War of the Worlds

STARRING
Tom Cruise
Dakota Fanning

Directed by
Stephen Spielberg

When it came time to review Tom Cruise's latest offering, War of the Worlds, I must admit I was more than a little bit, dare I say, giddy. Tom's zest for living has been so plainly on display of late, that I knew that this movie could be nothing if not stupendous. With these preconceived notions, I joyously pressed 'PLAY.'

War of the Worlds tells the harrowing life-story of Tom Cruise, who plays himself, focusing on his recent relationship with Katie Holmes, as well as his recent delve into the world of insanity.

The film opens with Tom having a catch with Boston Red Sox ace Curt Schilling, while Tom's sweetheart Katie, played by the talented Dakota Fanning, sits idly by. The peace is shattered however, when dangerous storms roll in, bringing with them hoards of evil octopuses.

When one such octopus attacks the set of 'the Oprah Winfrey Show,' nearly knocking the sofa out from under Tom's feet, Tom decides he's had enough. Upon seeing two children killed in the destruction, Tom reaches the logical conclusion that their mother will no longer need a mini-van, and quickly hot wires it and heads off to face the octopuses head-on.

Tom and Katie watch as the 'O' Studio burns, following the octopus attack.

The film reaches a thrilling climax when Tom confronts the head octopus, who has taken up residence beneath the streets of the city. "Listen octopus," Tom states, with fire in his eyes, "like, you don't even know the history of living under streets. Octopus, if you knew what I knew Octopus...it's just...you're glib Octopus. You're glib."

As excellent as this film was, it was not without its flaws. The casting of Fanning was questionable at best, as she was merely too young to perform adequately as the lead's girlfriend. The film decently avoided all romantic inklings between the two, who share almost a father-daughter relationship throughout, however I feel this failed to follow the true relationship it was based on, which we all know is the truest love any two beings have ever shared. Those two will be together forever.

Also, the film's finale was simply unbelievable, and hardly in keeping with the biographical nature of the first 3/4 of the film. We all know that Tom Cruise has never run for, nor won, the office of President of the United States. The subsequent mission in which he single handedly destroyed Al-Qaeda headquarters and detained Osama Bin Laden failed not only in the fact that it has never happened, but also by implying the President would be allowed to embark on such a dangerous mission.

President Cruise raids a surprisingly advanced Al-Qaeda cave.

Despite these shortcomings, War of the Worlds is another successful tally in the belts of Cruise and Spielberg. Any human who enjoys enjoying themselves should head out to see this movie immediately. It is quite possibly the single greatest film ever created by mankind.

I give it an 8 out of 10.