Intermission - Camera shots

I watch War of the Worlds over and over again, trying to figure out a few things. How did they make that camera spin in and out of the van as Ray Ferrier drives furiously through stalled cars to escape the alien menace? And just what kind of van has rear seat windows that roll down at least halfway?

I have to wonder if they had rigged some sort of van rack so that the camera could be mounted on a pivot on top of the van for those close-up shots within the van. It almost seems like our eyes are the only things viewing the occupants as we pan from Cruise's driver's side window, around the windshield, and into the passenger area of the van - over and over. As if we are floating around and in and out of the van.

Regardless, it's fascinating to watch the goings-on inside the van as we occasionally glimpse the insanity and rampant fear of the people who are left afoot.