War of the Worlds (2005) parents guide

War of the Worlds (2005) Parent Guide

Overall C+

In this Steven Spielberg adaptation of this classic H.G. Wells' novel, Tom Cruise takes on the role of a divorced dad trying to protect his children (played by Justin Chatwin and Dakota Fanning) from the unthinkable --an attack of aliens beings from another world.

Release date June 26, 2005

Violence D
Sexual Content A
Profanity C
Substance Use B+

Why is War of the Worlds (2005) rated PG-13? The MPAA rated War of the Worlds (2005) PG-13 for frightening sequences of sci-fi violence and disturbing images.

Parent Movie Review

Steven Spielberg is once again drawn to aliens. Not the shy, candy-munching extraterrestrial kind, but shiploads of aggressive space invaders intent on exterminating the human race.

In this updated adaptation of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds, the well-known director signs Tom Cruise to play a divorced, deadbeat father who has reluctantly agreed to take his kids for the weekend. Ray Ferrier’s (Cruise) bachelor pad is as disheveled as his life. With a dismantled car engine on the kitchen table and a fridge stocked with outdated condiments, his home is anything but family friendly. Although his children are resigned to the visit, they aren’t ready to warm up to their disengaged dad, who leaves the two of them to fend for themselves while he sleeps.

Late that afternoon, Ray wakes as a curious storm blows in. Spawning violent lightening strikes, the squall unleashes a squadron of three-legged war ships from deep below the earth’s surface. In a matter of minutes, the planet is under attack from intruders who incinerate everything in their path. After watching several New Yorkers vaporize before his eyes, he grabs Robbie (Justin Chatwin) and Rachel (Dakota Fanning) and runs out of the city for safety.

However in the midst of the assault, safety is an illusion.

The trespassers trash and burn the countryside leaving it littered with refugees seeking asylum. Ray’s plan is to get the kids back to their mother (Miranda Otto). He is used to watching out for himself and taking on the role of protective parent is a stretch for him. Guarded in his emotions, he doesn’t trust or care for anyone, including the doomsday-ready farmer (Tim Robbins) who offers them a haven in his basement bunker.

Expensive and extraordinary sets along with impressive performances by the young actors make this film a visual wonder. But the violence factor has been pushed to the limits of the PG-13 rating. Crumbling buildings, extensive wreckage and hordes of dead bodies are left in the wake of the assailants.

Alas, the human targets don’t offer much resistance. Instead of cooperating in the face of catastrophe, it’s a fight for self-preservation. Chaos breaks out among a crowd when a car is commandeered at gunpoint and the driver is killed. Another man is murdered in order to keep him quiet as the aliens approach. Unfortunately, Ray’s motivation for safeguarding his children is also questionable. Never sure if he’s truly converted to his role as a father, it’s hard to believe in his good intentions, even in the face of impending trouble.

Originally published in 1898, Wells’ story of creatures from outer space has become a classic of the sci-fi genre, one that seems applicable to the fears of every generation. But given the unfriendly nature of these aliens and the less-than-satisfying conclusion, this may be one war families won’t want to engage in.

Starring Tom Cruise, Justin Chatwin, Dakota Fanning.. Theatrical release June 26, 2005. Updated

War of the Worlds (2005) Parents' Guide

How do the crowds react when the aliens appear? Why to they seem to be drawn to the center of a disaster? How does that affect the efforts of the police to maintain control?

Ray is portrayed as a self-centered father with little time for his children. Does his character change during the course of the story? What are his motivations for protecting his children?

Starring as the children’s grandparents in this film, Gene Berry and Ann Robinson played the main characters in the 1950’s version of The War of the Worlds.

Home Video

The most recent home video release of War of the Worlds (2005) movie is November 21, 2005. Here are some details…

DVD Release Date: November 21, 2005

UMVD/Dreamworks brings home the War of the Worlds in a wide or a full screen DVD version. But if you are a true fan of this alien invasion, you’ll want to get your tentacles on the 2 Disc Limited Edition—as this is the only one that allows you to attack the production from every angle. Bonus features include:
- Revisiting the Invasion: Introduction with Steven Spielberg
- Featurette: The H. G. Wells Legacy
- Steven Spielberg and the Original War of the Worlds
- Characters: The Family Unit
- Production Diaries: East Coast - Beginning
- Production Diaries: East Coast - Exile
- Production Diaries: West Coast - Destruction
- Production Diaries: West Coast - War
- Designing the Enemy: Tripods and Aliens
- We Are Not Alone
- Production Notes
- Galleries
- Scoring War of the Worlds

Audio Tracks are available in English (Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1 ES and Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), and French (Dolby Digital 5.1), with subtitles in English, Spanish and French.

War of the Worlds releases to Blu-ray on June 1, 2010.

Related home video titles:

Steven Spielberg also entertains alien visitors in his 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind and his 1982 blockbuster E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Another H.G. Wells’ novel, The Time Machine, has found it’s way to the big screen at least twice, once in 1960 and as a remake in 2002.

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