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[Rahul]

No-one would have believed that in the last years of the nineteenth century that human affairs were being watched from the timeless worlds of Space. No-one could have dreamed that we were being scrutinised as someone with a microscope studies creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water. Few men even considered the possibility of life on other planets. And yet, across the gulf of Space minds immeasurably superior to ours regarded this Earth with envious eyes. And slowly, and surely, they drew their plans against us.

Bomp pomp pomp, bomp pomp pomp.

YESSSS finally someone with actual insight into the rockassness of WotW

Things the movie must have for me to respect it at all:

Spoiler

- tripods
- red weed
- heat ray & black smoke
- thunder child
- aliens that are not the martians but their slaves
- ULLA
- humanity getting owned
- martians getting owned by virii

and the soundtrack should be by the mars volta
just because

btw, ID4 always felt like a modernisation of the WotW story, with a (big) touch of american hero attitude

Spoiler

humanity gets owned and eventually manages to survive by killing the aliens with a virus

 

[Scrow]

btw, ID4 always felt like a modernisation of the WotW story, with a (big) touch of american hero attitude

Spoiler

humanity gets owned and eventually manages to survive by killing the aliens with a virus

heh, duh.

ID4 is WotW. They just replaced a biological virus with a computer virus.

 

[Crow]

Movie lost my respect as soon as I heard it was set in America in modern day. If spielburg at least got it right and set it in London...I could probably deal with the whole modern thing alot more.

When I think War of the Worlds, I think of a huge tripod standing over the river Thames, with a heat ray blasting away ships and Gentleman and Ladies screaming and scrambling for their lives titanic style.

Saying that, I suspect I probably will go and see it, so I watch Dakota Fanning make Tom Cruise look like he's fresh out of acting school. The kid's a prodigy.

 

[Scrow]

Movie lost my respect as soon as I heard it was set in America in modern day. If spielburg at least got it right and set it in London...I could probably deal with the whole modern thing alot more.

When I think War of the Worlds, I think of a huge tripod standing over the river Thames, with a heat ray blasting away ships and Gentleman and Ladies screaming and scrambling for their lives titanic style.

considering it's War of the Worlds i don't think it really matters where on earth it's set. Just as long as it's a place with high population where lots of destruction can occur.

The location just seems like a peculiar issue to take up with this film.

 

[Crow]

considering it's War of the Worlds i don't think it really matters where on earth it's set. Just as long as it's a place with high population where lots of destruction can occur.

The location just seems like a peculiar issue to take up with this film.

Yes, it was a global threat in Independence Day, but it's not like we concentrated on anywhere else but America. In H.G. Wells War of the Worlds it follows the events out in England. If you read the book or listended to the 70's Musical or the radio broadcast by Orsen Wells...it's set in England. That's how the story goes.

 

[DarienA]

Yes, it was a global threat in Independence Day, but it's not like we concentrated on anywhere else but America. In H.G. Wells War of the Worlds it follows the events out in England. If you read the book or listended to the 70's Musical or the radio broadcast by Orsen Wells...it's set in England. That's how the story goes.

....the 1953 movie version doesn't take place in Europe either IIRC.... I believe it takes places in California... and while I like the books tripods and the book's story.... THIS will always be the Martian's vehicle to me...

 

[Rahul]

....the 1953 movie version doesn't take place in Europe either IIRC.... I believe it takes places in California... and while I like the books tripods and the book's story.... THIS will always be the Martian's vehicle to me...

I never identified with those flying things. They seemed so random and out of place in the steampunk industrial design that the novel/musical WotW inspired. And as for the actual aliens with those tri-colour eyes that show up in the movie, that just made no sense whatsoever. There weren't supposed to be any aliens! They never showed themselves!

Taking liberties with such properties only works to a certain extent. I suppose the question is whether it will still be successful. It probably will, since big destruction is always successful.

But I ask myself whether Lord of the Rings would be as revered as it is today if it had decided to have a showdown with Sauron and Aragorn towards the end instead of actually following the book's storyline (eg. Sauron has no physical shape)...

 

[Cooper]

He wants a movie about Orson Welles' broadcast and peoples reactions.

The Night that Panicked America. TV Movie from 1975.

 

[DarienA]

I never identified with those flying things. They seemed so random and out of place in the steampunk industrial design that the novel/musical WotW inspired. And as for the actual aliens with those tri-colour eyes that show up in the movie, that just made no sense whatsoever. There weren't supposed to be any aliens! They never showed themselves!

Taking liberties with such properties only works to a certain extent. I suppose the question is whether it will still be successful. It probably will, since big destruction is always successful.

But I ask myself whether Lord of the Rings would be as revered as it is today if it had decided to have a showdown with Sauron and Aragorn towards the end instead of actually following the book's storyline (eg. Sauron has no physical shape)...

Well a few things to thing about.... those machines really didn't fly... although most folks seem to think so... as explained in the movie they are actually moving on some type of repulsor beam style legs... this is evidence in the way that when the machines move over forest areas you see crackling, sparks and such in the area directly below them.

Secondly... of course the machines from the movie don't fit in with your memories of the book... to completely different situations/themes/locales.... they fit within the context of the remake taking place in a more modern time(in this case rural california).

Next the aliens.... you have to remember that movies are visual pieces.... a movie about an alien invasion where the aliens are never seen doesn't work well with American audiences, that was a fact back then and it still holds true today. You can hold off on showing the aliens for only so long but the audience at some point expects to see them.

Finally your comment about LoTR? A bit different because the LOTR series is a bit more recent and I'd theorize that there are more folks alive today who have read the LOTR series or a reprint vs. reading WOTW.

WOTW was was done by HG Wells in 1898.
The Hobbit was published in 1937.
WOTW was broadcast in 1938.
WOTW move was done in 1953.
Fellowship of the Ring in 1954.
Two Towers in 1954.
Return of the King in 1955.

I would also theorize that Ring series has been reprinted many more times than War of the Worlds. This takes nothing away from WotW however. I think there's simply a feeling that a fantasy book wouldn't need the type of thinking or rewrites that go in to looking at pointing a book based in society as it exists in order to connect more with the audience.

I just really think this is a case where you REALLY have to separate your thoughts on the novel from your thoughts on the american remake...

If anything this new movie looks to be more of a remake/retelling of the 1953 movie, as oppose to a remake of the book.

 

[Scrow]

actually... i think my parents have the LP to the musical of WotW. I remember as a kid loving all the artwork that was in it. I'll see if i can dig it up...



ya, found it.

forgive my digicam minus tripod shots. If i ever get a scanner I'll capture really good shots of this stuff.

 

[Rahul]

Well a few things to thing about.... those machines really didn't fly... although most folks seem to think so... as explained in the movie they are actually moving on some type of repulsor beam style legs... this is evidence in the way that when the machines move over forest areas you see crackling, sparks and such in the area directly below them.

You're right, I remember that now that I think about it. haven't seen the movie in a decade or so though.

Secondly... of course the machines from the movie don't fit in with your memories of the book... to completely different situations/themes/locales.... they fit within the context of the remake taking place in a more modern time(in this case rural california).

Agreed...

Next the aliens.... you have to remember that movies are visual pieces.... a movie about an alien invasion where the aliens are never seen doesn't work well with American audiences, that was a fact back then and it still holds true today. You can hold off on showing the aliens for only so long but the audience at some point expects to see them.

Well, that's the logic that Uwe Boll used in Alone in the Dark and we know what happened there. It also didn't work particularly well in Signs: I was more intrigued by the foreboding sense of not knowing what the aliens actually were than seeing their lame-ass hydrophobic selves. 2001: A Space Odyssey's genius is partially because all you ever see of the ancient alien intelligence is TMA-1. So I don't think dumbing it down just beacuse the "American audience" wants it necessarily is the wiser choice. It's the mainstream choice. But a lot of Philip K. Dick novels have been adapted into movies recently without having to resort to warping the story out of proportion or context, and it's arguable that his novels were as ill-read as HG Wells' (although I was under the impression that almost everyone had read HG Wells' stuff). Basically, I think a WotW movie should be done in the style of 28 Days Later rather than Dawn of the Dead, if you get my drift.

Finally your comment about LoTR? A bit different because the LOTR series is a bit more recent and I'd theorize that there are more folks alive today who have read the LOTR series or a reprint vs. reading WOTW.

WOTW was was done by HG Wells in 1898.
The Hobbit was published in 1937.
WOTW was broadcast in 1938.
WOTW move was done in 1953.
Fellowship of the Ring in 1954.
Two Towers in 1954.
Return of the King in 1955.

I would also theorize that Ring series has been reprinted many more times than War of the Worlds. This takes nothing away from WotW however. I think there's simply a feeling that a fantasy book wouldn't need the type of thinking or rewrites that go in to looking at pointing a book based in society as it exists in order to connect more with the audience.

Yeah, I guess so. Being British gave me the apparently false impression that revolutionary sci-fi authors like Tolkien, Wells, Clarke, Dick etc. were among the general knowledge aspect of literature. For that reason I consider contorting their storytelling methods to be somewhat of a misconception to begin with. But what can I do about it? I just hope Narnia will be held true to the original once it's done.

I just really think this is a case where you REALLY have to separate your thoughts on the novel from your thoughts on the american remake...

If anything this new movie looks to be more of a remake/retelling of the 1953 movie, as oppose to a remake of the book.

Nod. Hopefully they'll do something more interesting than trying to blow the aliens up with the A-bomb.

actually... i think my parents have the LP to the musical of WotW. I remember as a kid loving all the artwork that was in it. I'll see if i can dig it up...

ya, found it.

I have this and it is amazing. Anyone who does not have it should listen to it. Anyone who has listened to it should own it. Truly one of the most classic 70s "rock" "operas" ever conceived!

 

[mrroboto]

i'm really pumped to see this one.

directed by spielberg, starring tom cruise and industrial light and magic doing the effects work!

even though the movie will be set in the present day i really hope spielberg keeps this scene

Spoiler

the part where the martian has come out of it's ship and enters the abandoned house, sneaks up on our heroes and puts it's hand on presumbly cruise's shoulder! that scene rocked! hope it's in.

 

[Rahul]

Spoiler

the part where the martian has come out of it's ship and enters the abandoned house, sneaks up on our heroes and puts it's hand on presumbly cruise's shoulder! that scene rocked! hope it's in.

In the book it's a probe (not an actual alien) that comes out and touches the journalist's boot, then drags the parson's body away. I thought it was far scarier that it was merely this mechanical claw looking for human flesh than some kind of intelligence out for communication...

 

[DarienA]

Well, that's the logic that Uwe Boll used in Alone in the Dark and we know what happened there.

Well truth be told Uwe is just a terrible... well everything so...

It also didn't work particularly well in Signs: I was more intrigued by the foreboding sense of not knowing what the aliens actually were than seeing their lame-ass hydrophobic selves.

M Night? Not sure if it's a good comparison.. hell I'd almost say Signs really isn't at ALL about the alien invasion. But that's a whole other discussion...

2001: A Space Odyssey's genius is partially because all you ever see of the ancient alien intelligence is TMA-1.

True but again that's a different type of sci fi movie, no alien invasion goin on there...

But a lot of Philip K. Dick novels have been adapted into movies recently without having to resort to warping the story out of proportion or context, and it's arguable that his novels were as ill-read as HG Wells' (although I was under the impression that almost everyone had read HG Wells' stuff). Basically, I think a WotW movie should be done in the style of 28 Days Later rather than Dawn of the Dead, if you get my drift.

Well as I said I think that this new movie is being looked as more of a remake of the previous movie rather than the Wells book... also Total Recall has a bit of warping goin on...

Nod. Hopefully they'll do something more interesting than trying to blow the aliens up with the A-bomb.

It'll either be a nuclear bomb or some type of fuel air bomb... but I'm almost sure they'll atempt something "large scale" and equally ineffective.

In the book it's a probe (not an actual alien) that comes out and touches the journalist's boot, then drags the parson's body away. I thought it was far scarier that it was merely this mechanical claw looking for human flesh than some kind of intelligence out for communication...

Ann Robinson gives one of the best horrified movie looks/screams in history... how can you hate on that?

 

[mrroboto]

Well truth be told Uwe is just a terrible... well everything so...

Ann Robinson gives one of the best horrified movie looks/screams in history... how can you hate on that?

so true, she really made the scene memorable.

i really hope they keep the scene and i'd think stan winston would be on board to do the special makeup effects. i'd love to see what kind of crazy, horrific alien he can design for this one!

 

[Rahul]

Well truth be told Uwe is just a terrible... well everything so...

:lol

M Night? Not sure if it's a good comparison.. hell I'd almost say Signs really isn't at ALL about the alien invasion. But that's a whole other discussion...

Well yeah, sure, it's about fear and dealing with your faith, etc. But there's a very definite alien invasion theme to it, right? Ok, I understand how it's not too relevant.

True but again that's a different type of sci fi movie, no alien invasion goin on there...

Ok.

Well as I said I think that this new movie is being looked as more of a remake of the previous movie rather than the Wells book... also Total Recall has a bit of warping goin on...

True, Total Recall is 1989 or so though, so not really recent...

It'll either be a nuclear bomb or some type of fuel air bomb... but I'm almost sure they'll atempt something "large scale" and equally ineffective.

Yeah. Probably some new invention to make it sound cool.

Ann Robinson gives one of the best horrified movie looks/screams in history... how can you hate on that?

Oh, I love that scene, no doubt about it. But it's still not what originally happened! I'd just love to see that original scene in cinema, as well. I had nightmares for years (saw the movie when I was like, 10) about that alien dude, then I went back and watched it again and it looked hilariously fake :lol Pretty interesting how scifi can play on your fears like that... Hell, the baby at the end of 2001 used to freak me out...

 

[DarienA]

so true, she really made the scene memorable.

i really hope they keep the scene and i'd think stan winston would be on board to do the special makeup effects. i'd love to see what kind of crazy, horrific alien he can design for this one!

I hope they keep the alien understated. I wouldn't want it to be too over the top.

 

[Scrow]

i have a feeling you'll never see what the aliens look like in this movie

 

[Matrix]

Japanese teaser commercial...has a few new scenes Not sure if this has been posted,so Ill just post it here...

Not sure if this will work,I had to find the source for the file in the moviebox page,but it works for me

http://media.themoviebox.net/qt/1256368-025632-08/wotw_japan-spot.mov

 

[DarienA]

i have a feeling you'll never see what the aliens look like in this movie

There was an interview a bit back with Spielberg and Cruise where they said you will see the aliens IIRC.

 

[FoneBone]

There was an interview a bit back with Spielberg and Cruise where they said you will see the aliens IIRC.

Yeah, they're just trying to show as little as possible for the teasers -- I'd assume that the aliens will show up whenever the first full trailer is released.

 

[DarienA]

Yeah, they're just trying to show as little as possible for the teasers -- I'd assume that the aliens will show up whenever the first full trailer is released.

I'm actually hoping we don't see the aliens until the movie, I'm sure we'll see what the tripods look like before the movie though.