War of the Worlds 2005

Summer's soon so I'm in the mood for big spectacle. Who better than Spielberg? (like my alliteration?)

I missed WOTW when it was released but  now I'm quite warm on the idea of big blockbuster CGI fest filmmaking. This is very much a minor Spielberg movie, but I was impressed by its modernity and the huge influence its had on Hollywood stylistically. But some would say that influence isn't positive and that this is Spielberg on the decline.

WOTW is totally a directorial "job". Its schlocky and the script isn't worked out at all. It feels like a one-note short story that was stretched out to focus solely on special fx. Its Spielberg showing off and collecting a check, which isn't so bad because it more than works as light entertainment and the man has given us enough classics that he's allowed to fuck around.

While technically it is dazzling - full of sweeping camera movements that keep the pace up, and the large scale sets and wonderfully composed action shots that made Steven Spielberg a legend - it shows the weakness of Spielberg: his lack of emotional range. WOTW focuses on the recurring Spielberg themes: imperfect fathers, childhood trauma, the horrors of genocide and systematic murder.

I theorize the undercurrent of Steven's artistry is the fear, insecurity, disgust and anger that was ingrained in him as a Jewish youth learning about the realities of World War II. Whether he is directing stories about slaves or alien invasions or android children, he relates it to this childlike view of a beautiful world suddenly turned monstrous. His films are full of sadistic, faceless, unstoppable evil antagonists and Earthy, innocent, human hordes as the fodder protagonists. So War of the Worlds is one of the most pronounced of his films in this regard.

Worlds links back to his earliest "spectacle" work in Jaws and 1941 especially, two films about worldly disaster hitting a small populated community. Oddly, this is more 1941 than Jaws and thats unfortunate. 1941 was a screwball extravaganza of wild camera gags, fx, cartoonish acting and an extremely loose plot. WOTW would've benefited from Jaws' pathos, characterization, political commentary and more adventurous narrative. Characters are evaporated and turned into mists of blood and the other characters hardly react or intellectualize it. Where's the feeling? I'm also disappointed that Spielberg's films have grown colder visually, further deadening the emotion. The terror and heroism in this film would've been stronger if it looked as vibrantly alive as Jurassic Park.

So on the surface War of the Worlds is a very personal, stylish piece of fluff but it may be too by-the-numbers and familiar for many, especially older fans of Spielberg. But its Spielberg so its not going to be a bad movie. It keeps you glued with pacing and visual treats but it might not stick you when its over. A mixed bag.