Was it good? Yeah, sure. Was it ground-breaking and phenomenal? No, not really.

It does follow the original tale, as I know it. I've seen the 50's version, but it was long enough ago to say that I haven't. From what I recall, and what I know of the story, this one works the same. Updated effects, a lot more detail (e.g. person evaporation ala Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and many cooler effects, but nothing ground breaking.

We don't normally see movies on opening weekends; just too many people, quite frankly. A week or two into the film and you can sit with a seat buffer between your party and the next, and often behind, too. We arrived well before the film, but still had to sit very close and to the side. That may have detracted some from the experience, but I don't really think so. I found myself appropriately absorbed in the film, feeling for the characters and the plight of the humans being attacked.

The effects were good. A new design of alien craft. A good blend of realistic response, with few breaks in continuity. For example, the aliens precede their attacks with what is explained as an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) that disables all nearby electronics. OK, I buy it; I'd do it if I could. However, right there in the crowd as the first alien vessel we see emerges, is a guy with his Sony digi-cam, still functional. We discounted this some by suggesting perhaps he had come from far enough away to not have been affected, not unlike the news van they encounter later that fills in a lot of background for us in a very short time; kudos on an un-traditionally direct news report!

As we discussed it on the drive home, we came to agree that the movie did a good job of letting us wonder "why do they do that?" without trying to come up with an explanation we'd like; if it happened for real, we'd certainly be asking that during, and likewise have no insight or understanding of their motives.

Spoiler may follow...

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