Absolutely true. The characters are what made their older movies great. The Star Wars prequels were driven by the setting and the overarching plot, with the characters only along for the ride. Much of the major events driving the plot happened off screen.

I disagree about The War of the Worlds. There was plenty of humanity in it, and I could really empathize with the family.
As for their movies of this decade? Mostly it's all flash and no substance.