War of the Worlds: Goliath 2012 ‧ Sci-fi/Action ‧ 1h 25m

**Film Review: War of the Worlds: Goliath (2012)** *War of the Worlds: Goliath* is a 2012 animated sci-fi/action film directed by Joe Pearson. The movie serves as a sequel to H.G. Wells' classic novel, *The War of the Worlds*, set fifteen years after the initial Martian invasion. In this iteration, human resistance fighters have adapted captured Martian technology to fend off a second wave of invaders from Mars. ### Plot and Setting The premise is intriguing, with the early 20th-century setting providing a steampunk aesthetic combined with advanced alien technology. The narrative follows a group of young resistance fighters who pilot giant tripods called Goliaths, battling the Martians in a desperate fight for Earth's survival. ### Visuals and Animation The animation style is reminiscent of late 90s to early 2000s Saturday morning cartoons, which may evoke nostalgia for some viewers but feel dated to others. The visual design, although ambitious, suffers from inconsistent quality, with some sequences appearing more polished than others. ### Characters and Voice Acting The characters, though diverse, fall into familiar archetypes, lacking significant depth or development. The voice acting is serviceable but does not particularly stand out. This is one area where the film could have benefited from more nuanced performances to bring the characters to life more vividly. ### Action and Pacing Action sequences are the film's highlight, delivering on the promise of epic battles between human-engineered tripods and Martian war machines. However, the pacing can be uneven, with some parts of the film dragging while others rush through critical plot points, leading to a somewhat disjointed viewing experience. ### Reception *War of the Worlds: Goliath* has received mixed reviews. It holds a 5.4/10 rating on IMDb, a 17% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 4.4/10 on Filmaffinity. Despite these lukewarm critical receptions, 57% of Google users liked the film, indicating a split