Title: War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave
Director: C. Thomas Howell
Writer: Eric Forsberg, David Michael Latt
Starring: C. Thomas Howell, Christopher Reid, Fred Griffith
Year released: 2008
Their synopsis: “When the aliens return to complete their plan of human domination, mankind unites in one last stand.”
My synopsis: Three years after a pretty enjoyable movie was made, some assholes decided to piss all over it.
Quick review: This movie would’ve benefitted from being a silent film, provided the actors knew what facial expressions were.
Pros: Space talk and synthetic moonshine.
Cons: Not sure they could’ve stolen more from Independence Day if they tried.
Biggest movie cliché: The wisecracking black sidekick, played ever so racistly bug-eyed by Christopher Reid. (“Kid” from from Kid ‘n Play. No, I’m not lying.)
Say a nice thing: I enjoyed the wormhole sequence.
Say a mean thing: I don’t know if Kim Little was doing some sort of accent, or if that was her actual voice, but either way I would like to scratch out her larynx with my fingernails.
How it relates to the original film: 1) A few plot points, especially regarding how the aliens were not prepared for human diseases. 2) In both movies you’re rooting for the children to die. 3) Questionable endings.
How it doesn’t relate to the original film: 1) The original film has worth.
Biggest suspension of disbelief: The movie seems to think Mars is in another galaxy, as opposed to our own solar system, relatively near Earth.
Most relatable current event: Curiosity, NASA’s Mars rover. (Yes, I know you forgot about it.)
Final review: Granted, it was a completely unnecessary movie to make, but if not for the maddeningly appalling performances given by Kim Little and Christopher Reid, I don’t think I would’ve hated it as much as I did. Had they camped it up a bit, it would’ve been a decent bad film.
Ranking:
2 bees
Research Note: Apparently, this is not a sequel to the Spielberg/Cruise version, but to another Asylum film called H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds, which also probably sucks. (I should watch it sometime.)
The B Movie Review 