War of the Worlds is a science fiction film based on the work of Herbert Wells. The picture was shot by Stephen Spielberg and was released in 2005. This work was the fourth adaptation of the novel.
Plot of the film
The alien invasion remains perhaps the most popular storyline used in science fiction films. Its attractiveness is simple: guessing about whether there is another life in the Universe, we are wondering what would happen if it were unfriendly? One of the scenarios presented by Steven Spielberg in the film "War of the Worlds".
In New Jersey, a divorced man named Ray Farrier spends a weekend with his children. Relations between them are not the best. Son Justin quarrels with his father and steals his car. Rachel's daughter is more restrained, but also not happy with her father. Family conflict is interrupted by an unusual natural phenomenon.
A sudden lightning emits electromagnetic pulses that turn off all electronic devices in the area, and several times strikes at the same place. But this does not happen in nature. In an attempt to understand what is happening, Ray goes to the epicenter of an unusual phenomenon. Then he sees how tripods begin to rise from under the ground. Cars begin to destroy people with the help of deadly heat rays. Ray manages to escape death and get home. He understands that staying here is unsafe. Having decided that the best place to shelter is the home of his ex-wife Mary Ann, Ray takes his children and goes there.
But the house is empty. His ex-wife left for her parents in Boston. However, they decide to spend the night there, hiding in the basement. And in the morning they see a completely destroyed city. Ray finds out that there has been an invasion of a whole army of alien tripods, destroying cities around the world. Ray and his children set off for Boston, hoping to find there salvation and Mary Ann. Will have to overcome more than one test on the way to the treasured city. But they will cope and already being on the outskirts of the city they will understand that the alien capture was prevented.
During the epilogue, a story will be told about how tiny terrestrial bacteria were able to destroy alien creatures. It was these tiny organisms that saved the planet and all of humanity.
Actors and starring roles
Stephen Spielberg began work on the film “War of the Worlds” in 2004. He was so reverent about the adaptation of Herbert Wells' eponymous work that he personally took part in the selection of key actors.
An interesting fact is that the performer of one of the main roles, Morgan Freeman, does not appear in any of the many frames of the film. But it was his voice that the narrator narrates about the events described in the movie. For the director, the question of who should act in this role did not arise. Although the work of an actor of this level required an appropriate budget, the producers of the film did not save. Many suggest that this was a tricky move on the part of the filmmakers. After all, even the mention of Morgan Freeman in the credits is already an indicator of the level of the motion picture.
One of the key characters in the movie Ray Ferrier played Tom Cruise. His hero is a simple dock worker. He becomes a witness to an alien invasion. Now his goal is to save his children and get to safe Boston.
Tom Cruise's acting career began in 1981. By the time of participation in the shooting of the film “War of the Worlds, ” Tom Cruise is already well known to viewers from the films “Rain Man”, “Mission Impossible” (all parts), “Eyes Wide Shut”, “Vanilla Sky” and more. On the set, there was even a joke that you can no longer point anyone to the movie posters, just the name of this actor is enough.
The role of the son of the protagonist Ray Ferrier went to the Canadian actor Justin Chatwin. Work in the picture was one of the first for him. He played a teenager who does not have a relationship with his father. On the way to Boston, he joins an army fighting against aliens. He manages to survive and at the end of the film to reunite with his father and sister.
Later, other films with his participation followed. The most successful of them were Invisible (high school student Nick Powell) and Dragon Ball: Evolution (Goku teenager). And in 2011 on the American channel Showtime, the television series Shameless was released, where the actor played one of the main roles. The series was well received by the audience and added popularity to Justin Chatwin.
Hannah Dakota Fanning became the cinematic daughter of Tom Cruise. She played Rachel. At the time of filming, she was 11 years old and this was not her first role in the movie.
In 2000, she made her debut in one of the episodes of the drama series Ambulance. This was followed by small roles in the popular TV series CSI: Crime Scene and Friends. She became widely known for her work in the films "I Am Sam", "Anger", "Charlotte's Web" and others. And she managed to try herself as an actor in voicing animated films. Her voice is spoken by the heroines of the animated films “Lilo and Stitch 2: The Big Stich Problem” (Lilo Pelekai), “Kim Five-with-Plus: Time Fight” (preschool girl Kim), “Coraline in Nightmare” (Coraline Jones) and others. She managed to get more than three dozen nominations for various film awards and win a victory in them.
Another character in the film is Harlan Ogilvy, played by American actor, director, screenwriter Tim Robbins. He became famous thanks to his roles in the films "Durham Bull", "Player", "Escape from the Shawshank", "Mysterious River". In War of the Worlds, it is his character that saves Ray and Rachel from chasing the invaders. But soon going crazy. Ray is forced to kill the distraught Harlan in order to save himself and his daughter.
In addition to the main cast, Miranda Otto, Rick Gonzalez, Lenny Venito, Lisa Ann Walter, David Alan Bash and other actors also took part in the film.
