War of the Worlds

[Jaggannath]

OK, I went it to the movie with extremely low expectations for this movie, because:
1- I expected them to maul the book, as most movies seem to do nowadays to suit their need for action and explosions;
2- They moved the setting from England to USA, and from early 1900's to the present, altering the dynamics of the book; and,
3- It starred Tom Cruise.
I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the movie, they didn't alter it too dramatically, and aside from the little girls whingeing (which got on my nerves sometimes) I thought it was a good adaptation. Maybe instead of blabbing on about Scientology and his new fiancee Tom Cruise should have plugged the movie, it was well worth it.

Any other opinions??

[doubledragon5]

I'm going tonight with the wife. My kids have already seen it just like most of the popular movies that came out in the last 5 yrs....

[DonVito]

I really liked the ending!! But im not gonna spoil it for anybody.

[David M]

Tom Cruise is suffering from the same affliction Michael Jackson suffered from. Cruise has obviously surrounded himself by "yes" people who can't tell him when he is being obnoxious, is wrong, is being stupid, is bragging, is being irritating or exibiting other disgusting human behaviors.

He is a brilliant actor but like many Hollywood types gets so arrogant and create such a God like image of themselves that they come to believe they are always correct.

Wealth and fame does not necessarily create wisdom.

[DonVito]

Yeah tom cruise has gotten a little wierd. did you see when he basically chewed out that news guy in an interview.

[Floppyman]

OK, I went it to the movie with extremely low expectations for this movie, because:
1- I expected them to maul the book, as most movies seem to do nowadays to suit their need for action and explosions;
2- They moved the setting from England to USA, and from early 1900's to the present, altering the dynamics of the book; and,
3- It starred Tom Cruise.
I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the movie, they didn't alter it too dramatically, and aside from the little girls whingeing (which got on my nerves sometimes) I thought it was a good adaptation. Maybe instead of blabbing on about Scientology and his new fiancee Tom Cruise should have plugged the movie, it was well worth it.

Any other opinions??

This is interesting. I went in with really high expectations since it was a Spielberg movie and walked out a little dissapointed. I guess I wanted to see massive global mayhem and not have the focus be on a dad (Cruise) and his two children all the time -- and then at the end everyone else is either harmed/dead but nothing happened to them or their extended family. But then when I consider the the book, perhaps it was a decent adaptation and the action scenes were excellent. Yet, at the time I couldn't help but think that this was Independence Day with a twist.

[Amazin Caucasian]

I have to say I was quite disappointed. I walked in with no expectations whatsoever....walking in all i knew was that aliens attacked. The movie itself was fantastic. Special Effects amazing. Ending sucked. They explained very little and left me a tad confused at the ending.

[DonVito]

IF YOU HAVENT SEEN THE MOVIE DONT READ THIS!!!




I really liked the ending cause it didn't end like most alien movies when man rises from nothing or outsmarts them somehow. I wasnt confused at the end. The aliens died because they couldnt live here since they hadn't built up an immunity to all the bacteria and viruses and stuff. And that we have earned the right to live here because somany people died from all bacteria, you know, when it says at the end "we earned the right to live here by the price of a billion lives" or something like that.

[Amazin Caucasian]

Yeah, but out of the blue the machines started to walk in circles and collapse and the shields just shut down. It was if the aliens didnt want to overtake the planet but just kill for fun for their short short lives. lame....

[catacon]

The book is very good. It explains more that humans aren't really that great and that even though we can blow other people up, it doesn't be that other beings can't blow us up. I don't get out much and so I haven't seen the movie, so I won't say anything about it.

If your looking for comedy, watch the original WotW from like 1953, it's great!

[Floppyman]

Believe it or not, the book was actually written as underlying criticism for British Imperialism at the time. In that respect there's a moral to the story.

[austin1]

i heard that the movie was complete garbage and should not have been in the movie theaters?

[Amazin Caucasian]

now that is a lie...although I walked out disappointed about the story...I still recommend seeing the movie because the movie itself was amazing.

[Cricket]

How come no one is comparing this "War of the Worlds" with the original "The War of the Worlds" from 1953? I haven't seen the newer one yet but I'd probably like the original better.

:) Cricket

[catacon]

That one is pretty funny. I don't think it stuck to the book to well. Althought I haven't watched it in a while.

[figarowa]

yeah when i got half way through the movie i suffered deja' vu....the reason being is that i saw this movie before, but it had a different title...oh yeah independence day or was that Mars ATtacks...at least I laughed through that one. I thought it was realtively bad as it had that happy spielbergy ending of overwhelming happiness as well as tom cruise's "acting". The only good acting was from Tim Robbins in the whole flick.

[figarowa]

Floppydude, in what ways was there underlying undertones of British Imperealism?...on the other hand, how do you like State College, Ive spent many o nights up there in not so good state of mind. :D I never wanted to go to PSU for the overall size of a university would have over-whelmed me.

[Jaggannath]

The undertones were because the British felt they were the invincible imperial power when this book was written back in the late 1800's ... a fact not many people know. Orwell was a brilliant satirist, I recommend ALL of his books, including 1984 and Animal Farm.

[Floppyman]

Yep, Jag is right on here. I remember reading a very good review of the book on Amazon.com where the author of that review mentioned it. Oh, he wrote "Animal Farm" as well? I should have remembered the name then since I read that in Middle School. It's an excellent book.

figarowa,

I'm actually up at PSU for an 2 month summer research program in Electrical Engineering. I like the campus here (even though there is a ton of construction going on) and the surrounding area is great for outdoor activity. As the matter of act, I just ran a 5k this morning so I feel pretty beat right now:). State College itself is a pretty nice town and I was surprised how many little/startup companies there are here. You would expect the town to be bigger though given the size of University. All in all it's been pretty nice up here so far and I will definitely give PSU a consideration for Grad School along with other institutions.

[David M]

My take on why the aliens could not survive is that there was something in bird crap, some sort of bacteria that is a pathogen to the aliens, that killed them.

Let me explain, towards the end of the movie:
Remember at the end of the movie where Cruise was standing under the statue of Paul Revere and he noticed that those red vein things had turned to a crispy tube that could be crushed to a grey powder?...they were dead. Well?..what sits on statues?...birds!

Towards the end of the movie:
Remember him pointing up to the alien tripod mentioning the birds that were circling around it? The birds were crapping on the tripod.

Remember the beginning and end of the movie showing the bacteria?

It finally hit me as I was walking out of the theatre what killed the aliens....something in the bird crap!

[Panama Red]

It finally hit me as I was walking out of the theatre what killed the aliens....something in the bird crap!

Wow, you got hit by bird crap as you walked out of the theater?! :eek: That really stinks, David!!! ;) :D

[David M]

Hee hee.....I'm giving you a time out Panama. :)

[Panama Red]

I'm surprised that this discussion of the various versions of War of the Worlds hasn't included one of my all time favorites. In the late '70's (1976 I think), a musical version of WOTW was done by Jeff Wayne. It was narrated by Richard Burton and was set in England (as was Wells' original novel). The music was heavy with Moody Blues influences due in part to a collaboration with Justin Hayward of the Moody's.

Forget the movies, put your imagination to work. Throw this musical version in the CD player or, like me, on the turntable (yes, I have the original vinyl version which I've copied to CD), sit back in a dark room and let Richard Burton carry you to another century and raise the fear along your spine - the Martians are coming!!

[Jaggannath]

I've got the musical version on CD, been listening to it for the last 6 years whenever I need to relax. Richard Burton had the best voice, I didn't think Morgan Freeman (?) really cut it, just didn't have the edge. I really think more narrative throughout the story would have carried the suspense better.

And David, that occurred to my mate, he thought they were allergic to the birds or something, but I'm not so sure, they were in iron beasts. Plus I'm sure birds crap in a lot of places. In the book (**SPOILER**) they ingest the bacteria because they drink the blood of the humans IIRC.

[Floppyman]

I've got the musical version on CD, been listening to it for the last 6 years whenever I need to relax. Richard Burton had the best voice, I didn't think Morgan Freeman (?) really cut it, just didn't have the edge. I really think more narrative throughout the story would have carried the suspense better.

And David, that occurred to my mate, he thought they were allergic to the birds or something, but I'm not so sure, they were in iron beasts. Plus I'm sure birds crap in a lot of places. In the book (**SPOILER**) they ingest the bacteria because they drink the blood of the humans IIRC.

They drink the blood of humans in the movie too. The aliens have little pointy needles that suck the blood right out.

[colecifer]

My take on why the aliens could not survive is that there was something in bird crap, some sort of bacteria that is a pathogen to the aliens, that killed them.

Let me explain, towards the end of the movie:
Remember at the end of the movie where Cruise was standing under the statue of Paul Revere and he noticed that those red vein things had turned to a crispy tube that could be crushed to a grey powder?...they were dead. Well?..what sits on statues?...birds!

Towards the end of the movie:
Remember him pointing up to the alien tripod mentioning the birds that were circling around it? The birds were crapping on the tripod.

Remember the beginning and end of the movie showing the bacteria?

It finally hit me as I was walking out of the theatre what killed the aliens....something in the bird crap!

I don't think the birds have anything to do with the tripod going down, all that they did was prove the shields were down because they were flying so close to it.

[Floppyman]

Yep, exactly right.

[DragonNOA1]

I'll chime in late (as usual) and say how I loved the movie.

I haven't read any other posts but the movie reminded me a lot of HL2. Striders... the noise they made... ppl coming together to fight an opressor. Good movie that kept things changing and never got stale IMO.

[Karnevil9]

I have not read the book:( but I think this movie was excellent especially the special effects in this version. I always liked the original movie because I thought the way it ended was different. In most sci-fi's we invent some great machine to do combat or find a weakness and exploit it rallying ourselves to a great battle. In this story we're done, toast, history. But something happens not because of us but inspite of us that saves the day. I am glad this movie followed a lot of what I remembered. The origianl story is set in London I believe. This version was set in NJ to pay homeage to the radio broadcast of the thirties/forties? by Orson Wells which had folks so terrified that he lost much of his popularity.
There is some comparison to be made with Independence Day, but Independence Day took from WOTW and not the other way around.

Go see the movie at a theater with a good dolby sound system and prepare to be blown away.

Oh and if I am not mistaking, WOTW's was written by H.G. Wells, Not George Orwell.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Yeah, but out of the blue the machines started to walk in circles and collapse and the shields just shut down. It was if the aliens didnt want to overtake the planet but just kill for fun for their short short lives. lame....
What's so lame anent it? The machines started to "act" weird because the aliens controlling them were feeling ill. Same thing would happen to a car if the driver is suddenly feeling dizzy. The aliens did want to overtake the planet but they were never expecting to become ill. They started the operation they have planned -which included complete extermination of the human population- and in the manner in which they have planned it; they were just never expecting to become sick.

[Jaggannath]

Oh and if I am not mistaking, WOTW's was written by H.G. Wells, Not George Orwell.

I knew I'd got something wrong, couldn't put my finger on it... between discussing Orson WELLes, George OrWELL and H.G. WELLs I got myself all tangled. Doh. Good pick up Karnevil

Floppy, I knew they drank the humans blood in the movie, but the movie gave the impression that they were used to spray the red spores over the country to become the red weed... leastaways that was the impression the movie gave me

[Karnevil9]

"I knew I'd got something wrong, couldn't put my finger on it... between discussing Orson WELLes, George OrWELL and H.G. WELLs I got myself all tangled. Doh. Good pick up Karnevil"

LOL, I double checked to make sure I had all my "OR's" and "WELL's" straight myself before I posted that. Does get a bit confusing.

Still interesting he wrote that story in 1898. H.G. Wells like Jules Verne was way ahead of his time.

[foghat46]

The original illustrations are tripped-out. Iin the book, the ships are cylinders fired from a giant gun on Mars, and create quite the crater on Earth when they hit. The machines emerge a few days later after things cool a bit.

[David M]

Hah!.....I still think it's something in the birdcrap that is a pathogen to the aliens. :)

[DragonNOA1]

Hah!.....I still think it's something in the birdcrap that is a pathogen to the aliens. :)

roflcopter

[Karnevil9]

Maybe the birdcrap ate through the force filed, the same way it will eat paint on your car:)

[Xayd]

http://www.tomcruiseisnuts.com

and i thought the movie was horrible compared to the original.

[Jaggannath]

That was pretty awesome Xayd... funny stuff

[Sauron]

"What Scientology is, is it addresses man as a spiritual being. Okay? And it gives people tools that they apply to their lives to improve conditions. And that is what it is."

A. I could use that sentence as a basis for religion. B. If thats the "intelligence" spewing from Hollywood today, I can understand why there is a slump.

[Xayd]

"What Scientology is, is it addresses man as a spiritual being. Okay? And it gives people tools that they apply to their lives to improve conditions. And that is what it is."

A. I could use that sentence as a basis for religion. B. If thats the "intelligence" spewing from Hollywood today, I can understand why there is a slump.

yeah, a slump for tom cruise definitely, he's gotten in a handful of big name movies over the past few years but not nearly as many as he did in the 90s.

besides the fact that he's insane, johnny depp and brad pitt are better actors than he ever was too, so he's got a tough haul ;).

[David M]

The IRS granted Scientology religious status...therefore it is tax exempt. That makes no sense since it has nothing to do with any sort of god. Hubbard who wrote science fiction, said in one of his books the way to become wealthy is to start a religion. Looks like he followed his own words. Scientologists, much like a cult, contribute a high percentage of their income to Hubbard's group. Thats their choice and their right. To each his own.

[mbossman2]

one (http://www.xenu.net/) view of the Scientologists....

[doctorgonzo]

That makes no sense since it has nothing to do with any sort of god.

I don't think that's an appropriate way to determine what a religion is or not; certainly, it's not appropriate for the IRS to delve into questions about deities.

I honestly don't care much about Scientology. I'm perfectly fair: I think every religion has its share of crazy beliefs. :D

[nocturnx]

I thought the movie was excellent, it was definatley one of the best sci-fi movies ive seen in quite some time. I enjoyed it better than the original, pretty much same story but with better visuals and sound effects. Both films had good acting, nothing great.

[Jaggannath]

That makes no sense since it has nothing to do with any sort of god.
Jedi is a religion in the USA is it not?? I don't see any gods there, but it's still something people believe in to lead their lives in a good and just way, the same as religion. Does that make it invalid??

I wonder what Cruise thought about God saving the planet, and not the Scientologists, in War of the Worlds

[David M]

How should a religion be defined? Any group with a set of beliefs? This could be the Boy Scouts then. Or the Kiwanis Club.

[Jaggannath]

It's defined by number of followers I believe... if a certain number of people call it their religion on a census in the Other column, and they petition for it, I believe they're allowed to be called a religion

[Siberian Bear]

Well I saw the film a couple of days ago and I liked it. But I'd still like an authentic Wells film. There is one made by Pendragon under the title "H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds", but it doens't seem to have been released widely. There is supposed to be a DVD of it too but I can't find it anywhere in the UK.

I thought the film was quite like the 1953 version in a number of respects, however it's been a while since I've read the book so I might have forgotten things that were originally in it. I don't remember the eye moving throught he house in the book, nor the aliens actually getting out the machines.

Jeff Wayne is apparently doing a complete CGI version of War of the Worlds in 2007. I ordered his musical version on CD, but they sent me "music from the motion picture" (i.e. the one that has just been released). I'll get it eventually I suppose.

[Jaggannath]

I don't remember the eye moving throught he house in the book, nor the aliens actually getting out the machines.

That's because they didn't have those high-tech eyes on the stalk, and the aliens didn't leave their machines. There was one alien per craft, and they stayed inside their machines IIRC.


Jeff Wayne is apparently doing a complete CGI version of War of the Worlds in 2007. I ordered his musical version on CD, but they sent me "music from the motion picture" (i.e. the one that has just been released). I'll get it eventually I suppose.
I've had the CD for years now, I wasn't looking forwards to the movie because I enjoyed the book and music, but they didn't butcher it, as I stated above. Had it for 7 or so years now I think about it. I was surprised they didn't use the existing music, it was very good