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It’s ‘Fantastic,’ part 4

Dan

Before the alien invasion, Ray Ferrier – Tom Cruise ’s character in “War of the Worlds” – probably would relate to “Batman Begins.” But he probably would prefer to watch “Independence Day.”

And why is this? Because his is a care-free existence, that of a self-regarding man whose selfishness has become a way to protect himself from anything that can harm him – which, until the aliens appear, means emotions he doesn’t want to face, such as lost wives and the responsibility of being an actual father to his two children.

When the aliens begin their killing spree, Ferrier is gradually forced to see that his fears mean nothing in the face of a genuine threat. And, in the end, his epiphany is this: Looking for a fantasy of triumph is nowhere near as important as the fact of mere survival.

His own triumph, if you can call it that, is in finally facing up to and overcoming his personal demons while doing what has to be done to protect that which has become most precious to him: not himself but his daughter.

And, of course, while exploring Ray’s transformation, Spielberg blows stuff up quite nicely.

But, hey … as I say, this is how I see it. Go, pay your own way in, and make up your own minds.

* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Movies & More." Read all stories from this blog