Sounds like you guys are all brainwashed into wanting a "typical " Hollywood
product. You're not happy unless there is a "HERO" with "angelic children" and
a warm fuzzy ending to the film.
I liked War of the Worlds.
It surely wasn't as cute as ET
"War of the Worlds" was a dark and realistic depiction of an instant horrorific holocaust. Cruse played a regular and simple kind of guy, with spoiled fucked up kids.
Great acting ? No.
Spielberg's fantasy films overshadow any actor. And of course Cruse took the part for the money, wouldn't you?
"Shindlers List" has been the only Spielberg film that allowed actors to actually act.
"War of the Worlds" keeps you on the edge of your seat like a rollercoaster, then the holocaust suddenly ends as it began, you're left sitting there in your seat sharing the same thoughts as Tom Cruse's character "Ray",,
F.U.C.K. !! Now what?
The film was intended to shock you, not fill you full of "warmth and hope" as the end of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind".
Sounds like the film shocked alot of you for the simple fact it didn't look like, or end like, anything Spielberg has ever done.
He should get credit for that alone.