WAR OF THE WORLDS (2005) Movie Reaction! | First Time Watch! | Tom Cruise | Dakota Fanning

The hosts praise the film's ending, where the aliens are defeated by Earth's common microorganisms, as a brilliant and well-integrated twist. They note that the opening narration subtly sets up this vulnerability, making the resolution feel earned rather than a deus ex machina.

I like how they they brought that back around like the clue was there from the start. It was like, hello, it's the microorganisms... it's actually the thing that that took them out. They couldn't survive. Like a bad case of dysentery.

Dakota Fanning's acting as Rachel is repeatedly lauded as exceptional, particularly for a child. The hosts describe her performance as raw, believable, and emotionally impactful, highlighting her ability to convey intense fear and trauma without feeling like "acting."

Dakota Fanning really really sold it for me. She's so good. She's such and and especially like as a child actress it's like I don't know what is going on with these child actors or when you get a good one like Dakota Fanning and you see them act it doesn't even feel like acting. Like when she's screaming, like the look in her eyes, I'm just like, 'Oh my god, this poor child.'

The hosts appreciate how the film grounds the global alien invasion through the personal story of Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) and his children. Ray's transformation from a somewhat irresponsible father to a dedicated protector provides a relatable human core to the apocalyptic narrative.

It was really smart to kind of focus on one guy and and one family and to kind of have his arc be that, you know, he is, you know, he's not the best parent... but he kept him alive. And so you get to see his arc going from being that guy who's like, I don't really know what I'm doing... to stepping into his role as a dad and taking that really seriously.

Despite being a 2005 film, the hosts are impressed by how well the visuals hold up, attributing this to Steven Spielberg's direction and the effective combination of practical sets and CGI. The use of a real demolished 747 set is specifically mentioned as contributing to the film's realism and scale.

This film holds up so so well... it still looks incredible. And I think it's just cuz of, you know, the story as well. It's something that you can just kind of hook yourself into. And the fact that like the sets and everything were all practical... they keep you in that world and you don't get distracted by unnecessary CGI.