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Our first (real) WAR OF THE WORLDS review, from the German premiere!

Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with the very first authentic review of WAR OF THE WORLDS that we've gotten, this one from the German premiere. For those that want to know nothing about this film, the below review is very positive. There aren't many spoilers below at all, but if you want to keep 100% pure, I understand that. The rest of you enjoy! I can't wait for this sucka!

Hi Harry

I have just seen Steven Spielberg's "War of the worlds" here in Germay. I'm not good at English and I've never written a movie review before, so I won't torture you with one coming from my hands. I also know that Spielberg has asked journalists to wait with their reviews so I'll respect that and simply put down a few lines about my feelings of this movie. I'll break down in a few sections to make it easier for myself:

1 - The story

Well you'll recognize certain elements from the book and the overall plot is also pretty similar to the book, but other than that there are not that many elements from H.G Wells classic. That doesn't mean I didn't like what they did with the movie version, on the contrary! This movie has a tight storyline. It is a real survival story and also remniscent of some of the old disaster movies from the 70s, with a small group of characters fighting to get out of the way of destruction. Of course it focuses mainly on Ray (Cruise) and his two kids and their journey. I read before that this was going to be a very "intimate" story about surviaval and that it is. People who hope to see huge scale destruction will be disappointed. The action doesn't really get any bigger than what you have already seen in the trailers. It is told through the eyes of a small family, and the only action we see is what they see. No swooping helicopter shots of destruction and pulverised landmarks. However we hear about a lot of terryfieng stuff through radios, military and others, and it lets you imagine all these thing if you know what I mean. The action scenes feel more like a documentary, sometimes with handheld camera. It's extremely cool as the scenes seem far more intense. As a whole this movie seems more like a horror movie than an action movie. There are several moments where you are holding your breath while sitting on the edge of your seat. Especially in a sequence when the family is caught behind the "enemy" lines, while the Aliens probe all hiding spaces for human beings. That was truly frightening.

2 - The acting

WOW. This really blew me away. The interaction between Tom, Dakota and the boy playing his son is incredibly convincing. You really care about these persons after a few minutes into the movie. Normally I am pretty cold when it comes to the acting in American blockusters as it is always second hand to the action, but in this movie I felt a lump in my throat several times because I really cared for the characters.

3 - Special effects

It may sound as though there is no big action sequences in the movie, but that is not true. There is plenty of action but it (almost) always takes place "behind" the actors the camera focuses on. This way it feels a lot more realistic. And talking about realism! This movie - in my mind - shows us the best use of visual effects EVER!!! There is not 1 instance where you can tell it's CGI. It looks incredible. When the war machines first appear it looks so real and convincing. I don't know if they actually used models or what but they look incredible. It is also nice to see that houses blowing up etc. are the real deal and not miniatures.

4 - Overall

This is a fantastic movie. It feels sooo "spielbergian" and I truly believe this will end up being my favourite Spielberg movie so far. I just need to see a few more times to see if it really holds up. There is so much tension in this movie and it utilizes some of the best elements of Jaws, Close Encounters and Saving Ryan! Man I suck a writing about a movie, know I will stop. I could just have written 1 word: FANTASTIC!

Call me

Doc


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Reader Talkback


by fatbalogna
Jun 16th, 2005
12:47:42 AM
Just saw the new trailer....
by fatbalogna
Jun 16th, 2005
12:48:04 AM
Can't wait for this movie
by peytonallen
Jun 16th, 2005
12:49:04 AM
first first!
by cymraeg_cowboy
Jun 16th, 2005
12:50:41 AM
This movie looks kick-ass...
by fatbalogna
Jun 16th, 2005
12:51:39 AM
We don't deserve this...
by LeckoManiac
Jun 16th, 2005
12:53:16 AM
aww!
by cymraeg_cowboy
Jun 16th, 2005
12:53:37 AM
I soooo want to see this movie.
by L.H.Puttgrass
Jun 16th, 2005
12:53:48 AM
Alien Ships....
by suddendeath
Jun 16th, 2005
12:54:31 AM
no, the fanning ain't so bad...
by fatbalogna
Jun 16th, 2005
12:55:25 AM
I HAD THAT TOO!!!!
by fatbalogna
Jun 16th, 2005
12:57:17 AM
Hodor
by MimiRogers3rdNip
Jun 16th, 2005
12:57:19 AM
DAMN IT!!!
by L.H.Puttgrass
Jun 16th, 2005
12:57:46 AM
dakota
by rivercb
Jun 16th, 2005
12:57:52 AM
I can imagine it's good
by moviemaniac-7
Jun 16th, 2005
01:04:35 AM
BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR? WHY NOT!
by IMAXIMUS
Jun 16th, 2005
01:07:09 AM
PLANT!
by AshesOfDonnie
Jun 16th, 2005
01:13:15 AM
rivercb; president of the Gary Glitter fanclub
by AshesOfDonnie
Jun 16th, 2005
01:18:20 AM
Close encounter for the third time
by JohnSaltonSea
Jun 16th, 2005
01:22:03 AM
So, they might show the impact on a wider scale in the sequels .
by Shan
Jun 16th, 2005
01:26:01 AM
sequels . . .
by microwavable?
Jun 16th, 2005
01:48:23 AM
Hello Hello, do I smell OSCARS IN THE AIR?!?!
by balajazz
Jun 16th, 2005
01:48:59 AM
Spielberg vs. himself at Oscar time
by DarthCorleone
Jun 16th, 2005
01:53:25 AM
"That said, War of the Worlds can't have a sequel! I don'
by Commando Cody
Jun 16th, 2005
02:02:58 AM
Microwavable?...
by DarthRicker
Jun 16th, 2005
02:07:53 AM
H.M.S THUNDERCHILD
by colonel foster
Jun 16th, 2005
02:08:40 AM
Trilogy
by Gheorghe Zamfir
Jun 16th, 2005
02:25:57 AM
I saw the new trailer on Batman Begins...
by kintar0
Jun 16th, 2005
02:30:53 AM
This Review ...
by Shan
Jun 16th, 2005
02:31:42 AM
great, now spielberg is following shyamalan's path.
by cloudrider`
Jun 16th, 2005
02:33:26 AM
'written by david koepp', that's all i need to know
by cloudrider`
Jun 16th, 2005
02:41:16 AM
Tom Cruise + Stepher Spielberg = Yawnfest
by sith-vol
Jun 16th, 2005
02:56:49 AM
who the heck is Stepher????
by sith-vol
Jun 16th, 2005
02:57:55 AM
"BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR? WHY NOT!"
by Thirteen 13
Jun 16th, 2005
03:02:30 AM
Fuck this movie. If people are bashing the FF from their traile
by LordEnigma
Jun 16th, 2005
03:05:01 AM
you guys are so guilible.
by cloudrider`
Jun 16th, 2005
03:14:31 AM
LordEnigma, its pretty tough to bash WOTW from the trailers
by Thirteen 13
Jun 16th, 2005
03:15:09 AM
Jesus, cloudrider'...
by kintar0
Jun 16th, 2005
03:26:11 AM
AND for the record:
by kintar0
Jun 16th, 2005
03:27:56 AM
here are bunch of mediocre movies who won oscars:
by cloudrider`
Jun 16th, 2005
03:31:42 AM
there are some real pricks on this board...
by Spunkfly
Jun 16th, 2005
03:38:01 AM
come on, you're favorite spielberg movie??? That's sayin
by Orionsangels
Jun 16th, 2005
03:39:08 AM
Dakota Fanning is jailbait. Do you agree, Yes or No?
by Daddy Tones
Jun 16th, 2005
03:41:32 AM
The analphabetic midget Cruise and the lunatic megalomaniac Trav
by SalvatoreGravano
Jun 16th, 2005
03:42:23 AM
Jesus to you too, Mr_Mircale.
by cloudrider`
Jun 16th, 2005
03:47:50 AM
can someone explain to me the basics of scientology?
by DocMcCoy
Jun 16th, 2005
03:54:07 AM
Well, I don't agree.
by kintar0
Jun 16th, 2005
03:54:57 AM
RE: "one coming from my hands."
by krullboy
Jun 16th, 2005
04:01:25 AM
Spunkfly. you seriously dont think this movie mirrors signs?
by cloudrider`
Jun 16th, 2005
04:06:36 AM
AND for the record:
by kintar0
Jun 16th, 2005
04:13:45 AM
really? so sure are you Mr_Miracle.
by cloudrider`
Jun 16th, 2005
04:14:23 AM
"godard, fellini, truffaut, antonioni, kurosawa, bergman. know t
by kintar0
Jun 16th, 2005
04:19:16 AM
Battlefield Earth is as bad as that.
by Trevor Goodchild
Jun 16th, 2005
04:25:40 AM
please tell me there
by CuervoJones
Jun 16th, 2005
04:43:25 AM
one hell of a summer
by liljuniorbrown
Jun 16th, 2005
04:50:02 AM
dude, you're really not gonna drop it, arent you?
by cloudrider`
Jun 16th, 2005
04:52:06 AM
The Chances of anything coming from mars - were a million to one
by Samson_K
Jun 16th, 2005
05:15:05 AM
A trilogy? Oh, for...
by Sans Souci
Jun 16th, 2005
05:25:36 AM
War of the Worlds is an anti-religious novel
by Bart of Darkness
Jun 16th, 2005
05:38:02 AM
Scientology
by Papa Lazaru
Jun 16th, 2005
06:01:40 AM
Anti-Religious
by Samson_K
Jun 16th, 2005
06:17:18 AM
Samson_K, spielberg's WOTW IS a rip off signs.
by cloudrider`
Jun 16th, 2005
06:24:18 AM
GoatZinger, what the hell?
by cloudrider`
Jun 16th, 2005
06:38:05 AM
cloudrider
by Samson_K
Jun 16th, 2005
06:41:04 AM
Scientology and bollocks!!!!
by Samson_K
Jun 16th, 2005
06:53:44 AM
Yawn
by IAmMrMonkey
Jun 16th, 2005
07:07:46 AM
FUCK THE HATERS! FUCK ALL OF YOU UP YOU STUPID ASSES! THIS MOVIE
by Proman1984
Jun 16th, 2005
07:17:09 AM
FUCK THE HATERS! FUCK ALL OF YOU UP YOU STUPID ASSES! THIS MOVIE
by Proman1984
Jun 16th, 2005
07:17:10 AM
FUCK THE HATERS! FUCK ALL OF YOU UP YOU STUPID ASSES! THIS MOVIE
by Proman1984
Jun 16th, 2005
07:17:10 AM
I didn't mean to post this three times in a row. For this I
by Proman1984
Jun 16th, 2005
07:18:09 AM
"The best Spielberg film"??
by I Dunno
Jun 16th, 2005
07:19:48 AM
I expected no less.
by dr_dreadlocks
Jun 16th, 2005
07:47:28 AM
Cloudrider..
by Spunkfly
Jun 16th, 2005
07:52:34 AM
Scientology explained
by sith-vol
Jun 16th, 2005
08:01:28 AM
I have seen most of the t.v. spots during the NBA finals...
by Lost Skeleton
Jun 16th, 2005
08:12:41 AM
WOTW musical
by MaguaSynfield
Jun 16th, 2005
08:30:38 AM
By the way...people who hate Signs think it is an alien invasion
by Lost Skeleton
Jun 16th, 2005
08:31:53 AM
scientology explained...from an insider
by welshwitch
Jun 16th, 2005
08:36:26 AM
Wouldn't surprise me if Scientologists are monitoring these
by Trevor Goodchild
Jun 16th, 2005
08:53:15 AM
SUCKS
by dentity2000
Jun 16th, 2005
08:59:22 AM
MaguaSynfield
by Trevor Goodchild
Jun 16th, 2005
08:59:49 AM
Any Battlefield Earth likers or apologists out there?
by Trevor Goodchild
Jun 16th, 2005
09:03:13 AM
Lay off the kid
by MaguaSynfield
Jun 16th, 2005
09:03:49 AM
All your income am belong to us
by Rhett Butler
Jun 16th, 2005
09:05:08 AM
Doc McCoy, because you asked.
by sherlockjunior
Jun 16th, 2005
09:13:24 AM
Spielberg looked jazzed?
by Omegaman
Jun 16th, 2005
09:16:50 AM
I Bet The Aliens are Killed by Xenu!
by Brock Samson
Jun 16th, 2005
09:25:19 AM
Shouldn't the correct incorrect grammar be "all your income
by Shan
Jun 16th, 2005
09:30:59 AM
I saw Signs for free and still paid too much ...
by Shan
Jun 16th, 2005
09:37:16 AM
German premiere? Arent they anti scientologist? the irony...
by Spacesheik
Jun 16th, 2005
09:45:27 AM
Scientology was invented by a bad 30s science fiction hack, whic
by bigdickmcgee
Jun 16th, 2005
09:46:41 AM
and a Scientologist PLANT no doubt
by flipster
Jun 16th, 2005
09:51:59 AM
Battlefield Earth....coulda been a classic like Plan 9 From Oute
by bigdickmcgee
Jun 16th, 2005
09:53:42 AM
Wow Cloudrider, you trashed some pretty good movies and actors t
by doobieflixx
Jun 16th, 2005
10:01:09 AM
Sorry Cloudrider. I haven't had a coffee yet.
by doobieflixx
Jun 16th, 2005
10:02:35 AM
review
by klag
Jun 16th, 2005
10:07:06 AM
So this German dude says he doesn't speak english well, then
by Rolling_Stone
Jun 16th, 2005
10:09:12 AM
You know...I changed my mind. You're a chump.
by doobieflixx
Jun 16th, 2005
10:10:09 AM
I love the scene...
by ebolamonkey
Jun 16th, 2005
10:11:36 AM
Samson_K is partly right
by eule
Jun 16th, 2005
10:11:38 AM
"A Geramn complimenting Spielberg, even after Schindler's Li
by DerLanghaarige
Jun 16th, 2005
10:12:02 AM
Yes...could be a plant...better writing than most reviewers too.
by Samuel Steamer
Jun 16th, 2005
10:12:27 AM
Thank you
by Darth Busey
Jun 16th, 2005
10:18:08 AM
Tom Cruise got paid over 300 million dollars for this. You peopl
by Psalmolive
Jun 16th, 2005
10:20:57 AM
Shan M'man
by Rhett Butler
Jun 16th, 2005
10:25:58 AM
to me tom cruise and spielberg is kinda boring - i didnt like mi
by Spacesheik
Jun 16th, 2005
10:28:52 AM
looks like kirstie alley needs a few tents in her production...a
by Spacesheik
Jun 16th, 2005
10:34:12 AM
Spunkfly, while i'm not big on signs...
by cloudrider`
Jun 16th, 2005
10:53:32 AM
You know what's fascinating about prior Cruise roles?
by sherlockjunior
Jun 16th, 2005
10:57:25 AM
and Samson_K, okay, so it's not a rip off then.
by cloudrider`
Jun 16th, 2005
11:01:46 AM
Can't wait!
by viola123
Jun 16th, 2005
11:02:14 AM
doobieflixx, the oscars amuse me in the same way people are amus
by cloudrider`
Jun 16th, 2005
11:16:40 AM
and doob...
by cloudrider`
Jun 16th, 2005
11:25:25 AM
koepp indeed wrote good movies.
by cloudrider`
Jun 16th, 2005
11:30:31 AM
cloudrider' has ALWAYS been a know-nothing douchebag in the
by Jar Jar 4 Prez
Jun 16th, 2005
11:31:58 AM
I'm always curious about what Germans think of American/Brit
by scrumdiddly
Jun 16th, 2005
11:32:09 AM
If it focuses on one refugee family's experience, it makes i
by FluffyUnbound
Jun 16th, 2005
11:49:17 AM
sheer luck
by oisin5199
Jun 16th, 2005
11:51:14 AM
sheer luck
by oisin5199
Jun 16th, 2005
11:53:27 AM
Cruise v. Oprah...
by Christopher3
Jun 16th, 2005
11:57:54 AM
jar jar, learn how to spell.
by cloudrider`
Jun 16th, 2005
11:58:41 AM
PLANT!!!!
by The Midget_King
Jun 16th, 2005
12:07:35 PM
DerLanghaarige
by MaguaSynfield
Jun 16th, 2005
12:23:05 PM
Is Spielberg a Scientologist????
by jigzaw
Jun 16th, 2005
12:28:25 PM
the similarities doesnt end there.
by cloudrider`
Jun 16th, 2005
12:35:08 PM
Not to defend Tom Cruise or anything...
by FluffyUnbound
Jun 16th, 2005
12:40:40 PM
Saving Private Ryan was all about stereotype(=bad and stupid) Ge
by DerLanghaarige
Jun 16th, 2005
12:49:11 PM
Am I the only one skipping this?
by la_sith
Jun 16th, 2005
12:54:27 PM
yeah, but did you see his dick in that movie?
by cloudrider`
Jun 16th, 2005
12:54:29 PM
Really?
by KidGeek
Jun 16th, 2005
01:02:07 PM
cloudrider
by balajazz
Jun 16th, 2005
01:05:27 PM
Oooooooo-Lahhhhhhhh!!!!!!
by Bilbo_Fett
Jun 16th, 2005
01:16:59 PM
Spielbergs problem is hes 'starry-eyed - if he made JAWS tod
by Spacesheik
Jun 16th, 2005
01:24:31 PM
F--k you all!!!!
by performingmonkey
Jun 16th, 2005
01:25:07 PM
And another thing: THE LAST SAMURAI was a fucking joke, all the
by Spacesheik
Jun 16th, 2005
01:26:31 PM
"if he made JAWS today it would star Tom Cruise, Leonardo Di Cap
by performingmonkey
Jun 16th, 2005
01:29:54 PM
"but we hate Saving Private Ryan for being such a stupid propaga
by MaguaSynfield
Jun 16th, 2005
01:31:04 PM
You can tell a Scientologist....
by Doc_Strange
Jun 16th, 2005
01:34:15 PM
SCIENTOLOGY - FRIEND OR FOE? WELL COMPARED TO OTHER RELIGIONS TH
by IMAXIMUS
Jun 16th, 2005
01:45:09 PM
MaguaSynfield
by DerLanghaarige
Jun 16th, 2005
02:10:18 PM
mindhead
by sherlockjunior
Jun 16th, 2005
02:12:05 PM
Exterminate all the brutes
by Colonel_Blimp
Jun 16th, 2005
02:14:27 PM
I knew it. It's a Holocaust movie.
by Darksider
Jun 16th, 2005
02:51:00 PM
my first post
by batzilla
Jun 16th, 2005
03:36:07 PM
Derwhatever
by Rebeck
Jun 16th, 2005
04:06:11 PM
DerLanghaarige Part II
by MaguaSynfield
Jun 16th, 2005
04:09:49 PM
Doesn't look that bad from the trailers. I am really hoping
by mrfan
Jun 16th, 2005
04:39:19 PM
"the Academy Awards and box office figures are fucking meaningle
by slappy jones
Jun 16th, 2005
05:48:31 PM
Cruise
by Sorkin
Jun 16th, 2005
06:06:12 PM
A Jaws remake? Don Cheadle as Brody.
by Trevor Goodchild
Jun 16th, 2005
06:09:26 PM
Cruises extreme reaction to being accused as Homosexual was very
by Trevor Goodchild
Jun 16th, 2005
06:11:04 PM
SURPRISE COCKFAGS!!!
by MaulRat
Jun 16th, 2005
06:27:33 PM
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy was weird fast paced patchy but
by TonyWilson
Jun 16th, 2005
06:30:53 PM
Hey Papa Lazaru
by Banky the Hack
Jun 16th, 2005
07:06:35 PM
cloudrider
by zabbadoo
Jun 16th, 2005
07:32:00 PM
Do they lock a tripod in the pantry?
by -guyinthebackrow
Jun 16th, 2005
07:51:21 PM
"A Jaws remake? Don Cheadle as Brody."
by MaguaSynfield
Jun 16th, 2005
08:56:46 PM
OK my respect for Scientology just climbed a bit.
by FluffyUnbound
Jun 16th, 2005
09:32:58 PM
Fanning...Cruise playing an "average joe"...this movie is EASY t
by Bong
Jun 16th, 2005
09:44:54 PM
Can't wait to pay 10 bucks to watch Dakota cry for 2 hours
by Bong
Jun 16th, 2005
09:45:51 PM
"I truly believe this will end up being my favourite Spielberg m
by 3 Bag Enema
Jun 16th, 2005
09:47:29 PM
if the germs dont kill the aliens, forget it
by youbetitis
Jun 16th, 2005
10:49:14 PM
The scientology-bashing here takes me back to the good old days
by ol' painless
Jun 17th, 2005
12:23:07 AM
An experiment for all to have fun with...
by strangebreed
Jun 17th, 2005
12:35:23 AM
Colonel_Blimp, riiight...
by cloudrider`
Jun 17th, 2005
12:56:37 AM
D.Vader, what did I say?
by cloudrider`
Jun 17th, 2005
01:00:21 AM
GoatZinger, "go away?"
by cloudrider`
Jun 17th, 2005
01:05:39 AM
"the Academy Awards and box office figures are fucking meaningle
by cloudrider`
Jun 17th, 2005
01:15:10 AM
Honestly I do not understand Scientology nor do I understand the
by IMAXIMUS
Jun 17th, 2005
01:17:36 AM
Cloudrider, I'm not singling you out but now you go and insu
by doobieflixx
Jun 17th, 2005
01:21:18 AM
no, i dont hate the oscars because they're 'artsy'.
by cloudrider`
Jun 17th, 2005
01:44:21 AM
"However we hear about a lot of terryfieng stuff through radios,
by Black Jesus
Jun 17th, 2005
02:00:45 AM
Cloudrider, you're not a wanker
by Colonel_Blimp
Jun 17th, 2005
03:44:32 AM
Colonel...
by cloudrider`
Jun 17th, 2005
06:08:43 AM
Our first (real) WAR OF THE WORLDS review, from the German premi
by UK Paul
Jun 17th, 2005
07:56:30 AM
BETTER ENGLISH THAN MOST REVIEWERS - Thanks for the review :-)
by Fish Tank
Jun 17th, 2005
08:22:15 AM
the namedropping isn't the condescending bit
by Colonel_Blimp
Jun 17th, 2005
08:38:47 AM
Fantastic intolerance
by Olof53
Jun 20th, 2005
04:50:12 PM
Intolerance?? Let's talk about L. Ron Hubbard, Scientologys
by brokeback
Jun 23rd, 2005
09:24:08 AM

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