After watching a Japanese interpretation of an alien invasion last night with Invasion of the Astro Monster, I decided to take a look at an American interpretation tonight. For those worried, this review is, like the rest of my website, 100% Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning free.

War of the Worlds began its life as a novel by H. G. Welles. It took place in Victorian England and was a very pessimistic, satiric and depressing book. In this version the satire seems to be missing with the adaptation being more of an apocalyptic struggle somewhat akin to what people at the time would think of the Russian threat.

The film also has a distinctive religious feel to it with the aliens taking the place of the armies of Satan and the people reacting in different ways with some turning to brutality, many fleeing and some trying to solve the problems themselves while at the end we see the last of the people left just trusting in God to deliver them from the evil.

It's a great film and one of the few science fiction films that really can connect to me. It's as relevant today as it was over 50 years ago. Definitely recommended.

Labels: Action, Classics, sci-fi