War of the Worlds (Widescreen Edition) | 
| Director: Steven Spielberg
Actors: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Tim Robbins, Miranda Otto, Justin Chatwin
Studio: Dreamworks Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $12.98
Buy Used: $0.28
You Save: $12.70 (98%)
New (96) Used (323) Collectible (11) from $0.28
Rating:  1002 reviews
Sales Rank: 3498
Format: Ac-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dts Surround Sound, Dubbed, Dvd, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), French (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 116 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.7
MPN: DRWD94392D
ISBN: 141705784X
UPC: 678149439229
EAN: 9781417057849
ASIN: B00005JNTI
Theatrical Release Date: June 29, 2005
Release Date: November 22, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
BASED ON THE H.G. WELLS STORY. AT FIRST THE MARTIANS SEEM LAUGHABLE, HARDLY ABLE TO MOVE IN EARTH'S COMPARATIVELY HEAVY GRAVITY. BUT SOON THE MARTIANS REVEAL THEIR TRUE NATURE AS DEATH MACHINES. AS THE MARTIANS PROCEED WITH THEIR DEADLY INVASION, ONE FAMILY FIGHTS FOR SURVIVAL.
Amazon.com
Despite super effects, a huge budget, and the cinematic pedigree of alien-happy Steven Spielberg, this take on H.G. Wells's novel is basically a horror film packaged as a sci-fi thrill ride. Instead of a mad slasher, however, Spielberg (along with writers Josh Friedman & David Koepp) utilizes aliens hell-bent on quickly destroying humanity, and the terrifying results that prey upon adult fears, especially in the post-9/11 world. The realistic results could be a new genre, the grim popcorn thriller; often you feel like you're watching Schindler's List more than Spielberg's other thrill-machine movies (Jaws, Jurassic Park). The film centers on Ray Ferrier, a divorced father (Tom Cruise, oh so comfortable) who witnesses one giant craft destroy his New Jersey town and soon is on the road with his teen son (Justin Chatwin) and preteen daughter (Dakota Fanning) in tow, trying to keep ahead of the invasion. The film is, of course, impeccably designed and produced by Spielberg's usual crew of A-class talent. The aliens are genuinely scary, even when the film--like the novel--spends a good chunk of time in a basement. Readers of the book (or viewers of the deft 1953 adaptation) will note the variation of whom and how the aliens come to Earth, which poses some logistical problems. The film opens and closes with narration from the novel read by Morgan Freeman, but Spielberg could have adapted Orson Welles's words from the famous Halloween Eve 1938 radio broadcast: "We couldn't soap all your windows and steal all your garden gates by tomorrow night, so we did the best next thing: we annihilated the world." --Doug Thomas War of the Worlds at Amazon.com 
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| Customer Reviews: Read 997 more reviews...
See the Stephen Spielberg standard signature clouds July 4, 2009
bernie (Arlington, Texas)
"No one would have believed, in the last years of the 19th century, that this world was being watched keenly and closely by an intelligence greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own..." H. G. Wells
The actual HG Wells story is more closely aligned with Nevil Shute's book "On the Beach." A man realizing this is possibly the end of the world observes how other people handle the possibility that this is the end of the world. There is no family conflict with nerdy kids.
The 1953 version of this film also included a love interest that was not in the original story. This later version contains several attempts for us to negotiate with the aliens and or understand from the aliens' point of view what was going on.
This latest rendition is more a family feud meets the aliens. It was not all bad; there were attempts to keep some of the original story and included some of the designs from the 1954 film. We are also treated to a bloodsucking scene reminiscent of the original story. Of course Stephen Spielberg didn't want to copy the book or the original movie so the aliens pop up instead of fly down, six of one half dozen of another.
The graphics were fairly decent and did not look like the cheat CGI that you usually see on quick movies. The background music stayed in the background where it belongs.
This is not the easiest presentation to rank as for people that like bloodsucking fast action nerdy kids stories this could be a five star out of five stars; however for anybody seeking any kind of depth or relationship to the original story or relationship to the original movie this is more of a two star Phil. Therefore, you will understand when I give it three stars for watch ability and standing on its own merit.
The War of the Worlds (Penguin Classics)
Martian Scenes Are Jaw-Dropping! June 29, 2009
Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA)
It pays to have low expectations. Hearing nothing but negative remarks about this film, I never saw it until a friend offered the DVD for a free look. With nothing to lose, and being familiar with the story having seen the 1953 movie several times, I put it on.
Wow, I enjoyed it; the film was very entertaining. The only annoying thing to me was the bratty teenage boy, who needed some discipline and never got it. Other than him, and his little sister who I put with only because it's Dakota Fanning, the film served its purpose beautifully, namely to 'shock and awe.'
That it did......in spades!
The Martian tripods were awesome, particularly in the long scene when they first appear out of the ground. To really appreciate this film, you have to have a surround system because the sound is fantastic. In fact, earlier with the "lightning strikes," the sound gets attention in a big-way. In other words, special- effects-wise, it isn't just about visuals but the audio as well.
Although the story of the father (Tom Cruise) and his two estranged (is anyone pictured married in films nowadays?) kids is so-so at best - and, as menntioned, really annoying at times - the film is all about the action. Some of those Martian scenes were jaw-dropping good and make this DVD worth a look.
 Good alien scare June 26, 2009
L. Groh (Dallas, TX)
My son LOVES this movie! Can't watch this movie enough. After renting this movie over 10 times I decided I should get it. I couldn't wait for the Blu-Ray. The Spielberg art has inspired him to draw his own ideas and create some great art.
 war of the worlds June 23, 2009
Robert J. Szvetics
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is one of the worse video transfers i have ever seen on dvd. Maybe its the film itself. Colors are very bad and the picture is not very sharp The 1953 version looks 1000 times better, Besides it being a much better film.....
 War of the Worlds (Widescreen Edition) (2005)-Good sci-fi flick. April 18, 2009
Keith Mirenberg (www.spaceanimations.org)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
War of the Worlds (Widescreen Edition) (2005) was a four star film as far is this reviewer is concerned. I basically liked it. Based on a large sample size of about 1000 this film only rated three to four stars with Amazon fans, which really surprised me. Looking at the profile it appeared that fans were equally divided on the movie, perhaps because about half were comparing this movie with the original. Notwithstanding, Tom Cruise and everybody involved did their jobs very well, and the film entertained and kept my interest to the end.
So many changes were made to the story that I felt it was worth seeing the movie. I wouldn't have enjoyed seeing the first film with updated special effects. As far as comments against the basic plot as being silly and this version being projected through the eyes of a non-scientist, I agree, but think this only reflects our times.
I think that comparisons with the original great film are impossible to make, and each film is a product of its time. As far as a contemporary film made for todays audiences is concerned, this movie delivered for me, a long standing fan of sci-fi films. I confess, I almost always enjoy Tom Cruise, but don't consider myself a real fan. I feel that he just does good work. Steven Spielberg should also get some credit for a well made film.
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