So much being said and written about this film had to watch it in the theatres.

A Steven Spielberg film starring Tom Cruise was too good a combination to go wrong.

But unfortunately, for me, the film doesn’t work - at all.

I cannot stress this point more because to begin with I have a mind block against sci-fi films.

But keeping that bias of mine aside, I think this film did not justify the hype at all or the audiences’ sensibility for that matter.

It begins very interestingly. A man who has nothing to live for, who is not respected or loved by his family, hates the job he does is caught in a situation in which he not only has to fend for himself but for his two kids as well.

The pace however a little slow has some amazing special effects in the first half of the film. The skyline is amazingly depicted. And that entire sequence quite sets the pace of the film.

Followed again with some really superb sfx again especially the ground breaking open are very well executed.

The film loses its charm once they reveal the ET. THe being from another planet is a big mosquito. With an ugly head and six feet the creature is neither scary (A la dinosaurs) nor does its size create the impact (a la Godzilla).

The Martians are weird creatures who want to destroy all living beings on earth. And they successfully start doing so with bombing each place in sight.

Our hero however decides to take the road and doesn’t get remotely hit ever. EVER.

The budget of the film - highest so far - $ 200 million is spent majorly on the special effects created in the second half of the film which has more of the ET and less of the actors.

But like I mentioned earlier maybe it is my bias but I could not stand sitting through the second half of the film at all.

The magic just didn’t work for me.

How else could you show Maritans? I asked myself that question several times while watching that film. And honestly, I have no answer to that one. Maybe Steven Spielberg (who is a Master) knows best but as a movie watcher I will have to disagree.

Tom Cruise however is a delight to watch on screen. And so are the child actors.

Tim Robbins in a cameo role brings certain life to the second half of the film. Apart from the performances there isn’t really much to talk about.

If ever we are attacked by Martians or any other aliens like Tom Cruise remember if you keep running and keep hiding in basements, no alien can harm you.. blah blah

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