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There are a couple of things that worry me about this:

We never see the destruction of any major city or landmarks... There's no hero that saves the day. And the real terror doesn't come from those amazing tripods (or the aliens inside them: yes, we see them at some point!): it comes from the humans. There's an incredible lynching scene that left me speechless.

I'm afraid I know where this may be heading.

Based on what I just read I would have to say that this film is not what most people are expecting and will end up doing so so business like AI did.
AI was interesting but was not the kind of film for those looking for pure escapism mush like what this review of "War of the Worlds" indicates.
Based on this review I would have to pass on it as I am "Damn" tired of the Political Messages from Hollywood movies and this sounds as if it has one.
Does anyone doubt that the "Lynching" mentioned in this review will probably involve a minority of some description?
Also with no real destruction seen or for that matter anything else this reminds me of Terrance Mallick's overblown adaptation of James Jones' "Thin Red Line", you never once saw the Japanese soldiers in the battle scenes and that was one boring war movie.
This sounds like a very overblown Spielberg picture with a producing credit going to the Church of Scientology.
Was this script one found and written by L.Ron Hubbard?
I predict this movie will have a great opening and then very downhill from there once people see what it is.

Not "good, EXCELLENT!

The family and I just got back from seeing it. It was an EXCELLENT film, 5 stars (in spite of the 1 instance of "Hollywood schlock", you will recognize it when you see it). Anyway it was very faithful to the overall theme of the book. Yes it is seen from Ray and his families limited perspective but the way I looked at it, if such a thing were to take place, in all honesty, that is the perspective that all of us "regular folks" would see the action from.

As for Cruise’s character, some people are complaining because he is not in "superhero mode". Give me a break, the alien ships are a hundred feet tall, sport an impenetrable shield and they spray death with cool calculating precision. Given this, it is unlikely that any average citizen could do anything but run, hide and try to protect the shreds of the family they have left.

This isn't sweet cute and cuddly ET, neither is it a benign, esoteric "Close Encounter of the 3rd Kind; the aliens are here for one purpose and one purpose only: "EXTERMINATE!" and there is no magic "Dr. Who" with a sonic screwdriver.

I think this is the best alien attacks the earth movie ever made. If you are looking for a suspenseful, pure roller coaster ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat then go see "War of the Worlds".

One more thing, the soldiers are professional from begining to end and doing everything they can to stop the bad guys and the special effects were exceptional, seamless, and genuinely frightening. wee this film on the largest screen with the best sound that you can.