Ray: “Here, have a peanut butter sandwich”
Rachel: “I’m allergic to peanut butter.”
Ray: “Since when?”
Rachel: “Since birth!”

[Slight paraphrasing]

So gives an indication of just how bad a father Ray, played by Tom Cruise, is to his two kids 10-year-old daughter Rachel, an amazing Dakota Fanning, and teenaged son Robbie, Justin Chatwin in War of the Worlds.

Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of HG Wells’ “War of the Worlds” marks a return to form for the great director. The movie starts off fairly slowly, giving us time to learn enough about Ray and the fact he is not going to win any Father of the Year awards soon. Rachel and Robbie are dropped off by their Mum for a weekend with Ray and this is when the action begins. A storm appears to be brewing but there is no rain or thunder – instead intense lighting hits the same area of the ground over and over. At first this has Ray grinning in excitement but the prolonged lightning strikes soon have him running into the house for cover.

What follows is an action packed, absolutely terrifying, flight of desperation from death-ray shooting tripods as Ray packs up the kids and hightails it out of there. The only problem is … there seems to be no escape.

This is a movie that must be experienced on the big screen. Visually and orchestrally it is a stunning movie. If you don’t want to be frightened too badly make sure you don’t sit next to anyone who is likely to jump out of their seat and grab your arm. I’m sure some of my heart-stopping moments came more from my neighbour than the movie!

Acting wise it was alright. Tom does okay – no real stretch for him. Dakota certainly gives her lungs a work out with her screaming and Tim Robbins has a small and very creepy part as a would be axe murderer/sexual predator.

Definitely the most frightening (if not original) alien invasion movie I’ve seen in a while.

Fright factor – 11/10.
Entertainment factor – 9/10.