h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

War of the Worlds (12A*)

Director: Steven Spielberg
Origin: United States
Year: 2005 Duration: 116m
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Tom Cruise

Ray Ferrier (Cruise) is a working class man living in New Jersey. He's estranged from his family, his life isn't in order, and he's too caught up with himself. But the unthinkable and, ultimately, the unexpected occurs when his small town life is shaken violently by the arrival of destructive alien intruders hell bent on destroying earth. As they maraud through the country in a wave of mass destruction and violence, Ray must come to the defence of his children and help save humanity from the force that threatens to destroy it. Spielberg's startling version of the HG Wells classic (via an intelligent screenplay by David Koepp, SPIDER-MAN) unsurprisingly boasts breathtaking special effects, however it is also a compelling parable about paranoia and human endeavour.

I've got strong feelings about this, because WotW is one of my favourite pieces of literature.

Where every adaptation (including the 1950s 'Metal Swans invade the US' travesty) has gone wrong is assuming that the book is about Martians taking over the world. It's not, it's about colonialism. It puts the British reader in the place of a person (ie an Aboriginal in Australia) who has lived his or her life knowing that they are masters of their own small habitat. Then all of a sudden a vastly superior (technologically speaking) opponent who effortlessly upsets the 'natural' order of things. From the clips, previews and synopsis I've seen, this is just a rehash of Independence Day in which a good ol' US citizen learns the value of family when pinko commie fag aliens come and try to kick Uncle Sam's ass.

Plus this hollywood monstrosity has stopped the faithful adaptation of the book by Pendragon Pictures being released. Which is nice of them.

The War of the Worlds (Remastered Double Album) musical version ~ by Jeff Wayne is being plugged on TV at the moment.

I know, and I own it. It doesn't disguise the fact that this film you're plugging will be as similar to the book as the song 'Sometimes' by Ash is to the song 'Sometimes' by Britney Spears.

I know they are totally unalike I am not totally stupid and I am not plugging it.

Thunderchild is the name of one of the Royal Navy warship defending Earth in 'The War or the Worlds' Also name of an Akira Class starship in Star Trek.

Also the name of one of the Reformation Coalitions ships in the Traveller role-playing universe.

Thanks blackberrycat

I was absolutely terrifed of War of the Worlds when I was younger. I've managed to get a hold of a copy of the 1930's radio broadcast read by Orson Welles.

Is it true that in the 30's people were so terrified of the broadcast that they thought it was real and some even commited suicide rather than 'face' the Martians? I've heard this but I don't know if it's just a story or not

It's a bit of an urban myth. I don't think any committed suicide but there was quite a bit of panic, and running for the hills.

I can believe it, I've been listening to the copy and it is done very realistically. Although I admit that it does seem a bit tame by todays standards

Psyc re: your comment in post 2

HEAR HEAR!!!

I saw the trailer when we went to see Revenge of the Sith (Don't ask!) Excelsior wanted to know if it was a remake of Independance Day and I said (in a very loud voice) HG Wells would be spinning in his grave

As long as they keep the ending right. I was talking about this with a friend of mine not that long ago and he seemed to think that the Matians were killed by birds!
I've heard some stupid things before but this is something else

No the commen cold killed the Martians the birds just eat the dead.

Any other spins on this?




Howl with Pride

The Jeff Wayne CD is awesome - especially Forever Autumn

but the film is just going to be a dumb collection of overly expensive hollywood special effects. Badness.

I prefer Brave New World to Forever Autumn...

Is the 1950's film version any good?

The bit about the Mars landings at the end is really creepy, I like Forever Autumn, some of the dialogue is quite chilling

The 1950s film version is pretty similar to most B-Movies of the time, only better filmed and acted.