Search - War of the Worlds (Widescreen Edition) on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 5/12/2020...

Great CGI but creepy story and a beginning that I did not like. A must if you are a Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning or Tim Robbins fan!

Debbie M. from ALABASTER, AL
Reviewed on 8/13/2011...

one of my all time favs

2 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.

Debra R. from PECOS, NM
Reviewed on 1/11/2011...

I had the privilege of getting to watch this movie at one of the few remaining drive in theaters. Being outdoors while watching this one added a little extra "zing," I must admit. I don't even like Tom Cruise, and I still liked this one.
Also one of my daughters favorite movies - she's in her teens.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Brian C. from COTUIT, MA
Reviewed on 7/27/2009...

Good version of this story. Cameo for the actors from the 1950's version. Good special effects. Tom Cruise isn't bad a a disfunctional father and divorcee. Recommended

1 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.

War of the Worlds (Blu-ray)

Tony Khamvongsouk | Frisco, TX | 09/08/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Movie - 4.5



I've been a fan of Spielberg for as long as I can remember. I may not have been directly conscious of it growing up as a little kid when watching Jaws, E.T., all the Indiana Jones movies, Jurassic Park, or even Hook. But knowing what I do now, I can confidently say I'm starting to see him for the great film-maker he is. And with this being the second Tom Cruise/BD-release tie-in with Minority Report, I'm going to be keeping a lot of the technical similarities of the review between this and Minority. As for War of the Worlds, much like my experience with Minority, I never got around to seeing it in theaters and was thoroughly surprised when I actually got around to watching it. I also just recently watched 2012, something similar to War in terms of scope, but not nearly as in-depth and character-detailed. While 2012 certainly has the visual aspects down, I really wanted the movie to be more than just eye candy. Ultimately, although the characters in 2012 have some semblances of empathy, I feel the movie lacks in emotion overall and never really displays that true sense of despair, suspense, or horror -- characteristics I think an Apocalyptic film would possess. In War, I was completely blown away by its sheer simplicity and terror. 9/11 and political undertones aside, I see this film as being much more profound in that while it also has an advanced visual flair, it also manages to tell a very well-paced and engrossing kind of thriller. Sure it may be an alien invasion movie, a concept tried and dried through various mediums since the Cold War, but to see it produced with a combination of such glamorous effects and taut screenplay, I'm amazed at how well it presents itself. In contrast to 2012, it excels thematically in every way showing things like humanity, or the lack thereof when desperation to survive or the duty to protect takes over, the sacredness of life, preservation of innocence, and many other themes I'd rather not spoil. It was, for me, a very surprising piece of sci-fi horror that was downright spooky at some points with just enough grit, action, and story/characters that managed to enlighten, as well as entertain.



Video - 5.0



Much like Minority Report, Paramount does an outstanding job preserving the work of Janusz Kaminski. To be blunt, there's grain, and lots of it, but intentionally so for cinematic effect and a kind of "vintage" look. For the type of film it is, colors aren't really drab, per se, but are uniquely "alien" in that their variations range from darker to lighter primaries with a hint of "metal" to them. It's something of a chromatic progression that evolves with the narrative and displays itself accordingly. Black levels are deep with no signs of crush and make for some particularly tense moments like when the tripods attack or when the characters are hiding from the aliens in the basement. And contrast is also excellent with only one or two instances of that Bleach Bypass technique, which never really distracted me in Minority, but those who don't like it will be happy to know it's not nearly as prevalent in this film. Overall, image quality is sharp with only a few tiny instances of debris that are hardly noticeable and presents itself well with a mix between gritty, throwback, and bleak photography with no kind of image manipulation whatsoever. Kudos to the people at Paramount.



Audio - 5.0



Also like Minority Report, War of the Worlds boasts an equally buoyant and reference-level DTS-HD track. It doesn't take long before the opening credits and narration of Morgan Freeman for the audience to sample just a taste of things to come via the music of John Williams, which, for me personally, gives the film half its aesthetic value. And I have to say for a man who only saw half of the movie before making a full score, Williams never ceases to amaze with his musical intuition and mastery of the craft. Sound effects-wise, we're introduced to some thunderous LFEs during a lightning storm after which the sound scape literally explodes off screen when the aliens start to attack from their tripods. A small earthquake, crumbling buildings, shattered glass, and various noises of destruction and mayhem flood the speakers in every direction. Dialogue remains clear throughout said chaos and shows no distortion during quieter moments. Separation is perfectly placed from the rears and does an excellent job of panning when needed, while high and low ends cover the spectrum in the form of mechanical whirring down to the sound of small handgun fire. This is alien invasion at its finest.



Extras - 4.0



The special features here cover a lot of areas, though largely from a production standpoint. The 80-minute diary and musical composition pieces are what I found to be most interesting. A lot of work went into the making of the film, and this really raised my appreciation for it as a whole. Things like set design, stunt coordination, special/visual effects, cinematography, etc. are talked about. A little bit of the story's history and its origins are mentioned as well, along with what Spielberg wanted to do with it in terms of modern-day conveyance. Altogether, it amounts to almost two and a half hours and does a really good job, though doesn't feel nearly as deep as the extras found on Minority. No spiffy retrospectives were added, and the teaser trailer is the only HD extra, which is a bit of a shame considering how much I really like the movie. I'm also bummed that there's no commentary or at least some kind of introduction by Spielberg himself, though I'm still hopeful to hear one by him at some point.



Overall - 4.5



War of the World really caught me by surprise. It's a very well-written story with little bits of disaster, sci-fi, and horror all rolled into one with brilliant execution thanks in part to its simplicity of screenplay, excellent effects, and a great cast. Presented by Paramount with reference A/V quality and a hefty amount of extras, War of the Worlds comes highly recommended for sci-fi and Spielberg fans."

Blu-Ray is Better

Todd Carter | Benson,NC | 10/10/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"War of the Worlds(the Re-Make)Has been a solid movie in terms of Special Effects and use of Incredible Bass-Notes, Thru-Out.

Now add in the Top Quality Visual Image Blu-Ray Provides(Along with Loseless HD Surround Sound)And you take a Good DVD and make it a Great Blu-Ray.



If you are looking for a Reference Blu-Ray Movie to show off your Home Theater's Capabilities(Then Look No Further)

Between the Pristine Pic Quality and the Sheer Awesome Bass Notes(That literally shake your insides)It Becomes a Solid Recommendation to any Blu-Ray Collection."

ONE OF MY FAVS

Robert Lawrence | Wheeling, IL USA | 10/04/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Though I love the original, this version was very intense and Dakota Fanning shines as always. I'm not big Cruise fan, but this film and Interview with a Vampire are standout moments in his career."