"War of the Worlds" (2025): A Cinematic Misstep
I. Introduction
The phrase “Here we go” serves as both the opening line of the 2025 Amazon Prime movie War of the Worlds and my own utterance as I decided to watch it, despite a deluge of reviews cautioning against it.
II. Film Basics
Directed by Rich Lee, War of the Worlds is shot entirely through online calls and surveillance feed points - of - view (POVs). The movie revolves around domestic terror analyst William Radford, portrayed by Ice Cube. Radford embarks on a mission to safeguard his family and the nation from alien cyborgs with a rather unconventional appetite: they are intent on consuming our data, quite literally.
III. Initial Impressions - Rotten Tomatoes Rating
At first glance, the film's 3 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which has increased from 0 percent upon its debut, appears both remarkable and foreseeable. Achieving a rating below 5 percent is indeed a challenging feat. However, remaking a classic such as the 1953 The War of the Worlds (which holds an 89 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes) inevitably sets high standards. Coupled with an action film being presented through the lens of Microsoft Teams meetings and subpar computer - generated imagery (CGI), it's no wonder that even the most lenient viewers would be inclined to roll their eyes.
IV. Plot Holes and Inconsistencies
Tech - based Plot Holes
Beyond the graphics and clearance issues (the prevalence of blurred - out faces being a particularly puzzling aspect), the tech - based plot holes, which bordered on propaganda, detracted from the film's intended message regarding the significance of human connection.
One of the most jarring examples lies in the inconsistencies of technological availability following the data - hungry aliens' destruction of Earth's satellites. Military weapons, vehicle GPS systems, and Facebook page outages cause widespread physical and emotional chaos across the globe. Yet, just a few scenes later, news networks, Starlink satellites, X feeds, and Amazon purchase access remain unharmed with little to no explanation.
Radford's office is locked when he attempts to leave to rescue his daughter, but it's somehow open when he needs to hack the data servers in the basement, even after the building has been placed under an additional, air - sealed lockdown.
Most absurdly, a Prime Air drone manages to navigate through apocalyptic levels of destruction and chaos to deliver a world - saving thumb drive to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) building.
Tech Brand Promotion
The blatant promotion of tech brands doesn't stop there. Radford's daughter, Faith, a Georgetown - educated biochemist, comes up with the ill - advised idea of removing a large piece of debris from her leg, resulting in near - fatal bleeding. Fortunately, her Amazon delivery driver boyfriend, Mark Goodman, fashions a tourniquet out of packaging tape, claiming to be a “pro.”
Even minor characters are caught up in the Amazon - Savior motif. When the world - saving Amazon Prime Air drone overturns on its way to the DHS building, a homeless person only assists in fixing it after being rewarded with a $1,000 Amazon gift card.
V. Thematic Issues
These scenes in War of the Worlds might have been dismissed as comical if not for the film's intense focus on government surveillance while completely overlooking the role of the tech industry. From Anonymous - style livestreams featuring the US Constitution to Radford digitally stalking his children and the secret data - stealing project that lures the aliens to Earth, the film seems to identify the US government and its technology as the true enemy.
In fact, the only instances where privacy is threatened in relation to private businesses occur when the government interferes. For example, Radford uses Guardian, the government's surveillance software system, to hack into a Tesla and remotely transport his injured daughter to a safer location. At the start of the film, David, Radford's son, insults his father by suggesting that his career amounts to nothing more than spying on people's Amazon shopping carts. Most significantly, the secret government program Goliath, which is the root cause of the alien cyborg invasion, siphons billions of dollars' worth of private data conversations from the American people.
There is no mention of tech giants like Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk in relation to controversial data - collection processes, whether it's failing to protect personal data or attempting a full - scale digital coup within the US government. While this is perhaps not unexpected given it's an Amazon - produced movie, it still seems like a conspicuous oversight.
VI. Conclusion
If one were to find something positive to say about War of the Worlds, it could be noted that Lee took a risk in remaking a beloved thriller from an internet - first POV. However, risks don't always pay off, and this was no exception. The decision to demonize government surveillance while portraying Big Tech as passive victims ultimately dilutes the film's message, transforming it into more of a nearly 90 - minute commercial for brands like Amazon and Microsoft rather than thought - provoking content. But perhaps all this promotion means that Prime Air will finally be available in Washington, DC.
