Dave,
Great summary. "War of the Worlds" is one of the few HG Wells' books that I didn't read, so I can't compare.
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I enjoyed Speilberg's WOTW. In fact, I'm going to see it again with a group of friends. I saw it at 10 AM on Saturday morning and was one of 3 people in the theater, just the way I like it. I was, quite literally, sitting on the edge of my seat during a good part of the movie. After the breakneck pace of the first 3/4 of the movie, the switch to the much discussed basement scene with Tim Robbins brought the film to a disconcerting halt. However, I can't bitch about that scene too much... just that it was a little too long.
Cruise was better than I expected, but then, I expect nothing from him but...being Tom Cruise.
I was confused by the bloody foliage stuff, whatever that was. Was it the aliens way of reverse-terraforming the planet? Was it human blood supplying the growth?
The tripods were great; the aliens themselves were too ET-ish.
I really liked Speilberg's use of sound. The great thundering blast emitted by the tripods did sound an awful lot like the T-Rex's blast in "Jurassic Park." I loved it anyway.
Trying to regain the pace after leaving the basement ... well, I'm not sure Speilberg ever did. The final 1/4 of the film was not up to first 3/4. The ending was annoying. For his ex-wife's neighborhood to be completely untouched, not a window broken, not a brick missing, no WTC-like dust anywhere, no evidence of aliens anywhere near them, seemed quite false to me.
But overall, I got the thrills I was looking for... so much so, I'll see it again.
Reading is freedom.
The mind soars, no earthly cares,
no limitations.
A Maggers Haiku, 2005
Years ago my mother used to say to me... "In this world, Elwood, you can be oh so smart or oh so pleasant."
Well, for years I was smart.
I recommend pleasant.
You may quote me.
Elwood P. Dowd