War Of The Worlds (1953 Movie)

Sometimes it's difficult to review a movie that was made a long time ago, because nowadays we have higher standards when it comes to special effects, realism, story, acting, dialogue, music, directing, etc. Sure, there a few gems from fifty, sixty, seventy years ago, but we're even giving some of the so-called greats a bit of a pass. Surprisingly, though, with this version of HG Wells' War Of The Worlds, the special effects are actually decent, but everything else is pretty terrible. The main woman, who is at first presented as a brilliant reporter, soon falls into a screaming incoherent cliche (even at one point being extremely horrified that one of the aliens bleeds?); the film is filled with long stretches of excruciating monotony, which is certainly a feat at 87 minutes; and somehow an infuriating Christian "subtext" is slathered all over the movie's conclusion - all of the scientists talk earnestly and nod about The Creator, the main scientist guy is lost in the streets of abandoned LA until he finds a church, and the aliens die because "God in his infinite wisdom had put bacteria here to protect us from them." But I guess I did get to see some landmarks get blowed up real good, and all of the exterior stuff about the evacuation of LA is really well done.

RATING: 37% by today's standards, probably like 81% in 1953