War of The Worlds (2005) Retrospective / Review

[@jackso_28]

My favorite scene was the dock scene, when everybody thinks they’re gonna be ok, they here a tree collapse and then there’s a tripod on top of the hill just staring down thousands of people. One of the most epic sci-fi scenes of all time.

[@derekllewellyn6663]

I love seeing top of the hill probably will be there in about few feel like I feel like I was looking at being in tree

[@matodragonespor5000]

"The film doesn't leave a lasting impression" Meanwhile, 15 years later, people using the Tripod horn sound as an example of how 2020 could get worse

[@elderkin7258]

just wait it could still happen at this point most people would welcome it

[@alejandromomota6934]

@Newsbender wrong. 2005 tripods are way better looking and terrifying

[@Relugus]

@Newsbender I think the Uuuulaaa of the Jeff Wayne version is scarier but the Spielberg version runs it a close second.

[@Ravenreel]

@@Relugus yes the Ulla is scary, and I love how they tune it to the songs, as well.

[@TabathaTMartin]

and is getting a fan made game, and has become beloved among the WOTW fandom.....

[@pho3nix-]

Best BWOOOOMW sound ever, that shit is scary.

[@tylerabrosimov1228]

especially when you are home alone and its dark and you have surround sound on. me at the moment.

[@weldonwin]

Not as scary I think, as the *UUULAAA!!!* From the Jeff Waynes version, just for how hauntingly alien it sounds

[@michaelbalfour3170]

weldonwin In the book the martians went "aloo" as they burned towns and people. When they were dying from the dogs and crows eating them they said "ulaa". This was because the martians had a very basic anatomy as stated in the book and likely no vocal chords.

[@wjzav1971]

This BWOOOMMW has since then forever remained with us and today is sadly only used for thrailer footage to tell us that the movie is going to be epic.

[@colejohnson4188]

Indeed the best*BWOOOOMW*

[@Luggi83]

This movie has a special place in my heart. It may not be perfect, but it always manages to deliver and make me fell the terror and powerlessness of the protagonists like no other movie does.

[@Ravenreel]

The emergence scene still gets me, honestly. The ferry scene, the burning train. This terrified me as a kid, and even now as a mother the sheer hopelessness gets to me. I genuinely think it is vastly under-rated, especially because of the terrible more recent adaptations of WOTW. The rock opera is still the best, I think.

[@youngjiggymf1704]

The tripods were so perfect imo, Wells himself said he didn’t want them to be so stiff and robotic & they nailed it, the tripods move so organically they’re fuckin terrifying. If they wouldn’t just ditched everything else and followed the source material this could’ve been the movie that finally got the book right

[@mordecool9696]

this movie makes you feel. it does not hold back. i care about literally every single person that appears in this movie because of how real it’s portrayed. if this happened in real life, this is exactly how it would play out. and i love that tom cruise is just some ordinary guy going through these events. every time something with the aliens happens my heart drops because i care about all of these people. the third act does slow down a little bit and is nowhere near as good as the masterpiece that is the first and second but it’s still alright. this is defiantly one of my favorite movies of all time idc what anyone says i love this movie to death

[@jeremycline9542]

One of my favorite Spielberg movies. It was genuinely terrifying. My only quibble with it was that the main characters somehow skipped over Connecticut on their way to Boston. The geographical logic of the film has you go from the Hudson River to suddenly being in Mass. Ironically, the scene where the creatures are dying in Boston was filmed less than five miles from where I'm writing this. In Naugatuck, Connecticut.

[@jacobrivers19]

The ferry scene takes place in Athens, NY, which is right across the NY-Mass border. So, they basically traveled north from the NYC area up to Athens, then went east across Massachusetts. They wouldn't have needed to go into Connecticut with that route.

[@jeremycline9542]

@@jacobrivers19 The only thing is, the movie doesn't make it seem like they go that far north, then east

[@ben8447]

oliver, in what world do you think a little girl would not be screaming and terrified all the time during an alien invasion? I know what you mean about the son being annoying due to going from not caring about anyone to wanting to save the world but I think the little girl has every right to be scared!

[@nutyyyy]

It's not that a girl wouldn't be screaming, but that you could not have the kids in the film as they are annoying. The orignal novel the main character is married but has no kids. The kids are just annoying. They aren't out of character or unrealistic however.

[@TheBlazicans]

I don't think it was the fact that she was screaming, it was the SOUND of her screaming. I know a scream isn't melodic or anything but shrill screeching is just not pleasant to listen to.

[@siyacer]

Because her screaming is the only thing anyone remembers about her.

[@natturallyfreeriders7545]

@@nutyyyy The truth is that not all children are annoying, Rachel was a less irritable character, of children today, this is mainly due to the difference in education through the ages, but her yelling is completely natural, even that woman who appears in the Peter Jackson's king kong movie screams equally high-pitched and from being exposed to some pretty scary and distressing.

[@GrandmasterDevo]

My biggest criticisms with this film are 1) The heat-ray victims' clothing remaining intact when their bodies are vaporised, and 2) Bobbie running off FOR NO REASON to get himself blown up, yet somehow still survives!!!

[@megahunterkiller]

GrandmasterDevo *Robbie

[@g0thicuk]

If it helps with your immersion, I imagine the ray instaboils any water in what it touches, like a powerful microwave. which may not affect dry clothing

[@robchuk4136]

The first hour or so of this movie is excellent. I think there are even Jurassic Park-esque moments of tension that remind us why Spielberg is the best at what he does.

[@Aegrim]

I remember this being one of the first DVDs i got when we got surround sound. I watched it numerous times and every time the alien appears in the basement there was a certain noise that would always play only from the rear left speaker, it ALWAYS caught me off guard thinking something was behind me.

[@FlyingFocs]

I remember watching this in the theater with my dad when I was 12 (I was a huge Spielberg fan even younger than that), and I won't lie, this film came on tv two years back and my reactions was, "oh yeah, this movie exists." How does that happen? How do you just forget a Spielberg movie exists?

[@brycevo]

The beginning and middle of this film is amazing, but the ending is just too nice and neat. Everyone from the family lives?! I can't suspend my disbelief that much.

[@DemonBoy3223]

I remember being 12 when I had seen this at my nearby drive-in, I remember it was not-at-all the _ID4_ type of film I was partially expecting, it instead showed me what a realistic alien invasion would possibly look like, that being the human race may be overwhelmed by the invasion and possibly be fighting a losing war against a more-technologically-advanced civilization much like what happened with Columbus and the Native Americans. But still, I do hold a soft spot for this film due to how dark-toned it was and being more of a survival thriller film rather than another typical sci-fi war action film. It may not be as memorable as the 1953 film, but it is certainly better than the other 2005 (albeit more-faithful) adaptation which was 3-hours long with effects that'd make Ed Wood blush and it being very boring.

[@thebeardofpepe]

Enjoyed your channel for years. Amazing work man. So nice hearing clear and concise narration. 👌

[@supersnow17]

There's a video game being made using this movie as a source, it's not done yet but looks fun AF. So happy someone is finally doing it.

[@Headbehindthebubble]

A decent film utterly ruined by Dakota Fanning's near constant screaming

[@roguechevelle]

Yes. I love Dakota but her character as well as the others frankly were written poorly. They made her annoying and she is actually very charming in reality. The boy was also irritating, I feel like the writers had him leave because they didn't know what to do with him or something. It would have been more ballsy if they killed him off like Oliver said. Tom Cruises character was very under written. I do like where they were going trying to make him a bit of a selfish jerk who seems to really come into fatherhood when his kids lives are threatened, they could have developed that more with some interesting layering like maybe he had a terrible abusive father and is terrified to become him so thinks its better to be a distant father or something more interesting. There is some really great visuals and ideas. The first attack is awesome. It does slow down a bit and the Tim Robbins scene does drag on but does feel like it's necessary for the characters. There are some haunting scenes when the attacking at night happens and people including Dakota and Tom's characters get captured to be harvested is pretty intense, some great ideas and for the most part execution is great. But characters and character development are important and this would have been a much better film if they had been well written. Also, yes if your going to have John Williams it needs to be a more memorable score. Its does it's job for the movie but isn't memorable and seems phoned in which is sad for John Williams. It feels like someone else's work frankly.

[@beeman2075]

+1 I get that Dakota Fanning's character is a young girl who would probably be terrified of the alien invasion taking place around her. And shrieking or screaming can be a natural response, at some level, to danger of that nature. The character was written that way, and Dakota was directed by one of the best directors out there. But by god her character's shrieking got to be annoying in the film, and also the way she constantly questioned her father/brother.

[@Zerofightervi]

To be fair his Son in the film wasn't much better, I'd still like to know how exactly he managed to survive?

[@trutwijd]

couldn't agree more - I generally like this film but I really dislike Dakota's character

[@TheWeepingDalek]

what exactly is a young girl meant to do in the middle of an alien invasion. i'd take dakota screaming over will smith's character's son in ID4 anyday.

[@legateelizabeth]

One small little note: I don't think Robbie, Ray's son, is selfish. He's the same guy who when the boat was leaving clambered onto the gangplank to help people get over and onto the boat. What his character IS is done with running - he wants to be able to help everybody, not just his family, and sees fighting as a way to do that. That's why Ray lets him go; not just physically, but emotionally as well, to demonstrate that sometimes people really are just different enough we have to not force them to live like we want them to, even if they are our family.

[@nerdytom6881]

It's not blood, it's the red weed. The reviewer needs to read the book to see how the symbolism works. Its not a direct copy of the book but there are the same references done in different ways, so you get a cylinder opening scene and you get harvesters and martian terraforming, though in this case the invaders are not martians.

[@mikeyoung9810]

Great job with the video. You summed up the movie pretty much the same as I feel about it. It's worth watching but ends all to quietly with low drama. I've always wanted a big screen version based on the book where the aliens were not invulnerable and we could actually fight them so maybe the upcoming version will fill the role. The book terrified me when I read it as a child. The classic Gene Barry version is still the best and I loved the cameo at the end of the 2005 version. Gene Barry was always a favorite of mine in his other film and television roles.

[@TheMak445]

I had not idea about the cameos. Really enjoyed the film. I hope one day somebody does the story in period with the same level of detail and care.

[@geosword6]

H.G Wells' / Morgan Freeman's opening monologue here is still brilliantly relevant to this day.

[@ehxoz6365]

The setting was good. The visuals were great. Character development/interest was low. Yes it’s a alien movie where your gonna be on the run most of the time but I feel the characters were cut off from their potential. I feel 80% happy about the end piece of the movie and 20% unhappy. I enjoy the scenes,the fighting for the car gave me chills. The hilltop scene where the 3 were sitting watching people get zapped was creepy. The scene itself was perfect for most scenes. I feel as if they just needed a diferent approach with minor things that would have been a major improvement for the movie if changed. Still a great stunning and dark movie.

[@allendean9807]

The 747 set was on display at the Universal Studios Tour years ago- don’t know if it’s still featured- and it was just as impressive in person as on film

[@FrancoisDressler]

People are really harsh on Spielberg post Jurassic Park but I think this film has some of his very best work. Not as consistently great as Minority Report or Munich but the great moments are incredible. I strongly believe A.I is not only his most underrated film, but arguably his best. Would love a retrospective on that.

[@NoirTech83]

Does anyone know if it was really Cruises appearance on Oprah that ruined his relationship with Speilberg?

[@rolandog5424]

Yes I do Stephen Speliberg does not like outrageous press and angst he is from old school older than Tom and Tom at that time when he was marrying and getting with that lame looking Mary sue Katie Holmes he was really an idot for that hated Tom Cruise in the mid 2000s he's more laid back and mature now that he is nearing almost the early 60s but at this time sicentolgy had him super on one!!

[@craftpaint1644]

That funny meme where he's depicted electrocuting her is wild.

[@loke72]

Cruise use the press tour promoting his new girlfriend, Spielberg didn't like that

[@davidsumner7604]

I always felt like the aliens in this were more sadistic than the ones in Independence Day. Like the ones in ID4 were just indifferently committing planetary demolition while the ones here were actively playing target practice with people and having fun doing it.

[@LinkMarioSamus]

Hey Oliver, I would like to hear your thoughts on Spielberg's A.I.: Artificial Intelligence. I saw that movie for the first time earlier this year and absolutely loved it! Also what's your opinion on Stranger Things?

[@richardathome65]

I must point out it's not a river of blood, it's the red weed that the Martians use to change the Earth's environment to better suit their own. The idea was in the original book.Being a big fan of the book, it never struck me that the red weed was not properly explained in the movie and could be misinterpreted as blood.

[@alakasam6921]

This movie is a favorite of mine, seeing it now it I see it needs improvement but I still really enjoy it. Saw it when I was young and it stuck with me :^)

[@JaiProdz]

Haven't seen this film since the 00s, and even now I still recall only bits of the film. Also I believe one of the Scary Movie's parodied WotW! Great work as always!

[@upengraden3792]

I feel like if the script wasn't so annoying with the family, and there was better pacing for the climax, this would have been a cinematic masterpiece that would be remembered as many's favorite movie of all time.

[@gav240z]

Great film, blown away when I first saw it and still enjoy watching it today.

[@JcBravo8]

The son is basically the ITG but actually has the balls to say “I might die but I’ve talked the talk more it’s the time to act.” The crowd stopping after the gunshot is perfectly realistic.

[@allenharper2928]

Yeah, things suddenly got real.

[@Kotsugi_]

I've noticed, every noise the tripod makes, is pretty damn iconic, from their horns to them just walking, you'd probably recognize it instantly However comma, every noise from Rachel cancels it out and probably is what brought the movie down, the characters were fairly weak, aside from maybe Ray and the crazy dude Everything else was pretty nice, I've been to the set of the plane crash in Universal Studio's bus tour, and it's insane. And I really liked how grounded everything felt

[@MagpieR6]

the tripod music scenes have a special hit on me

[@psychologicallyunstable2499]

Dude, the horn is still haunting me..

[@tomchris60]

Not Spielberg's best, but also not a misfire. Like Oliver, I never bought the superhuman Cruise as a blue collar jerk. And Oliver is spot on about cinematographer Janusz Kaminski work here. Radical optic choices can take a viewer out.

[@UCanCallMeJesus1]

Okay the grandparents being the original 50s actors is a pretty amazing cameo.

[@missyprime8198]

I love this film, I saw it 4 times in the cinema.I like the change of pace when they are in the house & surrounded by the tripods. I read the book several times a year & this film manages to evoke the feel of the book whilst bringing it to modern times. A bit less of Dakota screaming would have been good though.

[@kleew5840]

This is one of my go back to movie of all time, the first half of the movie especially.

[@mattwagnermovies6308]

This is one of my all time favorite movies

[@WilAdams]

You mentioned the BBC TV show, but failed to mention the 1988 syndicated War of the Wars continuation of the 1953 film. That show even featured a continuation of the Sylvia character in a few episodes played by the same actress. While most of the first season (and all of the 2nd) were bad shows, the priemier 2 hour film (Resurrection) was thrilling and the end was great.

[@lemonlord0132]

I saw this movie in theaters when I was 10. I remember this movie terrified me. It didn’t leave me for quite some time. I haven’t rewatched it since, guess I just havent had a way to watch it again

[@AIMS_Villagerpower38_Official]

One way of remembering that main characters don’t die

[@SquidCena]

I love this movie. This movie is what got me to love many things, including that Dodge Grand Caravan (1990s)

[@johnosfirewalker8517]

You mention that an upcoming film may be taking place in the Victorian era. While I can get behind that idea, we mustn't forget the absolute trainwreck that happened last time someone had that idea.

[@turtleperson3538]

Spielberg should have partnered with Jeff Wayne for the movie's soundtrack tbh.

[@costaliberta5969]

i liked all aspects actually, may bot be a masterpiece but it combines action, horror and drama in a unique Spielberg-ish way. top class alien invasion on a highly anthropocentric perspective.

[@cruddddddddddddddd]

I remember seeing the trailer. I'm a big fan of Wells' book, so I was disappointed that it was set in modern day times. That said, I did enjoy this film. Not Spielberg's best, but it was thrilling, and Cruise carried it pretty well.

[@a2zme]

This was one of those 'end of the world' movies where as an audience member you didn't mind watching it end .. lol

[@nobbynobbs8182]

Things I remember from this movie: - Really cool Tripod design and sounds - Seeing Tom Cruise hiding in the basement half the movie

[@puddycat2325]

I can understand why people don’t hate this film but I don’t get people who really think it’s great. It turned the great novel by H. G. Wells into just another action movie. It’s not a bad film by any standard, I just don’t think it does the book much justice and I think although to modernise something such as this is a difficult thing to do and all things considered they did an ok job, I think it could’ve been better if they just didn’t. A film original to the book might actually be better.

[@josueamericanistarv]

It is well directed but poorly written. This movie is the perfect example of how Spielberg might be a great director but is no storyteller unlike Kubrick, Lynch, Nolan, Woody Allen or Hitchcock. He nails every single technical aspect of the movie but the script is so unfocused, generic and bland that the movie just can't be fully enjoyed.

[@tideatmilehigh2727]

Agree 100% The film is a technical masterpiece when it came to cinematography. No alien invasion film outside of maybe Signs has ever created such a dreadful nightmarish atmosphere as Spielberg’s WOW IMO. Had Spielberg simply consulted with an experienced writer I think the film could’ve been one of the best of the 2000s.

[@PeterEvansPeteTakesPictures]

Mostly agree, I think Nolan is more on a par with modern Spielberg as far as his instincts as far as story goes, it's just Nolan has worked with better scripts of late. Spielberg was cursed with David Koep, a decent writer but one who's content to turn in first drafts riddled with holes, and Spielberg with his over-confidence in his ability to elevate ho-hum material.

[@Orlor]

@@PeterEvansPeteTakesPictures - Disagree with you on Nolan. I think Nolan is one of the most overrated directors out there as far as story telling. Like Spielberg, he's great visually but his stories are usually a bland, boring mess.

[@carlosbfly]

Absolutely LOVE your reviews, made me subscribe. RE: the film - great opening but it loses so much pace when they're hiding in the basement.

[@VastKrutEmpire]

The novel itself is fairly one-dimensional. It's a very linear plot. So it's not a surprise that film adaptations become somewhat tedious midway through. The '50s film did have that wonderful scene where nuclear weapons were tried against the aliens. That added some suspense. I think the decision to wrap the 2005 film's story around the typical Tom Cruise character arc (a selfish a**hole who grows to a fully formed human) was a clever attempt to defeat the inherent tediousness of the story. The real story of the 2005 film is Ray's redemption from deadbeat dad to heroic protector of his children. It doesn't fully work, IMO, mainly because for some reason it's hard to imagine Cruise as anybody's dad. And there were a number of forced, contrived scenes. All-in-all, though, it's a very good film that everyone involved with should feel proud of.

[@Terrathrax]

Quite a few intense scenes in this movie. I loved the preamble with the lightning storm viewed from the backyard among others. Very good audio. Interaction between family members is quite interesting to watch. Tim Robbins deranged character is copied from the original book if I recall. I was OK with that because it explores how some people might react to a nearly impossible situation. I disagree that this movie is forgettable. I watch it every year or two. I also think that movies like this that show the human populace at severe risk scares audiences and critics alike, causing general disapproval.

[@melodie26terry]

I remember loving this movie as a teen, and after seeing Scary Movie 4, i just cant take it seriously now.

[@tiffanywyatt5137]

I think the whole ferry scene is the most iconic.

[@kamsavart]

I thought the movie was more dull than memorable. The action scenes were amazing, but after that it was a snoozefest.

[@mikuandnestieclubstudios1268]

Don't Forget Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of the War of the Worlds! :3

[@countteddy]

and no mention of Jeff wayne ?, theres so much influence in this film from that musical ......

[@SavageMontreal]

20:15 I always hated the part where the person drops the camera and we see the tripod attacking through the display. This is right after they make it clear that the lightning has wiped out all the electronics. It surprises me that no one involved in the production picked up on this obvious flaw.

[@robertolebron2296]

Battery powered. Flashlights and TV remotes work. The car, the mechanic did something, I think, with the battery to make it run

[@chartaiwan]

constant in all your videos: great quality and content + comments on how child actors are a pain in the ass...Keep the great work Oliver..you keep making more and more fans..

[@Hal2718]

The aliens invaded because an apparent technologically advanced species evolved on Earth. In the original story, they were Martians and the setting was in the 19th century so it makes sense from that we would be invaded if our neighboring planet had a technologically superior civilization in order to eliminate a potential threat. The story though could easily be adapted so that they waited to see what our general behavior would be and it turned out to be more destructive than they hoped so they took action.

[@bobisbell1837]

seen that for the first time in the theater and it Floored me!

[@northernzeus768]

It’s good to hear that God has come down from heaven to do opening scene narrations. Did he get union scale?

[@cassivellaunushonestus4927]

Yeah that's the thing about this flick, it has so many great scenes...it's just the stuff in between them that brings it down, mostly the ones involving the kids. Although, the one where Dakota sees the bodies floating down the river was creepy. I also loved the runaway train on fire. Something so banal as a railroad crossing gate coming down and the crow of people seeming annoyed by it is a moment of normalcy that is shattered by the engulfed train. Keep in mind though that the book as well downshifts after the initial attack. Aside from the War Child the story does slow down as it is revealed what the Martians are doing to the environment. I'm a huge fan of this story but bare in mind, if a space faring alien race wanted our planet, they would have no trouble taking it.

[@charlesderosas5577]

If I remember the book correctly, Tim Robbins's character "Ogilvy" was the main protagonist in the story.

[@shine01120]

I think he's the astronomer who first sees the cylinders leaving Mars.

[@andyjarman4958]

Mmmm, an awefull lot of electrical equipment continued to work. Handheld video cameras. Ferryboats. A truck full of TV reception gear. TV footage reporting on lightning storms. Lights in houses! Funny that.

[@cgh7337]

I think the movie was hurt more by Dakota Fanning's non-stop (and I mean non-stop) screaming than by Tom Cruise jumping on a couch.

[@adamhoward4775]

Both of Robbie’s homes were destroyed, he then wants to fight. What a crazy character choice, so unrealistic. People don’t fight over stuff like that.

[@mightytaco123]

Yeah the scene when they’re in the basement totally and completely feel like a different movie

[@arty2k]

Great video of a fun movie. I think the comment about "blowing the load" was inappropriate though.

[@sean5558]

Was the Tripod siren/ horn meant for communication with others tripods or was it meant for psych-ops to cause panic and disorder among people ?

[@sauceyvirg1n910]

I love this movie. I've been watching since I was 6-8.

[@woabeatz9717]

He played in the#SOULMANMOVIE

[@dredd1981]

You didn't mention the 1988-1990 tv series based on the 1953m movie!

[@krishammond8851]

epic movie, went past the crashed plane set at universal studios soooo gooooodd

[@looroouwu]

I liked the movie a lot when I saw it, and it actually spooked me quite a bit. By the way when you were talking about how fast the film was shot, it intrigued me : how long does a movie take to get shot usually ? I'm guessing it depends on the scale of the movie, but I still wonder.

[@SaberRexZealot]

This film really could’ve been a masterpiece. The first act is one of the best I’ve ever seen. The tripod horn is almost as iconic as the T-Rex roar.

[@timbola]

Agreed. Great opening, then dropped off in the middle and end.

[@Kissamiess]

I don't know. The horn reminded me of the BBC's Tripods quite a lot.

[@o00nemesis00o]

Kissamies BBC's Tripods is by far the superior work

[@o00nemesis00o]

So it was John Williams who is responsible for the BWUAOWM wave

[@runi5413]

It's a shame Spielberg didn't cast Tim Robbins (or a similar actor) as the protagonist. I like Tom Cruise in his action roles and he was "ok" in this, but I think the movie just needed more than that. And the kids... Well, don't think I even have to go into that, they were pretty awful.

[@mandalorion]

The Tripods are the stars of this film, the look, the sounds and the way they move.

[@davidanderson_surrey_bc]

But the legs seem too spindly and noodle-like to be able to support the large housings on top.

[@siyacer]

And we see more family drama than them

[@captainjackpugh6050]

David Anderson But they can though. Doesn’t matter how spindly they are, clearly they can support the structure

[@davidanderson_surrey_bc]

@@captainjackpugh6050 Yes... through the magic of CGI.

[@Thlormby]

@@davidanderson_surrey_bc Alien technology I guess

[@iambuhlockay8007]

This movie is underrated in my opinion. The first two acts feel like a straight up horror movie. The hopelessness the characters feel is incredibly palpable, and the tripods are terrifying. The third act kinda crumbled under its own weight, but I still love it.

[@GabiteEditz]

after the battle on the hill it was kinda bad, with a few good scenes

[@allenharper2928]

@@GabiteEditz Yeah, it had SOME good parts (the alien colonoscopy camera checking for human polyps, seeing the true face of the enemy) but God, all I could think was "Why did you jump into that guys basement?"

[@carpet163]

@@allenharper2928 My main belief on the aliens exploring the basement was pretty much for the sake of exploration. Their whole point of invasion was to basically colonize earth.

[@pyrotech7986]

Same

[@knowthycell]

@@allenharper2928that scene had me on the edge of my seat. It was intense

[@hosswindu166]

Just watched this movie again for the umpteenth time on one of the HBOs. The "emergence" scene and the attack at the ferry are still gripping 14 years later.

[@nikolaszuraff1234]

I like how they look down menacingly on the people as they scatter for safety. And slowly attack and abduct them.

[@ethanearly9245]

@@nikolaszuraff1234 the horns they sound to signal each other from their slow and methodical genocide reaping everything in their path. still haunting. they did a great job

[@cathrynmcpartland1752]

The ferry scene STILL is difficult to watch - creepy basement too. 🥵

[@derekllewellyn6663]

@@cathrynmcpartland1752 it's looks like going good looking like being new DVD releases review history books documentary about biography book club fun more information about money made into store story about how much money does it take history back to the future same timeline time travel into the office interview review biography book box office in the wor of the world

[@johnbockelie3899]

In this version, the Martains blow you out of your clothes.

[@TwenteeEight]

I really dug this movie. It’s kinda gives me the same feeling the first act of Independence Day did. Sure the family is annoying as shit in this situation, but yours would be too.

[@DavidArriola]

exactly. The characters behave like normal people and viewers complain.

[@V1nce_man]

Look I don’t have a problem with the family...I know everyone would act like this...but you have to admit they don’t have to have the child screaming all the time like would if not give you a bloody head ache?

[@TayoEXE]

@@V1nce_man Before or after I have a heart attack from the freaky tension, atmosphere, and visuals? In my opinion, it works better being more realistic. This would be terrifying to experience as an adult, and I can't imagine a child not screaming so much in the midst of this situation. Kids don't necessarily think as rationally about what's the best thing to do in the situation. There is a crazy killer robot thing coming out there to KILL you.

[@V1nce_man]

TayoEXE And I get that! But... it’s just that blood curdling scream! It really hurts to listen to and I know that’s a bit weak on my part but don’t say you’d listen to it all the time... I love this movie so much I’ve watched it at least 20 times! And yet that scream still scares and makes me so annoyed

[@Lionheart1188]

Doesn't excuse the annoying family, I want to be entertained, not annoyed.

[@78starman25]

Have to admit I found the son quite annoying also.

[@HuntersMoon78]

I found both kids to be very annoying.

[@marcoalesi8163]

@@HuntersMoon78 the little girl is horribly annoying, the boy is a stupid asshole. Sure it makes the film more interesting in my opinion, a weird family with weird relationships and very contrasting personalities

[@V1nce_man]

If they didn’t have Rachel I would’ve liked the film more...

[@hollywoodshopaholic]

At least he was cute

[@spirit1366]

I always wonder,what was the point of putting two annoying kids in the movie.

[@dynestis2875]

"Doesn't leave a lasting impression sadly". *Dude I watched this movie when I was 11, I'm 22 now and the music and sounds still get me rattled!*

[@airplanenut89]

I think he means that the soundtrack doesn't really stand without being heard in the movie. Take for example when someone uses a John Williams score in parody. You will likely get something more like Jaws or Star Wars. The soundtrack does its job very well in the movie but you don't really go home humming the tune. In my opinion however this gives it its own strength given that War of the Worlds isn't a grand spectacle like Jaws or Star Wars. It's a dark story of people running just to stay alive in what seems like the end of the world.

[@aerialolsen]

Same here!

[@dynestis2875]

@@airplanenut89 makes sense, I could get behind that explanation

[@animeluvmajics4190]

My dad was unaffected by these movies and basically made the family sit down to watch it and I kept getting nightmares about those arms. My 5 tear old brain was very imaginative.

[@jessrose7312]

Dynestis this movie traumatized me since i was 10 and i just now watched it to get over my fear of it

[@sonnycroc]

I'm convinced the aliens committed suicide at the end. They couldn't stand another moment of the daughter's screaming So annoying

[@willgold3324]

lol

[@fikrimajid2997]

Me too its really annoying

[@Bananappleboy]

Why the hell would people want to mass slaughter a tiny child for being annoying? Shes just in fear, whats next? Torturing her causing more screams while tom cruise gets beaten up by guards? Freaking- Argument Starter: *_oH YoU IdiOt sHeS ANnOyIng scReAMs_* Seriously, what is wrong with the internet.

[@MrBrutal33]

How do you 'mass slaughter ' one person exactly?

[@druzzi9054]

Bananappleboy World you missed out the fact that if this was irl and I’m trying to survive but this dumbass kid keeps screaming , you ar gonna be annoyed as fuck

[@tuscan9617]

That horn was one of the most terrifying things i have ever heard. I'm used to it now and think its really cool. But at the time i was scared as hell.

[@davidanderson_surrey_bc]

You should hear the drums and strings that go with it. Even AC/DC asked to turn down the volume.

[@jacobjrpena3979]

@@davidanderson_surrey_bc ?

[@bigshexxy]

This movie scared the shit out of me when I was a kid, I remember watching this and breathing heavy when the tripods started vaporizing people and every time that horn came on

[@Ravenreel]

The lady that gets vaporized up-close still freaks me out lol

[@baremetalHW]

All I remember is the little girl screaming the whole movie... Halfway in and I wanted the aliens to vaporize me.

[@kimmer6]

I wanted that creepy survivalist to stuff something in her mouth to shut her up.

[@duncangreen2483]

In the 1950s version the female lead did nothing all movie except wail and scream. That was far more annoying. Think the male lead even slapped her because she was hysterical. Imagine trying that in a modern movie or casting a woman as weak willed. The script would never see the light of day 🙂

[@cumulushalo576]

It is so weird how often an old top comment will have another new comment under it saying the same thing but in a different way. Weird because it some how still gets voted up. That's literally the first comment you see. Not subtle just blatant I'm going to post the exact same comment that has the most views 😵

[@bilwisss]

@@kimmer6 the survivalist clearly made a big mistake helping that butt head family.

[@kimmer6]

@@bilwisss He looks like my buddy who went to college with me 43 years ago. This guy is a concealed carry instructor and safari hunter. Aliens be scared of him.

[@robslack5468]

It’s not a river of blood. It is the Red Weed, essentially terraforming the earth. (Mars-forming?). The weed, in the novel, is the source of Mar’s red color

[@codeoptimizationware2803]

@rob slack: Having not yet read the source-material novel by Wells, would that "red weed" be in the water, though? ??? Anyway, the Martians would "water" their plants with lots and lots of Terran blood, no...?

[@makeitsonumberone1358]

Code Optimization Ware not having read the book in a while, The Martians used human blood for food not fertilizar lol.

[@codeoptimizationware2803]

@paper back writer: You read the book? Hmm, did H.G. Wells' novel spell fertilizer as "fertilizar lol"? ??? Nevermind that, assholes! I'm not asking anymore! I'll read the damned book myself, and then I won't tell any of you weirdos a damned thing about it thereafter, so BLEAH! I win, so take that! kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4OwoaqEns6sgs0 LOLOLOLOLOLOL BWAAHAHAHAHAHA!

[@makeitsonumberone1358]

Code Optimization Ware no need to be an a hole about it.

[@o00nemesis00o]

Code Optimization Ware The word never appeared once with any spelling, you absolute moron

[@login11111]

"What you mean, like Europe?" "No! Robbie, NOT like Europe!!"

[@lemdixon01]

Is it the terrorists

[@captaincrunch7126]

They’re not from here…

[@jameslincoln92]

@@lemdixon01 Alan Rickman aka Hans Gruber.

[@imcallingjapan2178]

He meant the band Europe. Because it's epic and a final countdown to extinction

[@monacaravetta]

OMG the best line in the movie! LOL

[@illyth63]

Minor correction. The red landscape isn't literally a "river of blood" (at least not for the most part) but rather the results of a kind of terraforming where the aliens are planting down a carpet of red weed. This detail is from the book. The movie does seem to show the tripods spraying harvested human blood on it as a fertilizer, however, so you're kinda right. I actually think it makes a bit of sense if the red plant life is unlike Earth's green plants which take in CO2, but rather breathe in O2 almost like animal life--what better to spray on them than human blood rich in oxygen? But anyway, I think the color comes from the weeds themselves, not blood or gore (though the visual similarity is powerful and creepy in its own way). Thanks for the review! I've always appreciated this movie a lot, despite its final moments which undermine it somewhat.

[@ilejovcevski79]

Precisely, the red weed was one of the things i really appreciated them adding to this movie!

[@rodrigopetunio]

Spielberg mentioned something around those lines, that he wanted the terraforming aspect from the book to be featured in the movie. There was also a fluff documentary released for the movie called "watch the skies!" or something around those lines that was a backdoor promotion for WOTW disguised as a serious documentary about the history of Sci-Fi, I seem to remember he mentions it there?. It wasnt too bad, it featured Ridley Scott, George Lucas and James Cameron. I cant blame Ollie though, this is a very uneven movie.

[@yaldabaoth2]

Blood isn't really rich in oxygen. Air is. Blood is full of water.

[@emmetkeane3474]

Yaldabaoth right and what does the O in H2O stand for.

[@goblinb]

Blood is rich in nitrogen, which earthly plant life thrives on.

[@dalek9554]

I love how the film gives you a sense of hopelessness as in most alien films the humans always have a good fighting chance and manage to beat them but here they have no weapons that can beat them and have no escape from them

[@rapatacush3]

That would be in the movie. In the novel the british army brought a few tripods down with field guns and naval artillery. One of the reasons why they shoehorned shields.

[@anarchistjesus7354]

​@@rapatacush3 It was supposed to be an unwinnable battle in the novel too. Humanity would have gone extinct, or been relegated to being basically cattle had the Martians not been killed by a virus. One of the themes of the novels is british colonialism, and how a "conflict" like that would feel from the perspective of the victims. They attack the London area, because at the time the novel was written, that was basically the center of the "civilized" world. "Hey what if the worlds biggest empire got its shit kicked on by something that makes THEM look like ants." This is also why the movies change the setting to America (we're now the biggest superpower), and why the technology in the films dwarfs that of the novel. With modern technology the Martians from the novel would've been less threatening, and it would've made that aspect of the story weaker, and the horror less intense. It's not a bad thing the Martians are OP. They were always supposed to be.

[@rapatacush3]

@@anarchistjesus7354 funny thing there is a history were a few cylinders fell in texas and they were quickly deal with by an angry posse of cowboys. How? They never let them to build more than a tripod.

[@anarchistjesus7354]

@@rapatacush3 That's from the novel, or sequel, right? That's true, but the obvious response to that from the aliens is going to be to land further from people, and not let themselves be seen until they're already in the tripod.

[@budhikidbasiclearn]

"Stephen spielber actualy purchased a Boeing 747 ship and cut it up for the scene . . ." Wow..

[@jmazing97]

Its at one of the universal studios parks iirc. You can see it on ghe tour

[@everythingburrito1897]

Both barrels he means that they had it shipped and that it was a ship

[@Ironbuket]

Who is Rake quoting, that isnt even what he said in the commentary? He said, " purchased a Boeing 747 and cut it up for the scene " (see 10:45 ) I think Rake meant ship not shipped, probably not a native English speaker. Dont try to make sense of what Rake said - imho there is none to find

[@FiveSigma72]

I'm pretty sure it was being sold for scrap anyway, not like a working 747.

[@jonathannagel7427]

@@FiveSigma72 - exactly - there are thousands of planes in “bone yards” across the SW US

[@mrfarkyhars9192]

When he leaves the house and sees all the blood it always reminded of The Wizard Of Oz's transition between bw and colour.

[@craftpaint1644]

And it's a farm house too that looks like it fell on the ground.

[@hakanr339b]

They're not blood actually. They're red weeds that martians needed to colonize or sustain their own beings. Tripods just use bloods as fertilizer for these weeds.

[@janaprocella8268]

@@hakanr339b Like red beets

[@darania1]

The red weed transition scene was Spielbergs subtle homage to W of Oz....

[@MrNegativecreep07]

I'm not a fan of this film, but the scene where the tripod first appears is incredible.

[@twitch5000]

the Tripods were done nearly perfect for what they were supposed to be. their movements were believable and they did a fantastic job at showing the sheer scale of the machines.

[@jamieolberding7731]

I really like this 2005 version of "The War of The Worlds." I first saw this in 2010 and it was very dark and scary but I kept on watching it to the end and I really loved watching it. I'm now 21 years old now. It was the very first "War of The Worlds" film I've watched as a young kid. I also liked the 1935 "War of The Worlds" movie as well. The 2005 Tripods are amazing and also terrifying at the same time.

[@Henrik_Holst]

And for anyone with a big subwoofer that scene have an incredible .1 channel with lots of energy

[@RichardM-kv4uu]

I wish it had been more faithful to the book, but I guess we'll never get that, at least not a proper big budget adaptation.

[@craftpaint1644]

The bridge spilling all the cars and trucks is nuts.

[@lrysfsto]

After watching this movie in theaters, I got in the car and looked at the sky. “I will never look at the sky the same way again”. And I never did. Every time I see clouds forming I get petrified. Iconic classic.