Movie Review-----The War of the Worlds

No one would have believed in the early years of the twenty first century that our world was being watched by intelligences greater than our own (clever than us??), which observed and studied our human beings. However, one day, the aliens invade the Earth by burying and waking up some tripod machines containing their soldiers, who control some far more advanced weapons based on a superior technology. Driven by this condition, an unsuccessful father, Ray, takes his two children to escape from the fatal disaster. In the end, Ray is able to survive from the extermination, which is defeated by the germs, slightest and trifling life-form on this planet. Besides, he wins back the firm family relationship.

In the movie, the main character, Ray, is introduced to us as a divorced father, who takes care of two children. The relationship between them is unpleasant initially, but he is trying his best to become a good father. He is quick-reacted that when aliens start to invade the Earth and kill people madly, he gets a truck and starts to escape together with his children. He is also brave and responsible that when heading to Boston in order to meet his ex-wife there, he takes as good care as he can of his children. Finally, he is smart. It is him who discovers the weakness of the machines and saves lot of people’s lives in an indirect way.

From the movie, the aliens are high evolved living creatures, who master highly developed technologies and incomparably advanced weapons. To human beings, the aliens are unbeatable. To the aggression, that humankind pulls out all stops to counterattack and beat back is like kicking against the pricks, useless at all. However, the aliens are completely routed by the germs in the end. The germs come to be the heroes. Compared with some life-forms, people tend to ignore the slight objects, say germs. However, the unexpected result of the story reminds me of the importance of the germs that they do a lot of good to us human beings; for example, Escherichia coli help us to digest vegetables. There is also a lesson for us to learn is that no matter how tiny or insignificant one thing may be, it can turn out to make a big difference.

One scene in the movie impresses me very much. Ray finds that Harlan Ogilvy, the ambulance driver, is completely desperate and acts in crazy way, somewhat a potential threat to all of them. In order to protect himself, and his daughter, especially, he kills Harlan without better choices. Under such extremely high stress, Ray takes it much better than Harlan, who cannot bear it and behaves in an insane way. To some extent, I believe that Ray kills Harlan because of his rational view that sacrificing Harlan can save him and his daughter both. On the other hand, I also hold the view that it is a little bit selfish for Ray to act in that way - however, it is a living life.

In comparison, the movie is much better than the story I have read, the simplified edition, which shrinks too many details and descriptions, making it appear pale and much too plain to read. The setting of the movie is the contemporary US, which I am far more familiar with than the one of England, some 200 years ago. The plot is more complicated and moving. Thanks to the narrator’s words both in the beginning and the end, it comes pretty clear about the theme of the movie. However, the movie still does not get a better ending of the story, which comes in a sudden and curtness. Even though, the movie is worth watching, especially for the ones who have not read the original version of the story.

http://www.waroftheworlds.com/