War of the Worlds (2005)

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Year:	2005
Country of origin:	USA
Director:	Steven Spielberg
Genre:	Alien invasion
Starring:	Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Tim Robbins
Rating:	3/5
IMDB link:	http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407304/
Tagline:	They're already here.
Favourite line:	"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. With infinite complacency, men went to and fro about the globe, confident of our empire over this world. Yet across the gulf of space, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic regarded our planet with envious eyes and slowly, and surely, drew their plans against us."

Reasonably effective sci-fi updating sees Tom Cruise battling an alien invasion.
As with the previous version from the 50's, the action is relocated from the original source book's Victorian London to contemporary America, a very disappointing choice in my opinion. The creepiness and chill factor that would be automatic in a period setting are instantly lost, making it just A.N.Other action flick.
Still, some effective set-pieces, a very good virtual shot-for-shot scene remake from the 50's version, when an alien tentacle searches a basement for Our Hero, and the requisite explosions and chase scenes.
Acceptable I suppose, though far from inspired.