content: this film could have been exeptional if it weren't for the useless effects and soap opera style acting. the designs for the fighting machine were excellent but lacked convincing movement. the martians looked as scary as the teletubbies. if only mr. hines could have afforded a bigger budget, he would have done a better job (good effort) . the only saving grace of the film is that it stuck to the original diologue.still i must add that my five year old son thought it was great.