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[ManaByte]

http://channels.netscape.com/ns/new...3020002605482&dt=20050623030200&w=RTR&coview=

In an open letter, the German association of film critics called on its members to protest the "War of the Worlds" embargo by publicizing details of the studio's demands and criticizing the distributor's no-review policy. The association also called on its members to violate any future embargoes or to refuse to review films where an embargo is imposed.

"We know this (embargoes on film reviews) is common in the U.S., but it has never happened here in Germany before, and we won't stand for it," Andrea Dittgen, head of the German critics association, said in an interview. "We believe this violates basic freedom of speech rights and is illegal under German law."

It is common in Germany for distributors not to screen their films for critics before release, but "War of the Worlds" is the first film where critics have had to sign waivers pledging not to review the film before its official bow.

Not all German critics agreed to the embargo. A number refused to sign the distributor's waivers and reviewed the film ahead of schedule. Reviews of the film published so far here have been mixed but generally positive.

 

[Deleted member 1235]

Go Germany, they shoulda put some scientology jabs in there though.

 

[SteveMeister]

Good God, they only are asking folks to hold back on reviews so that the movie isn't spoiled by them, not to curtail anyone's freedom of speech. Give me a break. If they were afraid of bad reviews, they wouldn't have shown it to anyone before the release date.

 

[Kabuki Waq]

Good God, they only are asking folks to hold back on reviews so that the movie isn't spoiled by them, not to curtail anyone's freedom of speech. Give me a break. If they were afraid of bad reviews, they wouldn't have shown it to anyone before the release date.

you can write a review without havign spoilers in them. Hell i cant even remember the last time a german reviewer spoiled a movie for me.

 

[Kabuki Waq]

also if a reviewer spoils a movie in his reviews you can bet the ppl who dont want their movies spoiled will stop reading their reviews. there is no point to putting review embargos on anything IMO.

 

[Error]

Maybe it's payback after that little charade where both Spielberg and Cruise where interviewed by that Germany reporter in which the reporter acted like an ass and besides complaining about that embargo is very retarded, so they can't post their reviews yet big fucking deal

 

[Cerebral Palsy]

NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN /vader

 

[dskillzhtown]

How do you spoil a movie based on source material that is not exactly new?

 

[Willco]

How do you spoil a movie based on source material that is not exactly new?

Because this film doesn't have much to do with the source material other than the description of the aliens and their weaponry.

 

[COCKLES]

Because this film doesn't have much to do with the source material other than the description of the aliens and their weaponry.

"I don't like the original book enough to set it in Victorian London" - Speilberg.

 

[SteveMeister]

"I don't like the original book enough to set it in Victorian London" - Speilberg.

That doesn't even matter -- Spielberg's at his best when he's exploring human emotions, when he puts people the audience can identify with into extraordinary circumstances. And setting his version in Victorian London would make it much more difficult for the people of 2005 to identify with. He made the right choice.

 

[Ponn]

Bah, who cares about them. They gave us Uwe Boll so they deserve whatever they get back from Hollywood.

 

[DCharlie]

"Because this film doesn't have much to do with the source material other than the description of the aliens and their weaponry."

and...

Spoiler

the ferry scene
the escape scene
the pit/trapped
the "thunderchild" show down
the "horsel common" scene
the "rout of mankind" scene
the harvesting/baskets

etc etc etc...

it pretty much looks like everything is in there (+ extras)
I was worried about the adaptation, but it seems fast chunks of the book is in there just "adapted" for modern times

Spoiler

Cruise couldn't do a near escape in a horse and cart as per the book, but it looks like he does it in a car/4x4 - if it stays true to the book, the car will crash (and i expect it to) leaving them unable to escape the aliens at speed

i think i've figured out the ending, and whilst it's wouldn't be the "same" as the book, it is the "same" (as per SS's take on what he's done)

 

[Deku]

Just saw the latest TV ad, and I'm psyched.

This summer is just amazing

Star Wars
Batman
War of the Worlds

 

[siege]

I listened to the score and ended up spoiling the ending. Wasn't expecting a narrator on the track.

Pretty typical ending, however.

 

[DCharlie]

"Pretty typical ending, however."

that worries me.

 

[ManaByte]

that worries me.

Typical in that it's a slightly modified version of the book's ending.

 

[DCharlie]

ah, right - i get you.