By Matt Parkinson

Steven Spielberg Starring: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning and Tim Robbins

In a summer with record low audience attendance, Spielberg aims to get viewers back into their seats, or rather, on the edge of them. In terms of entertainment value; War of the Worlds is well worth the price of admission; from the start of the opening titles, to the introduction of the main characters the beginning of the film clearly sets the audience up for a suspenseful ride. Using rather uneasy interactions within the presence of awkward family relationships Spielberg seemingly creates tension out of thin air, while still allowing the audience a few quick nervous laughs.

Tom Cruise stars as the films main protagonist; Mark Ferrier. A divorced father of two children (Dakota Fanning and Justin Chatwin), whose mother has remarried, Ferrier works at a shipyard and has little social life and possibly even less parenting skills. He has grown apart from his children and this is quite apparent on-screen. Essentially the film gives the viewer a personal look of this one family's experience through the whole ordeal. Where the film really shines is in the broad range of themes it brings to light. Take it, as you will; but so many differing feelings can be invoked in your mind depending on your understanding of the story. The Holocaust, terrorism and Americanism (to name a few), can all be likened to the events that transpire in this movie and the reactions of those involved.

Robbins wards off intruders while Cruise ponders action.
 Paramount Pictures, All Rights Reserved

Spielberg chose to make this film thematically similar to H.G. Wells's novel of the same name and made sure to stay true to the elemental and physical properties of the original story. Well's novel was first published in 1898, and has since been recanted on to the silver screen a total of five times, all with varying interpretations of the original text.
This version of the film combines framing and shot composition which are traditional Spielberg; always artful yet not too complex. It is not far fetched to announce the sound mixing as incredible; the aliens find themselves with obscure yet fitting audio cues giving them even more authenticity.  Musical scores are hardly sourced for suspenseful scenes; instead Spielberg uses the setting and acting to give onlookers a fright.
The special effects in War of the Worlds yields quite possibly the best yet to grace the big screen; and with a hefty price tag of an estimated $130 million dollars - compare that to Saving Private Ryan, which is roughly half that - you would hope so. The lighting of the CGI matches the real-life footage perfectly and textures seem all too real, adding to the overwhelming nervousness throughout the audience. The physical reactions from the hundreds of extras help to give an extremely real feel to the aliens; as if it were reality (Orson Welles would be proud.) Even with all the flashy effects the story flows fantastically well, with few slow sequences that give the viewer barely enough time to catch their breath. Albeit no film is without flaw, several plot holes do exist and some scenes seem to draw on longer than needed (Spielberg's re-occurring reluctant father trade-mark), but hardly take away from the film's credence.
War of the Worlds is a testament to the ability of Spielberg as a director; with an adult actor known to overact from time to time and a young child actor who seems to have more talent in her tiny head already than most big name players. Directing a film with 500+ special effects shots requires the actors to truly imagine what they are seeing, feeling, and in some cases, being attacked by. This is one of the more impressive feats that Spielberg seems to have mastered. Directing an 11-year old to stare hundreds of feet up at an attacking alien vessel with fear and panic is not an easy chore, especially when it doesn't exist; yet Dakota Fanning delivers with the expert advice of Steven. This is hardly Spielberg's first encounter with children on set; Artificial Intelligence: AI saw the likes of Haley Joel Osment cutting his teeth under the command of Spielberg and it was again, another very well performed role.

Cruise holds on to Fanning with fatherly passion.
 Paramount Pictures, All Rights Reserved

With all the current media hype surrounding Tom Cruise, it was refreshing to see him sans Katie Holmes, and not rambling on about the effectiveness of Scientology versus Psychiatry. With the direction of Spielberg, Cruise was able to create an on-screen persona that bought the emotion and intensity required to truly create the illusion of a vexed and frantic father. His reactions and emotions made the entire film seem as though it could be any family, in any city, in any country, essentially mirroring current events throughout the world.

Steven Spielberg does not often lend his hand to more sadistic and violent fictional films. One of his most notable alien tales; E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial features much less hostile creatures, bent on learning about the human race, and the planet earth. A stark contrast from War of the Worlds, and some may question Spielberg's ability to tell a grim tale. However, to recount Jurassic Park, Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan as a few examples, it is obvious that he not only can focus on the darker side of reality; he can thrive on it.
If you are in the mood for an entertaining and nail-biting film, surely give War of the Worlds a spin. It is action from start to finish, and leaves you somewhat exhausted upon conclusion and asking the nagging question: 'what if?'