date=20 April 2005 |work= |publisher=[[Hitachi]] |accessdate=26 September 2009}}</ref> Kazuhiro stated, "Our ‘The Ultimate Visual Experience’ campaign is a perfect match between [[Steven Spielberg|Spielberg]] and [[Tom Cruise|Cruise]]’s pursuit of the world’s best in film entertainment and Hitachi’s commitment to the highest picture quality through its digital consumer [[electronic product]]s."<ref name="hitachi"/> The film's shooting script was published as book with the the [[screenwriter]]s being the [[author]]s. The book released on November 28 with 200 pages.<ref>{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds: The Shooting Script (Newmarket Shooting Script) (Paperback) |url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/1557047014tag=thebookreport01&link_code=as2&creativeASIN=1557047014&creative=374929&camp=211189 |date= |work= |publisher=[[Amazon.com]] |accessdate=26 September 2009}}</ref> |
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;2006 Academy Awards |
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Three nominations: |
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* [[Academy Award for Sound|Achievement in Sound]] |
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* [[Academy Award for Sound Editing|Achievement in Sound Editing]] |
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* [[Academy Award for Visual Effects|Achievement in Visual Effects]] |
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The film simultaneous released in [[DVD]] version in three versions; [[Widescreen]] Edition, [[Fullscreen]] Edition and Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition. The DVD version released on November 22 (excluding DVD version that released in [[Region 2]] on November 14).<ref name="DVD1">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds - DVD details |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407304/dvd |date= |work= |publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]] |accessdate=18 September 2009}}</ref> The DVD Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition version featured [[#Production|production featurettes]], [[documentary|documentaries]] and [[film trailer|trailers]].<ref name="DVD2">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds - Special Edition |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/dvd-reviews/war-of-the-worlds--special-edition/2005/11/14/1131816846227.html |author=Idato, Michael |date=14 November 2005 |work= |publisher=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |accessdate=27 September 2009 }}</ref> Meanwhile, the Widescreen Edition released in different languages; [[French language|French]] ([[5.1#Notation|Dolby Digital 5.1]]) and [[English language|English]] (Dolby Digital 5.1, [[Stereophonic sound|Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo]] and [[DTS (sound system)|DTS ES]]), so as the other two versions.<ref name="DVD3">{{cite web |title=War of the Worlds (Widescreen Edition) (2005) |url=http://www.amazon.com/War-Worlds-Widescreen-Tom-Cruise/dp/B00005JNTI |date= |work= |publisher=[[Amazon.com]] |accessdate=27 September 2009 }}</ref> Whilst, the Fullscreen Edition version does not featured any extra features in it.<ref name="DVD4">{{cite web |title=War Of The Worlds (2005 (Fullscreen) |url=http://www.dvdloc8.com/viewdvd_17332.html |date= |work= |publisher=DVDLoc8 |accessdate=27 September 2009 }}</ref> The film grossed [[US dollar|US$]]113,000,000 in DVD sales, bringing its total film gross to [[US dollar|US$]]704,745,540, ranking tenth place in the 2005 DVD sales chart.<ref name="DVD5">{{cite web |title=DVD Sales Chart (2005) |url=http://www.leesmovieinfo.net/Video-Sales.php?type=3 |date= |work= |publisher=Lee's Movie Info |accessdate=27 September 2009}}</ref> |
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;Central Ohio Film Critics |
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* Best Sound Design |
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==Performance== |
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;M.P.S.E. Golden Reel Awards |
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===Box office=== |
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* Best Sound Editing in Feature Film - Sound Effects & Foley |
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On {{Start date|2005|06|29}}, the film grossed approximately [[US dollar|US$]]21 million worldwide,<ref name="bom1">{{cite web |author= |coauthors= |title=Opening Day Records |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/days/?page=open&p.htm |work= |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |date= |accessdate=28 September 2009}}</ref> and earned the thirty-eight biggest opening week gross with grossing $98,826,764 in 3908 theatres, averaging $25,288 in each theatres.<ref name="BOM2">{{cite web |author= |coauthors= |title=Biggest Opening Weeks |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/openingweeks.htm |work= |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |date= |accessdate=28 September 2009}}</ref> Meanwhile on the [[List of biggest opening weekends|biggest opening weekend]], ''War of the Worlds'' grossed $64,878,725 in 3908 theatres also, giving an average of $16,601,<ref name="BOM3">{{cite web |author= |coauthors= |title=Biggest Opening Weekends |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/ |work= |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |date= |accessdate=28 September 2009}}</ref> ranking third-biggest film opening on [[Independence Day]] weekend.<ref name="BOM4">{{cite web |author= |coauthors= |title=Independence Day Weekends |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/july-4th.htm |work= |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |date= |accessdate=28 September 2009}}</ref> The film earned $200 million in 24 days, ranking thirty-seventh place in the list of fastest films to gross $200 million.<ref name="BOM5">{{cite web |author= |coauthors= |title=Fastest Movies to Hit $200 million at the Box Office |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/fastest.htm?page=200&p=.htm |work= |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |date=22 July 2005 |accessdate=28 September 2009}}</ref> The film has grossed an estimated $592 million worldwide,<ref name="BOM"/> making it the forth [[2005 in film#Top–grossing films|highest grossing film of 2005]] and the [[Highest grossing films|forty-eight highest grossing film worldwide]].<ref name="BOM6">{{cite web |author= |coauthors= |title=2005 Yearly Box Office Results |url=http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2005&p=.htm |work= |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |date={{fy|2005}} |accessdate=28 September 2009}}</ref><ref name="BOM7">{{cite web |author= |coauthors= |title=All Time Worldwide Box Office Grosses |url=http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/ |work= |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |date= |accessdate=28 September 2009}}</ref> |
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===Reviews=== |
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;2005 Visual Effects Society Awards |
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The film received highly positive reviews from critics. Based on 240 reviews collected by ''[[Rotten Tomatoes]]'', ''War of the Worlds'' currently garners an 73% "fresh" rating.<ref name="rottentomatoes">{{cite web |author= |coauthors= |title=War of the Worlds |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/war_of_the_worlds/ |work= |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date= |accessdate=28 September 2009}}</ref> The film's reception was more ambivalent within the 41 reviews in Rotten Tomatoes' "Cream of the Crop" subset, reaching a 68% positive consensus.<ref name="creamcrop">{{cite web |author= |coauthors= |title=War of the Worlds: Rotten Tomatoes' Cream of the Crop |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/war_of_the_worlds/?critic=creamcrop |work= |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date= |accessdate=28 September 2009}}</ref> By comparison, [[Metacritic]] calculated an average score of 73 from the 40 reviews it collected.<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web |author= |coauthors= |title=War of the Worlds |url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/waroftheworlds |work= |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |date= |accessdate=28 September 2009}}</ref> |
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Three Wins: |
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* Best Single Visual Effect of the Year (Fleeing the neighborhood) |
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* Best Models and Miniatures in a Motion Picture |
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* Best Compositing in a Motion Picture |
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[[James Berardinelli]] gave the film positive consensus, praising [[Tom Cruise]], [[Dakota Fanning]] and [[Justin Chatwin]] performances but called the [[Climax (narrative)|ending of the film]] is very weak. Berardinelli stated the ending as "this isn't [[war]], it's slaughter. It's about fighting to survive, not fighting the enemy", calling the film "misnomer."<ref name="reelviews">{{cite web |author=[[James Berardinelli|Berardinelli, James]] |coauthors= |title=War of the Worlds |url=http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_template.php?identifier=1172 |work= |publisher=Reel Views |date= |accessdate=28 September 2009}}</ref> According to ''[[Total Film]]'', [[Steven Spielberg]] still exhilarates and the review commented the film was "taking goggle-eyed viewers on an enterprising journey as it morphs from grey", giving it four stars and stated the chances were "a million to one".<ref name="totalfilm">{{cite web |author= |coauthors= |title=War Of The Worlds (12A) |url=http://www.totalfilm.com/reviews/cinema/war-of-the-worlds |work= |publisher=[[Total Film]] |date=1 July 2005 |accessdate=28 September 2009}}</ref> |
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;[[26th Golden Raspberry Awards]] |
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[[Los Angeles Times]]' [[Kenneth Turan]], who felt the [[special effect]]s was unusual, stated Spielberg may actually have done his job in ''War of the Worlds'' "better than he realizes", showing us/the people how [[fragile]] the world is. Turan claimed Spielberg raised a most provocative question: "Is the ultimate [[fantasy]] an [[invasion]] from [[outer space]], or is it the survival of the [[human race]]?"<ref name="latimes">{{cite web |author=[[Kenneth Turan|Turan, Kenneth]] |coauthors= |title=War of the Worlds |url=http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-world29jun29,0,4382960.story?coll=cl-mreview |work= |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=29 June 2005 |accessdate=28 September 2009}}</ref> However, ''[[Broomfield Enterprise]]'''s Dan Marcucci and Nancy Serougi did not share Berardinelli and Turan's opinion. They felt the [[narration]] (ending narration by [[Morgan Freeman]]) was not needed, instead they suggested to put about the [[Extraterrestrial life|alien]]s died of cold and "The End" on the screen. Marcucci and Serougi felt the first half of the film was better than the second half of the film, stating the second half "ruined" everything.<ref name="broomfield">{{cite web |author=Marcucci, Dan |coauthors=Serougi, Nancy |title=A basic rule of thumb is - if you see Tim Robbins, you’ve stayed too long. |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/war_of_the_worlds/articles/1449910/a_basic_rule_of_thumb_is_if_you_see_tim_robbins_youve_stayed_too_long |work= |publisher=[[Broomfield Enterprise]] (in [[Rotten Tomatoes]]) |date=27 October 2005 |accessdate=30 September 2009}}</ref> |
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Michael Wilmington of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' gave the film three and a half stars (out of four), calling ''War of the Worlds'' definitely wins it's battle, but not the war. Wilmington stated the film brought the viewers on a [[adventure|wild journey]] through two sides of Spielberg; the dark and the light, also stating the film was a core [[sentiment]], which only can be founded in Spielberg's ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]''.<ref name="chicagotribune">{{cite web |author=Wilmington, Michael |coauthors= |title=Movie review: 'War of the Worlds' |url=http://chicago.metromix.com/movies/review/movie-review-war-of/160311/content |work= |publisher=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=24 August 2007 |accessdate=30 September 2009}}</ref> [[About.com]]'s Rebecca Murray stated the seventeen [[minute]]s of the film's one hundred and seventeen minutes duration was just plain horrible as it screwed the whole film with the ending that doesn't fit, gave the film a "[[B]]" rating but gave positive reaction also, stating "Spielberg almost succeeds in creating the perfect [[Science fiction film#Alien life forms|alien movie]]".<ref name="about.com">{{cite web |author=Murray, Rebecca |coauthors= |title="War of the Worlds" Movie Review |url=http://movies.about.com/od/waroftheworlds/a/warworlds062805.htm |work= |publisher=[[About.com]] |date= |accessdate=30 September 2009}}</ref> [[Jonathan Rosenbaum]] of ''[[Chicago Reader]]'' praised the special effects in the film and the performance of Cruise, calling it "isn't bad".<ref name="chicagoreader">{{cite web |author=Rosenbaum, Jonathan |coauthors= |title=War of the Worlds |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/war-of-the-worlds/Film?oid=1068991 |work= |publisher=[[Chicago Reader]] |date= |accessdate=30 September 2009}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] called the alien invasion not good enough despite the film's mega-[[budget]], but Ebert felt impressed with the [[airline]]r crashing, image of a [[train]] and others were better, stated, "Such scenes seem to come from [[Literary realism|a kind of reality]] different from that of the [[tripod (The War of the Worlds)|tripod]]s".<ref name="roger">{{cite web |author=[[Roger Ebert|Ebert, Roger]] |coauthors= |title=War of the Worlds |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050628/REVIEWS/50606007 |work= |publisher=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date= |accessdate=30 September 2009}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
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* [[Red weed]] |
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* [[Tripod (The War of the Worlds)|Tripod]] |
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* [[Heat-Ray]] |
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*''[[H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds (2005 film)|H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds]]'' - Independent remake of ''[[The War of the Worlds (1953 film)|The War of the Worlds]]''. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist |
{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{Wikiquote|War of the Worlds (2005 film)|War of the Worlds (2005 film)}} |
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{{wikiquote}} |
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* {{ |
* {{Official|1=http://www.waroftheworlds.com/}} |
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** [http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/waroftheworlds/ Trailers] |
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* {{imdb title|0407304|War of the Worlds}} |
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* {{ |
* {{imdb title|id=0407304|title=War of the Worlds}} |
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* {{ |
* {{Amg movie|id=312948|title=War of the Worlds}} |
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* {{rotten-tomatoes|war_of_the_worlds|War of the Worlds}} |
* {{rotten-tomatoes|id=war_of_the_worlds|title=War of the Worlds}} |
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* {{Mojo title|id=waroftheworlds|title=War of the Worlds}} |
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* [http://www.mstrmnd.com/pages/wotw.swf Detailed Review of the Film including its numerous mirror references] |
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* {{Metacritic film|id=waroftheworlds|title=War of the Worlds}} |
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* [http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&cf=info&id=1808412033&intl=us ''War of the Worlds''] at [[Yahoo!]] |
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* [http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/War-of-the-Worlds.html ''War of the Worlds''] at the [[Internet Movie Script Database]] |
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* [http://www.scifiscripts.com/scripts/WAROFTHEWORLDS1.rtf ''War of the Worlds''] [[Screenplay|Script]] by Naven Bradford. |
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{{Steven Spielberg}} |
{{Steven Spielberg}} |
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[[Category:Alien visitation films]] |
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[[Category:Films based on novels]] |
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[[ar:حرب العوالم (فيلم 2005)]] |
[[ar:حرب العوالم (فيلم 2005)]] |
Revision as of 09:14, 5 October 2009
War of the Worlds | |
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![]() | |
Directed by | Steven Spielberg |
Written by | Josh Friedman David Koepp H. G. Wells (novel) |
Produced by | Kathleen Kennedy Colin Wilson Damian Collier (executive) Paula Wagner (executive) |
Starring | Tom Cruise Dakota Fanning Justin Chatwin Miranda Otto Tim Robbins |
Narrated by | Morgan Freeman |
Cinematography | Janusz Kaminski |
Edited by | Michael Kahn |
Music by | John Williams |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Paramount Pictures DreamWorks United International Pictures |
Release dates | United States: June 29, 2005 United Kingdom: July 1, 2005 |
Running time | 117 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | US$132 million[1] |
Box office | US$591,745,540[1] |
War of the Worlds is a Template:Fy live action science fiction film adaptation of H. G. Wells' novel of the same name, directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Josh Friedman and David Koepp. It stars Tom Cruise as Ray Ferrier, an estranged from his family, who is living separately from his family. As his wife gave their children to him to take care a few days, the Earth is invaded by aliens in Tripod form. Due to responsibilities, Ray and his children protected them and begun their journey to Boston to meet with Ray's wife.
War of the Worlds marks Spielberg and Cruise's second collaboration, after Minority Report. Cruise admired Spielberg and planned to collaborate with Spielberg again, Cruise visited Spielberg during the filming of Catch Me If You Can. After discussions, Cruise and Spielberg chose to develop The War of the Worlds into a film adaptation. Filming locations were at Connecticut, New York, California, Virginia and New Jersey. Several scenes were filmed at studios of 20th Century Fox and Universal Studios.
Tie-in promotions were made with several companies, including with Hitachi. The film released in United States on 29 June and in United Kingdom on 1 July. The film generally received positive reviews, the film received 73% "fresh" certificate based on 240 reviews. The film was a box office success, as it grossed US$234 million inside United States and US$357 million at foreign countries, bringing the total gross to US$591 million. The film was often compared to Independence Day; which has similar storyline compared to War of the Worlds.
Production
Development
"I grew up watching his movies, studying them. I often tease him that I know his movies better than he does! It's a real lesson in storytelling - every time I look at his films, I learn something." |
— Tom Cruise admiring Steven Spielberg[2] |
Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise collaborated together for the first time in Template:Fy's Minority Report.[3] Minority Report generally received positive reviews and gross approximately US$358 million at box office.[4] Since then, Cruise admired to collaborate along with Spielberg, either Spielberg does likes to collaborate with Cruise. Spielberg stated about Cruise, "He's such an intelligent, creative partner, and brings such great ideas to the set that we just spark each other. I love working with Tom Cruise."[2] Cruise met with Spielberg during the filming of Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can and gave three options of films to create together; the third option was The War of the Worlds.[2] Spielberg chose The War of the Worlds and stated, "We looked at each other and the lights went on. As soon as I heard it, I said `Oh my God! War of the Worlds - absolutely.' That was it."[2]
The film primarily focused on alien, which marks Spielberg's third film about alien visitation since Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.[2][5] Producer and longtime collaborator Kathleen Kennedy notes that with War of the Worlds, Spielberg had the opportunity to explore the antithesis of the characters brought to life in E.T. and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.[5] "When we first started developing `E.T.,' it was a much edgier, darker story and it actually evolved into something that was more benign. I think that the edgier, darker story has always been somewhere inside him. Now, he's telling that story."[5] Spielberg stated that he just thought it would be fun to make a really scary film with really scary aliens, which I had never done before.[2][5][6] Spielberg was intent on telling a contemporary story, on bringing the aliens. Kennedy stated the story may be something born out of a fantasy notion but in fact is dealt with in a hyper-realistic way.[5]
Numerous scripts were written for the film. Josh Friedman and David Koepp wrote the final script for the film, which Spielberg accepted it.[7][8] The script was focusing on one family only, the Ferriers. Spielberg accepted the script after finding it has similarities with his personal life. Several similarities includes the divorce of his parents (Ray and Mary Ann's divorce) and other reasons by Spielberg was because the survival of the survivors reflects his own uncertainty after the devastation of the terror attacks of September 11 attacks.[6] For Spielberg, the survival needed to be a part of the main focus, as it features the Americanism style of not giving up.[6] In Close Encounters, a suburban dad (played by Richard Dreyfuss) abandons his life on Earth, including his wife and children, to explore the heavens aboard a spacecraft.[9] In Template:Fy's E.T., a little boy (played by Henry Thomas) from a broken home and a gentle alien marooned on Earth help each other deal with abandonment.[10] Spielberg calls War of the Worlds "a polar opposite" to Close Encounters.
Although accepting the script, Spielberg went through several changes in the script. Spielberg had been against the idea of the aliens arriving in spaceships.[8] The original Martian cylinders were discarded, where Spielberg replaced the origins of the Tripods with stating they were buried in the underground of the Earth long time ago.[8][11] Koepp fitted in a really neat homage to the cylinders, and specifically, the unscrewing of the lid.[8] Koepp stated far more clearly in the script, "as ray climbs to his feet, that entire circle starts to rotate again, like a big turntable, causing tremors that ripple out from its center."[7][8] Naven Bradford also wrote a script for the film, which features a whole number of difference in the characters and the storyline.[12] Party in Fresno was used as a fake working title for the film.[13]
Filming
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/WarOfTheWorlds-Set.jpg/275px-WarOfTheWorlds-Set.jpg)
The film was shot for 72 days (estimated; 2 months 12 days),[14] Filming locations was mainly at United States. which was the similar amount of time used by Spielberg to filmed his Schindler's List (Template:Fy) and Raiders of the Lost Ark (Template:Fy).[15][16] On 2004, the production crews quickly were set up on both coasts to prepare for the start date, scouting locations up and down the Eastern Seaboard and preparing stages and sets which would be used when the company returned to Los Angeles after the winter holiday.[5] Pre-production took place in essentially half the amount of time normally allotted to a film of similar size and scope. Spielberg notes, however, "This wasn't a cram course for War of the Worlds.
This was my longest schedule in about 12 years. We took our time."[5] Director of photography and longtime Spielberg collaborator Janusz Kaminski and Spielberg noted that they wanted to complete the film as fast they could.[5] Spielberg had been working with the crews in a computer since the beginning of pre-production through a process called previsualization, in which traditional storyboards are animated into 3D digital sequences. The scene, which depicts Ray and other pupils viewing the Tripods was filmed at Newark, New Jersey.[17] Later, Spielberg filmed several scenes at Virginia.[18] The continuous scene was filmed at California.[19]
The ferry scene was filmed at Athens, whereby Mary Ann's house was located at Brooklyn (but was featured in the film at Boston).[20][11] The plane, a Boeing 747, which crash landed was filmed at Howell, New Jersey, where the crashed landed plane was kept for Universal Studios back-lot tour.[21] Scene depicts Ray's house was filmed at Bayonne (at a soundstage), New Jersey, meanwhile the valley war sequence was filmed at Lexington, Virginia and Mystery Mesa in California.[20] Half the film was scheduled to shoot on five sound stages at California: 20th Century Fox, JF Kennedy Blvd., Sony, Universal and Warner Bros.[20]
Design and visual effects
The Tripods used for the film was different than the Tripods in other film adaptations.[5] The Tripods' first scene was where Ray and other neighbors face off the Tripods coming out of the street.[11] While Spielberg had used the computer to help visualize sequences in pre-production before, Spielberg said, "This is the first film I really tackled using the computer to animate all the storyboards."[5] George Lucas, Spielberg's good friend whom collaborate together in many films,[22] was visited by Spielberg himself who showed him how the process was working for him. Lucas said, "I got all the experts who had been working with ILM on 'Star Wars: Episodes I, II and III' for George. When they wrapped, I took most of them with me."[5] Spielberg hired Star Wars' previsualization supervisor Dan Gregoire and Star Wars' special effects artist Dennis Muren to create previsualization and special effects for the film.[5][23][24] Industrial Light & Magic was the head of the special effects category for the film.[23][24]
A scene which depicts Ray and his family are driving in their minivan when they come upon an increasing number of wandering people, which Janusz Kaminski and Spielberg wanted a lot of interactive light in that scene. So, they added different kinds of lights, including Coleman lamps, oil lanterns, flashlights and Maglights.[5] Crews of Industrial Light & Magic admitted that the bridge scene in the film was the most toughest scene to be made with heavy usage mix of CGI effects and live action elements.[25] The scene involved Tripods shooting Heat-Ray towards the minivan and minivan escapes from it involved a lot of CGI layers to work out. The visual effects suited the storyline of the film, concluding a tribute to science fiction film of the 1950s.[26] Over 500 CGI effects were used in the film.[27]
Costume designer Joanna Johnston created 60 different versions of Ray's leather jacket, to illustrate the degrees to which he is weathered from the beginning of the journey to the end. "He begins with the jacket, a hoodie, and two t-shirts," explains Johnston.[5] One piece of Dakota Fanning's costume that takes on a special importance is her lavender horse purse. "I wanted her to have something that made her feel safe, some little thing that she could sleep with and put over her face," Johnston notes. "That was the lavender horse purse. We tied it up on a ribbon and Dakota hung it on her body, so it was with her at all times."[5] Johnston dressed Robbie for an unconscious emulation of his father, "They're more alike than they realize, with great tension on the surface," Johnston says.[5]
Music
John Williams, who collaborated with Steven Spielberg in Indiana Jones series, Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park and Jaws, also scored music for the film. The soundtrack ran for a duration of sixty-one minutes and eight seconds.[28] The film's narrator, Morgan Freeman, also narrated track one and track fourteen.[28][29] Spielberg wrote the liner notes for the soundtrack, where Spielberg notices that "this music is so rhymic and primal that one has to wonder how a composer with such a background could have so much abandoned his own style."[30] The soundtrack was mixed by Shawn Murphy at Sony Pictures Studio, Culver City, California.[28][31] The track list includes 15 tracks, "Prologue", "The Ferry Scene", "Reaching the Country", "The Intersection Scene", "Ray and Rachel", "Escape From the City", "Probing the Basement", "Refugee Status", "The Attack On The Car", "The Separation of the Family", "The Confrontation With Ogilvy", "The Return to Boston", "Escape From the Basket", "The Reunion" and "Epilogue".[32][33]
Cast and characters
- Ray Ferrier, played by Tom Cruise. Being an estrange father and ex-husband for his children and wife, Ray works as a dock worker. Ray always keeps his house in a messy condition and both his children dislikes him, however they starts to love him post-invasion. Ray tries to satisfy his children, despite always fails.
- Rachel Ferrier, played by Dakota Fanning. A ten year old girl and Ray's daughter. Rachel's characters was far difference then her elder brother, since her brother ignores her sometimes. Rachel is easily hit by panic disorder, resulting more tension on Ray. To simply lost Rachel's panic disorder, Rachel's mother invents a special technique only to be known by her mother and brother.
- Robbie Ferrier, played by Justin Chatwin. A teenager and Ray's son. Robbie is the most in the film family to dislike Ray, however in the ending, he regrets his doing, cries and hugs Ray. Robbie disobey his father's orders and disrespects him, such as driving his father's car out of the house without his permission.
- Mary Ann, played by Miranda Otto. An ex-wife of Ray, after a conflicts (not described in the film) occurred between them. Now, Mary lives with wealthy Tim and dumps Ray.
- Harlan Ogilvy, played by Tim Robbins. Harlan was the only survivor in his family, eventually helps Ray and Rachel (Robbie goes away from them) to have a shelter. Harlan was in motive to destroy the aliens to seek revenge, meanwhile Ray doesn't wants to attack them to protect Rachel. Later, Harlan suffers mental breakdown after seeing the aliens harvesting blood and tissue from a helpless human victim.
Meanwhile, the other small-role characters are David Alan Basche as Tim; Mary's new wealthy husband, Lenny Venito as Manny and Ann Robinson and Gene Barry as grandmother and grandfather for Rachel and Robbie respectively. Morgan Freeman narrated the film in the beginning and ending of the film.
Plot
The film opens with Newark-based Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) returning to home after finishing his third shift as a dock worker. At his home, Ray encounters his ex-wife, Mary Ann (Miranda Otto), who is leaving his children, Rachel (Dakota Fanning) and Robbie (Justin Chatwin), to him to take care temporarily as Mary goes to Boston to meet with her parents, (Gene Barry and Ann Robinson). As Ray sleeps for a while, Robbie took Ray's car out of the house without his permission. Meanwhile, Rachel take cares of the house, Ray, who wakes up, goes out to search for Robbie. However, he's motive to search for Robbie was stopped by a strange wall cloud, which forms electromagnetic pulses, disabling any electronic devices there. Ray and a few peoples encounter a Tripod emerges from the ground, which has a cold hole. Ray runs to the house, along with Robbie, bringing Robbie and Rachel out from the house by driving the only operating car in the town.
Ray drives the car to Mary's new wealthy husband, Tim's (David Alan Basche) house to take refuge that night. An airliner (Boeing 747) destroyed by a Tripod fells and crashes nearby houses. On the next day in morning, a small news team showed Ray in slow-motion about a pod, deducing that the aliens "rode" down the lightning into the ground where the Tripods were located. After hearing the siren of a nearby Tripod approaching the area, the news crew and Ray, along with his children, flee to join with Mary in Boston. On their journey to Boston, they take break as Rachel wants a bathroom break. During peeing, Rachel sees sight of thin mutilated corpses floating along the Hudson River, however Ray closes her eye afterwards. Suddenly, the U.S. Army passes, Robbie takes interest to join them and begged them. Ray stops Robbie from begging and continue their journey. During driving along NY 385, they come across a mob, whom are attacking them as they want the transport. A man manages to steal the transport from Ray, Ray and his children are desperate to walk with the mob. They reach at the Hudson River ferry, where many people fight to get in the ferry. Ray and his children manage to get on the ferry, however a Tripod appears and destroys the ferry. Ray and his children escape from the attack along with the other survivors.
As the family come across an ongoing-war in Massachusetts, they see the U.S. Army attacking the Tripods. The family started to move away from the war, however Robbie declines Ray's decision to do so as Robbie wants to help the U.S. Army. As Robbie runs away from Ray and Rachel, an enormous fireball crashed at the last place Robbie is seen, Ray and Rachel assumed Robbie is dead. Left Ray and Rachel, they were offered shelter and protection by an unknown stranger, named Harlan Ogilvy (Tim Robbins). Harlan claimed his family was killed by Tripod and vows for revenge, but Ray denied from joining with him as Ray wants his daughter to be safe. Suddenly, a strange red weed, a mysterious plant fertilized with the blood of captured humans, enters the house almost kills Rachel. Harlan suffered mental breakdown as he witnesses one of the Tripods harvesting blood and tissue from a helpless human victim. Harlan makes noises, so Ray kills Harlan to keep silence. The red week leaves, however another probe enters. Ray chops it with an axe, scaring Rachel, who runs away.
Ray chases Rachel, however Rachel is caught by a Tripod, causing Ray to pick up several hand grenades to destroy the Tripod. The grenades didn't work as the Tripod has force-field shield. The Tripod catches Ray, puts him in a metal cage with many other captives, and a traumatized Rachel. In the cage, a metal arm grabs Ray, the other prisoners fight to save him, and successfully pull him out from within the interior of the Tripod. Ray reveals that he left the remaining grenades primed within the Tripod, and the grenades detonate, the Tripod was successfully exploded. The cage drops and Ray and Rachel, along with other prisoners escape. Soon afterwards, Ray and Rachel continue to move to Boston, finding the red weeds are dying meanwhile the Tripod is getting weak as their shield was no longer operational. Nearby guarding soldiers attacked the Tripod with Javelin missile launchers — successfully bringing it down. As the threat is gone — all the Tripods are destroyed — Ray meets with his family, where he finds Robbie is there, revealing he survived. The film ends with Ray and Robbie hugging, Ray cries in relief, meanwhile the narrator (Morgan Freeman) reveals the Tripods were dying because they were suffering from terrestrial diseases, for which they had no immunity.
Story
Themes
The film was described as an anti-war film, as civilians run and only trying to save themselves and their family instead of fighting back the Tripod aliens.[34] Debra J. Saunders of San Francisco Chronicle described the film as "If aliens invade, don't fight back. Run." Saunders compared the film to Independence Day, where the civilians do run, but they support the military efforts.[34] Reader's Digest described the film's theme as "Dark, Ominous, and Very Loud". Reader's Digest stated Steven Spielberg's aliens in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Close Encounters of the Third Kind were benign, even cuddly, and they ultimately inspired optimism, not fear, calling it "Time Has Changed".[35] The survival of the survivors and the missing-persons displays was used by Spielberg in the film to create the atmosphere of September 11 attacks.[36] The film also played major role in religion of Christianity, as a Tripod destroyed a church as it's first target in the film.[36]
Cultural references
The fil also featured "Hushabye Mountain", sung by Ray Ferrier for his daughter, Rachel, was adapted from Template:Fy's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.[37] Two Steven Spielberg films' references was also featured in the film, where Jaws's film poster was in Ray's room.[38] The shots of the pickup truck and Dakota before the aliens pick her up, camera shots appear to be modelled after Close Encounters of the Third Kind.[38] The toys of Son Goku appeared as Rachel's toy in her room; Emperor Pilaf in Mr. Herculese Satan's car.[39] Poster of The Saddle Club was also featured in the film; as it was sticked on the wall of Rachel's room.[38]
Release
War of the Worlds was premiered at the Ziegfeld Theatre on June 23, 2005, ahead of its worldwide June 29 release date. The public and media was revealed by Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes about their relationship at the premiere after sharing a few kisses.[40] The film was released in approximately 3908 theaters worldwide, and was rated PG-13 (parental guidance 13) during it's release.[1][41]
Secrecy
Steven Spielberg kept most of the parts secret in the filmmaking, as the casts and crews were left confused about how the aliens look.[42] The media reporters' questions about the rumored plot was answered, but the reporters' said we may not get "straight answers".[42] An IGN reporter interviewed David Koepp about the secrecy of the screenplay, Koepp answered, "[Spielberg] wouldn't give [the screenplay] to anybody". Koepp explained he would e-mail it to him, and he would give a section of the script that was relating to whatever somebody was doing.[42] Marry Ann Ferrier's portrayer, Miranda Otto, thought of not even discussing the story with her family and friends. Otto said, "I know some people who always say, 'Oh, everything's so secret.' I think it's good. In the old days people didn't get to know much about movies before they came out and nowadays there's just so much information. I think a bit of mystery is always really good. You don't want to blow all of your cards beforehand."[43]
Spielberg admitted that after keeping things secret for so long, there is in the end the temptation to reveal too much to the detriment of the story at the press conference of War of the Worlds. So, Spielberg only revealed the hill scene (Ray tried to stop his son) and not the other scenes, as he stated, "To say more would reveal too much."[44] British Board of Film Classification refused to reveal the identities of War of the Worlds censors, a controversial 12A rating, keeping habit of secrecy.[45] The actual budget of the film was US$132 million,[1] currently fortieth most expensive film ever made.[46] The budget were not confirmed till the release of the film, several British publications claimed the film's budget surpassed budget of Titanic,[47] as the budget of Titanic was US$200 million.[48]
Marketing and home media releases
Paramount Pictures Interactive Marketing debuted a human survival online game on it's official website, waroftheworlds.com
, on April 14 to promote the film.[49] Hitachi collaborated with Paramount Pictures for a worldwide promotional campaign, under the title of “The Ultimate Visual Experience”. The agreement was announced by Kazuhiro Tachibana, general manager of Hitachi’s Consumer Business Group.[50] Kazuhiro stated, "Our ‘The Ultimate Visual Experience’ campaign is a perfect match between Spielberg and Cruise’s pursuit of the world’s best in film entertainment and Hitachi’s commitment to the highest picture quality through its digital consumer electronic products."[50] The film's shooting script was published as book with the the screenwriters being the authors. The book released on November 28 with 200 pages.[51]
The film simultaneous released in DVD version in three versions; Widescreen Edition, Fullscreen Edition and Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition. The DVD version released on November 22 (excluding DVD version that released in Region 2 on November 14).[52] The DVD Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition version featured production featurettes, documentaries and trailers.[53] Meanwhile, the Widescreen Edition released in different languages; French (Dolby Digital 5.1) and English (Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo and DTS ES), so as the other two versions.[54] Whilst, the Fullscreen Edition version does not featured any extra features in it.[55] The film grossed US$113,000,000 in DVD sales, bringing its total film gross to US$704,745,540, ranking tenth place in the 2005 DVD sales chart.[56]
Performance
Box office
On June 29, 2005US$21 million worldwide,[57] and earned the thirty-eight biggest opening week gross with grossing $98,826,764 in 3908 theatres, averaging $25,288 in each theatres.[58] Meanwhile on the biggest opening weekend, War of the Worlds grossed $64,878,725 in 3908 theatres also, giving an average of $16,601,[59] ranking third-biggest film opening on Independence Day weekend.[60] The film earned $200 million in 24 days, ranking thirty-seventh place in the list of fastest films to gross $200 million.[61] The film has grossed an estimated $592 million worldwide,[1] making it the forth highest grossing film of 2005 and the forty-eight highest grossing film worldwide.[62][63]
, the film grossed approximatelyReviews
The film received highly positive reviews from critics. Based on 240 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, War of the Worlds currently garners an 73% "fresh" rating.[64] The film's reception was more ambivalent within the 41 reviews in Rotten Tomatoes' "Cream of the Crop" subset, reaching a 68% positive consensus.[65] By comparison, Metacritic calculated an average score of 73 from the 40 reviews it collected.[66]
James Berardinelli gave the film positive consensus, praising Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning and Justin Chatwin performances but called the ending of the film is very weak. Berardinelli stated the ending as "this isn't war, it's slaughter. It's about fighting to survive, not fighting the enemy", calling the film "misnomer."[67] According to Total Film, Steven Spielberg still exhilarates and the review commented the film was "taking goggle-eyed viewers on an enterprising journey as it morphs from grey", giving it four stars and stated the chances were "a million to one".[68]
Los Angeles Times' Kenneth Turan, who felt the special effects was unusual, stated Spielberg may actually have done his job in War of the Worlds "better than he realizes", showing us/the people how fragile the world is. Turan claimed Spielberg raised a most provocative question: "Is the ultimate fantasy an invasion from outer space, or is it the survival of the human race?"[69] However, Broomfield Enterprise's Dan Marcucci and Nancy Serougi did not share Berardinelli and Turan's opinion. They felt the narration (ending narration by Morgan Freeman) was not needed, instead they suggested to put about the aliens died of cold and "The End" on the screen. Marcucci and Serougi felt the first half of the film was better than the second half of the film, stating the second half "ruined" everything.[70]
Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune gave the film three and a half stars (out of four), calling War of the Worlds definitely wins it's battle, but not the war. Wilmington stated the film brought the viewers on a wild journey through two sides of Spielberg; the dark and the light, also stating the film was a core sentiment, which only can be founded in Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.[71] About.com's Rebecca Murray stated the seventeen minutes of the film's one hundred and seventeen minutes duration was just plain horrible as it screwed the whole film with the ending that doesn't fit, gave the film a "B" rating but gave positive reaction also, stating "Spielberg almost succeeds in creating the perfect alien movie".[72] Jonathan Rosenbaum of Chicago Reader praised the special effects in the film and the performance of Cruise, calling it "isn't bad".[73] Roger Ebert called the alien invasion not good enough despite the film's mega-budget, but Ebert felt impressed with the airliner crashing, image of a train and others were better, stated, "Such scenes seem to come from a kind of reality different from that of the tripods".[74]
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(help) - ^ Berardinelli, James. "War of the Worlds". Reel Views. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
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(help) - ^ "War Of The Worlds (12A)". Total Film. 1 July 2005. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
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(help) - ^ Turan, Kenneth (29 June 2005). "War of the Worlds". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 September 2009.
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(help) - ^ Marcucci, Dan (27 October 2005). "A basic rule of thumb is - if you see Tim Robbins, you've stayed too long". Broomfield Enterprise (in Rotten Tomatoes). Retrieved 30 September 2009.
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suggested) (help) - ^ Wilmington, Michael (24 August 2007). "Movie review: 'War of the Worlds'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
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(help) - ^ Murray, Rebecca. ""War of the Worlds" Movie Review". About.com. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
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(help) - ^ Rosenbaum, Jonathan. "War of the Worlds". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
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(help) - ^ Ebert, Roger. "War of the Worlds". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
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External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
- Official website
- War of the Worlds at IMDb
- War of the Worlds at AllMovie
- War of the Worlds at Rotten Tomatoes
- War of the Worlds at Box Office Mojo
- War of the Worlds at Metacritic
- War of the Worlds at Yahoo!
- War of the Worlds at the Internet Movie Script Database
- War of the Worlds Script by Naven Bradford.
- 2005 films
- American science fiction films
- English-language films
- Doomsday films
- Films directed by Steven Spielberg
- Films set in New Jersey
- Films set in New York
- Films set in New York City
- Science fiction action films
- Boston, Massachusetts in fiction
- War of the Worlds films
- 2000s science fiction films
- United States Marine Corps in media
- Paramount films
- DreamWorks films
- Amblin Entertainment films
- Alien visitation films
- Films based on novels