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War of the Worlds (2005)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
29 June 2005 (USA)
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Tagline:
They're already here. more
Plot:
As Earth is invaded by alien tripod fighting machines, one family fights for survival. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars.
Another 12 wins
&
19 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(150 articles)
Exclusive Interview: Dakota Fanning (The Twilight Saga: New Moon)
(From ScreenStar. 19 November 2009, 10:55 PM, PST)
The Twilight Saga: New Moon – A Twihard’s Review
(From FilmShaft.com. 19 November 2009, 11:32 AM, PST)
(From ScreenStar. 19 November 2009, 10:55 PM, PST)
The Twilight Saga: New Moon – A Twihard’s Review
(From FilmShaft.com. 19 November 2009, 11:32 AM, PST)
User Comments:
A brilliant alien invasion film for the first two acts
more (2681 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Tom Cruise | ... | Ray Ferrier | |
| Dakota Fanning | ... | Rachel Ferrier | |
| Miranda Otto | ... | Mary Ann | |
| Justin Chatwin | ... | Robbie | |
| Tim Robbins | ... | Harlan Ogilvy | |
| Rick Gonzalez | ... | Vincent | |
| Yul Vazquez | ... | Julio (as Yul Vázquez) | |
| Lenny Venito | ... | Manny the Mechanic | |
| Lisa Ann Walter | ... | Bartender | |
| Ann Robinson | ... | Grandmother | |
| Gene Barry | ... | Grandfather | |
| David Alan Basche | ... | Tim | |
| Roz Abrams | ... | Herself | |
| Michael Brownlee | ... | TV Reporter, Osaka | |
| Camillia Sanes | ... | News Producer |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Out of the Night (USA) (working title)
Party in Fresno (USA) (fake working title)
La guerra de los mundos (Argentina) (Mexico) (Peru) (Spain) (Venezuela) [es]
La guerre des mondes (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Война миров (Russia) [ru]
Dünyalar savasi (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Guerra dos Mundos (Brazil) [pt]
Krieg der Welten (Germany) [de]
La guerra dei mondi (Italy) [it]
La guerra dels mons (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Maailmade sõda (Estonia) [et]
Maailmojen sota (Finland) [fi]
Rat svetova (Serbia) [sr]
Rat svjetova (Croatia) [hr]
Samkarota omi (Georgia) [ka]
Världarnas krig (Sweden) [sv]
more
Party in Fresno (USA) (fake working title)
La guerra de los mundos (Argentina) (Mexico) (Peru) (Spain) (Venezuela) [es]
La guerre des mondes (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Война миров (Russia) [ru]
Dünyalar savasi (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Guerra dos Mundos (Brazil) [pt]
Krieg der Welten (Germany) [de]
La guerra dei mondi (Italy) [it]
La guerra dels mons (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Maailmade sõda (Estonia) [et]
Maailmojen sota (Finland) [fi]
Rat svetova (Serbia) [sr]
Rat svjetova (Croatia) [hr]
Samkarota omi (Georgia) [ka]
Världarnas krig (Sweden) [sv]
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for frightening sequences of sci-fi violence and disturbing images.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
116 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Taiwan:PG-12 |
Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) |
Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) |
France:U |
Malaysia:U |
Chile:Y7 |
Spain:13 |
Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) |
Iceland:16 (video rating) |
South Korea:12 |
New Zealand:M |
Germany:12 (f) |
Japan:U |
Australia:M |
UK:12A |
USA:PG-13 |
Ireland:12A |
Finland:K-15 |
Hong Kong:IIA |
Singapore:PG |
Czech Republic:12 |
Netherlands:12 |
Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) |
Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) |
Iceland:14 |
Argentina:13 |
Philippines:PG-13 |
Peru:14 |
Canada:13+ (Quebec) |
Norway:15 |
Portugal:M/12 |
Brazil:12 |
Sweden:11 |
Mexico:B
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Initially estimated to have a 2007 release date, this film was abruptly green-lighted in mid-August 2004 for a 2005 release, when director Steven Spielberg and star Tom Cruise happened to become available when other projects stalled.
more
Goofs:
Errors in geography: In a scene following the aliens emergence from beneath the tarmac of the intersection, Ray Ferrier runs for the safety of the sidewalk and we see a shot from behind him looking towards the alien breakout. He has one foot on the sidewalk and one in the gutter. In the next shot, looking front on to Ray, he is standing in the middle of the sidewalk.
more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Narrator: No one would have believed in the early years of the 21st century that our world was being watched by intelligences greater than our own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns, *they* observed and studied, the way a man with a microscope might scrutinize the creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water...
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Narrator: No one would have believed in the early years of the 21st century that our world was being watched by intelligences greater than our own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns, *they* observed and studied, the way a man with a microscope might scrutinize the creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water...
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Designing the Enemy: Tripods and Aliens (2005) (V)
more
Soundtrack:
Nobody Move
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FAQ
9) Why did the EMP not affect the camcorder, solenoid on the shelf, military vehicles etc?27) Wasn't this movie a flop?
When Ray, Rachel, and Robbie are driving down the highway after the initial attack, why are they able to drive at a steady speed even though all the other cars are stalled?
more
more (2681 total)
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What Spielberg, Cruise, and Koepp accomplish here in the first two acts is nothing short of revolutionary. They've made a big-budget summer blockbuster about massive destruction and action that manages to studiously avoid every cliché and expectation of such films. It stays resolutely on the characters' points of view, showing us almost nothing they don't see, even to the point of coming tantalizingly close to a raging battle, then avoiding showing it. It keeps its focus on character instead of spectacle. The "hero" of the piece remains decidedly unheroic, wanting only to escape, and trying to talk others out of fighting back. The purpose of every piece of action is to frighten and disturb rather than thrill, making ingenious use of familiar 9/11 imagery. At the end of the second act, it is hands-down the best alien invasion film ever made, and perhaps one of the best sci-films of all time.
Then something strange happens. The filmmakers lose their nerve, and remember that this is an extremely expensive summer film financed by two studios. Or perhaps it was the fact that it stars Tom Cruise, who up to this point has spent almost two hours doing nothing but run for his life. Suddenly, and tragically, the film changes, violating not only its carefully established tone, but its own internal logic. Suddenly, Cruise begins to act like a hero, and summer action clichés force their way into the story like a worm into an apple. The transition is jarring, and it creates a serious disconnect from the story.
While it's true that Wells' original ending creates a problem for a movie, here they try to remain faithful to it, while still shoehorning moments of triumph into the conclusion. Unfortunately, these moments come off as alternately false, unbelievable, and meaningless, since it isn't mankind that defeats the invaders in the end.
Is it recommendable? Well, I suppose that depends on what kind of viewer you are. If you feel that 75% brilliant material overshadows the 25% that falls apart, then you'll enjoy it. If, however, you're the kind of viewer who feels that the final impression a movie makes is its ultimate stamp on your memory, you may be in for a crushing disappointment. On the other hand, if you're the kind of viewer who just likes the cliché of the boom-boom summer action spectacle, you're likely to be bored and frustrated with the first two acts, and only engage in the end. It is confused about what audience it's trying to reach, and consequently, isn't likely to satisfy any of them.