[Closed] War of the Worlds film (Tom Cruise) - films that you would avoid normally

Best Marigold Hotel... it was heart warming and nice.

Very American-ised..When I heard they were doing the remake I was hoping it would be a very British film. Still not as bad as I was expecting it to be

Saw it when it first came out - thought it had a genuine air of menace about at the time.

Not a bad film at all, one of TC's less irritating appearances.

genuine air of menace

Agree. Especially the part where everyone is trying to get onto the ferry and then a stampede starts- reminded me of rats fleeing a sinking ship.

I thought it was good in spite of TC being in it. I saw it a few years ago.
Similarly, though not a TC fan, I watched Oblivion last year and thought that was a cracker as well.

I have recently had to admit that, although I find TC irritating in interviews and a lot of his films, he does put out a good movie from time to time.

I like the War of the Worlds remake, the scene where the guy takes the car from him is properly dark and tense

Could have done without Dakota Fanning screaming for what seemed like the entire film

Watched it in boredom tandem with Top Gun on Comedy Central, which was an odd experience.

I had really high hopes that they would do something a lot more Victorian when they re-made it, maybe something like Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but got Tom Cruise playing himself in a Hollywood action film.

Sorry, was not a fan.

I liked everything but the happy reunion ending.

Normally avoid jim Carey ,but "I love you Phillip Morris " is very wonderful.

I liked everything but the happy reunion ending.

Anyway, re. TC - my default mode is "don't watch".

I had really high hopes that they would do something a lot more Victorian when they re-made it, maybe something like Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but got Tom Cruise playing himself in a Hollywood action film.

I haven't got a problem with the updating in terms of making it modern - I think it's a great film in terms of conveying what would be the utter helplessness of modern societies. Spielberg actually makes a fairly surprising blockbuster, really dark in places.

Didn't find Cruise believable in the role, though.

Compare and contrast The Road, which is similarly-themed in some respects.

Darn good film WotW, it's one of the movies where GCI doesn't outplay the Acting.
Typically TC, but then in these roles he's rather good in them.

If you want another of his most recent good films with TC in try "Live, Die, Repeat" it too is rather good, but do watch it thoroughly as there are a few twists and turns you'll loose if supping Beer of crunching crisps.

Watched WOTW last night and whilst there were some good bits like the ferry, on the whole it was terrible.
I don't mind TC when he's "acting" and not just doing his dialling it in with a sh!t eating grin

Live, Die, Repeat

would watch again

Thought Oblivion was worth a watch too.

I thought one of the really impressive things about WotW was:

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Instantly forgettable by the numbers Hollywood blockbuster. Just about held my attention in the cinema. As above, screaming daughter was a bit like being poked in the ear with a sharp stick, repeatedly.

Compare and contrast The Road, which is similarly-themed in some respects.

Ummmm, no. They are similarly themed only in the most superficial sense.

I don't get it, that film is ten years old I hate to think how many re runs there have been, how has it taken so long to filter through to the ahem North of Watford consciousness?

As Cruise movies go I didn't think it was in Last Samuri league and someone up there is quite right about that Screamy Fanning girl needing a slap and telling never to act in a movie ever again, but other than that it was OK ish.

Just a thought has the OP ever watched Starship Troopers? Just so I can get a point of reference taste wise.. 😉

If you are into Dakota Fanning then you need to watch the whole Box Set of Taken (nope not the crappy film with Liam Neilson in)

It's awesome.

[i]I liked everything but the happy reunion ending.[/i]

To be fair to it, that is how the book ends as well. ( the journalist is reunited with his wife in one of the least convincing plot devices since Bram Stoker does for the greatest anti hero ever devised in a one liner )

Well, not a fan exactly, just thought that she was so impressive in this part for such a young actor.

It's a while since I've actually watched a movie on TV, managed to get through about 45 minutes of this last night before getting so pissed off at the adverts I had to switch it off. It felt like there were 10 minutes of adverts for every 10 minute of film.

Is this a Channel 5 thing? Genuine question as nearly everything I watch is downloaded or streamed these days.

Yup channel 5 by far the worst channel with the ads. Main reason I record their films and skip the ads.

Can't suspend my loathing of Scientology long enough to enjoy a Tom Cruise film these days.

Nice to see the marketing plan worked out for 'Edge of Tomorrow' or 'Live, Die, Repeat'. LDR was the tagline for the movie in the cinema but they decided it made more sense than the title when it came to the DVD release.
Neither is really a very good title for the movie to be honest although they both make a bit more sense than the novel it's based on which for some bizarre reason is called 'All you need is Kill'..!?!?

Edit: The manga heritage of the story goes a long way to explaining why Emily Blunt's character spends most of the first half of the movie carrying a massive sword.!!

H1ghland3r

Nice to see the marketing plan worked out for 'Edge of Tomorrow' or 'Live, Die, Repeat'. LDR was the tagline for the movie in the cinema but they decided it made more sense than the title when it came to the DVD release.
Neither is really a very good title for the movie to be honest although they both make a bit more sense than the novel it's based on which for some bizarre reason is called 'All you need is Kill'..!?!?

Agreed but it doesn't really tell you much about what's going on.. Works great for the novel, would have killed the movie stone dead I think as no-one would have had a clue what it was about and would likely have been expecting some kind of Bourne/Bond alike...

hora - Member
I've not seen this before and I caught it on TV last night. I was really really surprised - suitably dark with a few good moments of acting from TC. If you haven't seen it- do it.

H1ghland3r

Agreed but it doesn't really tell you much about what's going on.. Works great for the novel, would have killed the movie stone dead I think as no-one would have had a clue what it was about and would likely have been expecting some kind of Bourne/Bond alike...

Edge of Tomorrow tells you even less of what's going on. Typical committee deigned Hollywood safe option really. Anyway, considering the film failed to light up the box office as "Edge of Tomorrow" I don't see how "All you need is Kill" could have done much worse.

People would have known as much about the film with that title as they would from the other since the trailer and marketing would presumably have been much the same.

I recall finding it OK, better than I was expecting anyway. It's from roughly the same time as Collateral, probably the Tom Cruise movie that I've enjoyed the most.

I thought it was decent enough, I would love someone to make a true to the original victorian version though.

Agree however it'd be Hollywood and it'd be too dark to be commercial enough for them.

Seen it a few times.
The best bit is near the beginning - the lightning storm then the machine revealing itself out of the ground for the first time - bloody brilliant.

It's all about expectation. I don't think I've seen a Tom Cruise film I've not enjoyed and Spielberg can do no wrong in my book, but WofW did nothing for me when I saw it at the cinema. Maybe if I'd happened across it on Channel 5 last night I might have been more impressed due to low expectations.

In a similar vein I had very low expectations of 2012 but was thoroughly entertained by it.

Possible- yes: I happened across a film called: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/stake_land

I'd never watch such a film usually but I stayed with it and loved it.

and Spielberg can do no wrong in my book

You're easily pleased.

Didn't really like War of the Worlds

Did like Jack Reacher despite me wanting to hate it because the Cruiser is definitely NOT how Jack Reacher is written in the books but it was a pretty decent film

Also really liked Edge of Tomorrow although a lot of that was down to Emily Blunt

You're easily pleased.

Jaws, ET, Raider of the Lost Ark - all in my top 10 films ever 🙂 Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan were pretty good (understatement) too 😉

Only recently have I felt let down by Spielberg with War of the Worlds and also Super 8 (which I think he produced). I didn't bother with Indiana Jones 4 nor do I want to bother.

I haven't hated many Tom Cruise films for a while really. He mostly does idiotic crap which is easily watchable on the plane or a rainy day. For a lot of my film watching I'm quite happy with that sort of thing.

I thought Edge of Tomorrow (aka Live, Die, Repeat) was pretty weak but decent fodder for a long-haul flight

If we are doing Spielberg films with Tom Cruise that aren't rubbish then surely we need to talk about Minority Report, which is really very good.

Jaws, ET, Raider of the Lost Ark - all in my top 10 films ever Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan were pretty good (understatement) too

TBH - he can knock out a film that is commercially a hit without being too popcorn/crap. Yes hes had misses but how many directors have such commercial longevity?

Doesn't the novel have a fairly ridiculous happy reunion in it too? I can't remember that much about it, because it's really very shit, but I'm not sure you can blame Hollywood for that one.

TC's best performances? Check out "Magnolia" and "Born on the Fourth of July." Funny? His appearance in "Tropic Thunder." Well, certainly after a few shandies.

Think he is improving and should get away from the Reacher type character and Hollywood bollox. Though I did enjoy "Edge of Tomorrow" and even paid for it in 3D.

"if those dogs come any closer I will drop kick them." 🙂

WotW is utter rubbish, nearly left the cinema early it was that bad. For me it was one of TC worst movies.

Magnolia on the other hand he tries way too hard to win an oscar, and it's boring for a long periods.

TC can do okay films IMO, think Top Gun, Mission Impossible or Vanilla Sky, but most were years ago. Well past his sell by date.

Magnolia has a good soundtrack. Got me into Aimee Mann.

would never have chosen to watch Guardians Of The Galaxy. loved it. likewise White House Down!

Doesn't the novel have a fairly ridiculous happy reunion in it too? I can't remember that much about it, because it's really very shit, but I'm not sure you can blame Hollywood for that one.

The people i went to see it complained about the ending too, but the bit about bacteria defeating the aliens rather than us 🙄

I liked it anyway, especially the whole storm->tripod coming out of the ground scene in the winter sun.

If you liked Whitehouse Down, watch Olympus Has Fallen.

Almost the same, but different, but the same.

Speaking of which, The Interview is good, but it's no Blazing Saddles

reggiegasket - Member
Magnolia has a good soundtrack. Got me into Aimee Mann.

I'm really surprised to read so many liking WOTW remake, i used to love the music/story and the original film but the remake didnt do it for me.
I did watch a bit of topgun last night on sky 🙂 and seem to recall Oblivion being an OK tom cruise film, better than WOTW imo.

WOTW has some decent and dark moments, but just think how bland it would have been without someone of Spielberg's Hollywood clout pulling the strings.

Not a huge fan of TC or SS but both occasionally create something decent.

Tom Cruise's best performance is convincing himself and the rest of the world that Scientology isn't effectively blackmailing him over his sexuality.

If he'd just have had the balls to come out in the first place he'd have garnered respect, rather than contempt.

Opportunity missed.
Shame.

See also John Travolta etc etc.

Ooh, controversial.
Evidence please

Have you SEEN Top Gun?

Never mind Top Gun how about this, which despite being terrible by any conventional measure, does have a definite charm about it. And Robert Duvall.

*Yes I know it's Top Gun in cars.

Have you SEEN Top Gun?

Hey Count, if you work shifts and want bargain cinema I think Odeon still do tickets at a fiver for daytime showings on Tuesday.

Was going fairly regularly with my other half but have been wrestling with a Staffie cross from Cheshire Dog's Home for the past four weeks 🙂

I caught the film when I was in a hotel last year... the only thing that really stuck with me was their unforgivable failure to use a single bit of Jeff Waynes incredible score.

Even just the first minute of 'Eve Of The War.' Put that in on the opening credits and every hair on every neck would have been standing to attention.

I'm not keen on WOTW's. I can watch it, like the acting and look of the film etc. but I hate the change/twist to the fundamental plot. In my mind it undermines the end making it inplausible and ruining the film - don't want to expand on that as it might be a spoiler for others.

Whereas some 80's/90's etc ones ROCK still

First Blood is a good example of this.

Rusty Spanner - Member

Have you SEEN Top Gun?

So Tom Cruise wrote, directed and edited Top Gun to imply that he was gay?

And had special cuddles with Kelly McGillis too
Lucky lucky man