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List Price: $12.98 |
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Our Price: $6.99 |
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Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours |
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Customer Ratings: 3.0 (from 1001 reviews) |
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Reviews |
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 
The Soundtrack | 
The War of the Worlds (1953) | 
War of the Worlds - The Complete First Season (TV series) | 
Classic Sci-Fi Movies and Their Remakes | 
Aliens Invade on DVD | 
The Prog-rock Opera (no kidding) | |
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| Product Details |
| Actor: |
- Tom Cruise
- Dakota Fanning
- Tim Robbins
- Miranda Otto
- Justin Chatwin
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| Aspect Ratio: |
1.85:1 |
| Audience Rating: |
PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) |
| Binding: |
DVD |
| Brand: |
PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO |
| Creator: |
- Colin Wilson
- Damian Collier
- Kathleen Kennedy
- Paula Wagner
- David Koepp
- H.G. Wells
- Josh Friedman
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| Director: |
Steven Spielberg |
| EAN: |
9781417057849 |
| Format: |
- AC-3
- Closed-captioned
- Color
- Dolby
- DTS Surround Sound
- Dubbed
- DVD
- Subtitled
- Widescreen
- NTSC
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| ISBN: |
141705784X |
| Label: |
Dreamworks Video |
| Languages: |
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| List Price: |
| Amount: |
1298 |
| Currency Code: |
USD |
| Formatted Price: |
$12.98 |
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| Manufacturer: |
Dreamworks Video |
| Number Of Items: |
1 |
| Package Dimensions: |
| Height: |
70 |
| Length: |
750 |
| Weight: |
25 |
| Width: |
540 |
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| Product Group: |
DVD |
| Publisher: |
Dreamworks Video |
| Region Code: |
1 |
| Release Date: |
2005-11-22 |
| Running Time: |
116 |
| Studio: |
Dreamworks Video |
| Theatrical Release Date: |
2005-06-29 |
| Title: |
War of the Worlds (Widescreen Edition) |
| UPC: |
678149439229 |
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| Customer Reviews |
Customer Rating: 3
Review Date: 2009-06-29
0 out of 0 found this review helpful.
Summary: Martian Scenes Are Jaw-Dropping!
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.
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Customer Rating: 5
Review Date: 2009-06-26
0 out of 0 found this review helpful.
Summary: Good alien scare
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. |
Customer Rating: 1
Review Date: 2009-06-23
0 out of 1 found this review helpful.
Summary: war of the worlds
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..... |
Customer Rating: 4
Review Date: 2009-04-18
3 out of 3 found this review helpful.
Summary: War of the Worlds (Widescreen Edition) (2005)-Good sci-fi flick.
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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Customer Rating: 2
Review Date: 2009-04-03
0 out of 4 found this review helpful.
Summary: hilarious.......
.......to read the negative reviews of this movie!
There's nothing different I can say here that hasn't been said in the 999 reviews of this movie. Although there are a few things I would like to share in my review.
First off, I deeply detest Tom Cruise. I loathe him. And this movie is a Cruise/Spielberg love-fest that was way over-hyped. The oldest son, Robbie, is a wretched nuisance. His character, like Cruise's ruins the movie. He's a spoiled boy who acts entirely too virtuous for his own age. The only reason I'm giving it 2 stars is because it has Dakota Fanning in it although I will agree with most of the comments about her bratty, whiny character Rachel. Dakota Fanning has done better so that almost makes the movie not that great unless you love Tom Cruise.
The used prices for this movie here on Amazon justify buying it but don't buy it for the insanely over-priced $9.99 used price at your neighborhood video store. |
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