Directed by Steven Spielberg, the 2005 movieWar of the Worldsfollows Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) as he tries to save his family from aliens. The movie is an adaptation of the 1989 novel by H.G. Wells. In 1938, Orson Welles narrated a War of the Worlds radio drama for CBS as part of the showTheMercury Theater on the Air. As the famous story goes, people were convinced that the alien invasion was actually real since they heard it being discussed on the radio.
What happens inWar of the Worldsand how does the movie end? And how does the film’s ending compare to the book by H.G. Wells? Every version ofWar of the Worldsis action-packed and fascinating, and the 2005 adaptation also has a strong performance, making it one of the most thrilling Tom Cruise movies.
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What Is War Of The Worlds About?
War of the Worldsbegins with Ray, who is a dock crane operator, taking care of his son Robbie (Justin Chatwin) and daughter Rachel (Dakota Fanning). The first sign of trouble is when lightning stops all technology and electronics from working. When an earthquake occurs, Ray sees a war machine causing havoc. People die and the surrounding area is completely ruined. It soon becomes clear that the tripod war machines were underground and aliens showed up on Earth ready to take over. Now they are attacking people globally. There aresci-fi movies where aliens and humans team up, but that’s not true ofWar of the Worlds.
Ray and his family hide in his ex-wife Mary Ann’s (Miranda Otto) New Jersey house while he tries to figure out what to do next. WhileWar of the Worldsisn’t always considered one ofTom Cruise’s best movies, the actor gives a solid performance as a father who feels determined to help his family through a terrible catastrophe.
War of the Worldsis also a fun ride because Dakota Fanning gives such a believable performance. After starring in 2001’sI Am Sam, she starred in family-friendly fare likeUptown GirlsandThe Cat in the Hat.War of the Worldsproved that she had dramatic range and could work in any genre.
How Does War Of The Worlds End?
TheWar of the Worldsending is terrifying, with a tripod stealing Rachel and Ray jumping into action-hero mode. Ray makes sure that the tripod takes him as well because he wants to save his daughter. Ray is successful and uses a grenade to stop the machine. Rachel and Ray find their way to Robbie and Mary-Ann after seeing tripods in distress all over Boston. The world seems to be okay again, and it’s clear that the aliens are losing.War of the Worldsis one of thebest sci-fi movies starring Tom Cruisebecause he is relatable as a parent who wants to be there for his children.
The last scene ofWar of the Worldsexplains that the aliens couldn’t live on Earth because of the microbes there. This is a satisfying ending that is less bleak than the rest of the movie. The ending also proves why Steven Spielberg is one of themost influential sci-fi film directors. When a story is as dark as this one, a hopeful ending seems like the best way to go.
Is The Ending Different In The War Of The Worlds Book?
TheWar of the Worldsnovel by H.G. Wells differs from the movie as it takes place in two time periods. The novel covers aliens talking about taking over Earth in the 1890s. The book then follows the main character, who is known as the narrator, seeing Martians coming to Earth. While somesci-fi novels have lackluster movies, the 2005 version ofWar of the Worldsis great, and it’s a perfectly entertaining story.
TheWar of the Worldsbook ending is similar, as the main character realizes that the aliens can’t stay alive on Earth because there are pathogens. That’s where the similarities end, however. After that, the narrator has a hard time dealing with what he has experienced, and a family helps him feel better. When he goes back home, he sees his wife again, who is thankfully still alive. TheWar of the Worldsbook ending is more philosophical as the narrator thinks about what it means that aliens came to Earth.
The book and movie work together perfectly since the novel offers up more introspection on the significance of what has just taken place. IfWar of the Worldswas asci-fi movie with a different ending, it wouldn’t be as effective. Audiences were looking for a satisfying viewing experience and a happy ending and that’s exactly what the film delivers.
