War of the Worlds

[Darth Mandarb]

Been a long time since I've had two threads started at the same time in the Gen Gen ... anyway:

I just saw this movie ...

I must say I was completely blown away.

It was such a departure from Spielberg's usual movies, yet still soooooo Spielberg.  The color-wash was very similar to Minority Report and Saving Private Ryan which gives it that edgy realism.  The special effects were some of the best I've seen (only a few stood out to me at all, the rest were seamless)

The movie was INTENSE.

In fact, I think it was so intense it might deserve an R rating (in the states, don't know the rating systems 'round the world).  There was this little kid in front of us, couldn't have been more than 7-8 years old who was just terrified.  He/She (couldn't tell) was in tears!

Has anybody else seen it?  I want to avoid spoilers ... but WOW!

Just FYI, I found This old thread from last December but didn't want to dig it up.  (it's actually a funny read if you read it and Kinoko's recent thread about Minority Report ... Farlander and I have almost an identical conversation!)

[Matt Goble]

I caught this over the weekend with some of the guys at Brittens.

As you say - Intense!

My only dissapointment was the last 20 minutes, which seemed 100% Spielberg, and the few plot holes.

But as a whole, wow what a ride.

[Nacho]

hehehe... Here the promo is starting, but I think there's no "popularilly known" date for its release... There must be an official date, though. I'll post here asap as I see it.

[PaulSC]

I thought I was gonna hate it for the first 15 minutes or so, but I loved it by the end. Spielberg really directed the crap out of it. He was the real star of the show - I don't think anyone can make visceral rollercoaster film entertainment like he can, and I think this stands up alongside Duel, Raiders and Jurassic Park as his best in that area. It just felt like him letting his hair down and showing off what he can do.

The much criticised short ending didn't really bother me at all, in the end. Even the sentimentalism wasn't as bad as I feared, based on his botching of the AI and Minority Report endings.

[Al_Ninio]

I can't wait to see this movie.
I've listened to the Jeff Wayne musical countless times over the last few days in anticipation.

[LGM]

I must agree with all of the points made.

The effects were the most amazing I've seen in film yet. Yes, only about two or three spots were obviously CG, the rest were blended in so well that, if you were a fool, you wouldn't know they didn't actually just blow up a bridge and vaporize people.

This movie was very intense aswell. Halfway through, this movie really gets rolling and it's one hit after the other. I especially enjoyed the basement scene (Now that I think about it, it's quite similar to the kitchen scene in Jurassic Park!)

There were a few plotholes that irk me, but I can dismiss them and still thoroughly enjoy the movie.

Tom Cruise was solid, as always. Dakota Fanning was a pleasure to watch, but she really got on my nerves sometimes when she wouldn't wise up and actually assess the situation she was in. The boy who played Robbie was a surprise... Though he's a 23 year old man in real life, he effectively played a 16 year old boy.

All in all, I was very impressed with this film and Steven Speilberg leaves his mark once again in the Hollywood Hall of Fame.

Oh, and completely off topic Al, but I dig the Psychonauts reference in your avatar caption.
"I am a milkman. My milk is delicious."

[Darth Mandarb]

The more I think about the special effects the more I'm marveling at them ...

I think I've figured out why they were so good.

A lot of times, if the movie is spending so much money on the effects, they center them on the screen and force them down your throat.  You have to see them.  But this movie really put the special effects shot-gun.  The characters drove the story and the effects came second.

As far as I'm concerned, that's the way to make movies proper!  That's why movies before CGI had a little more impact (to me) ... I'm hoping this starts a trend to put movies back in the hands of the actors, rather than the computers!!

Example:

Spoiler

- The scene near the end where they were hitting the Striders (Half Life 2 reference) with the javeline missles.  The impact of the missles was shown, but wasn't center stage.

- The scene where Ray "Let's Robbie go" on the hill top.  You could see the tanks and helicopters firing, but it never showed the battle.

[close]

This is the most fun I've had at a movie in a LONG time.  It's movies like this which is the reason I go to the movies!  Spielberg is a genius!

Some of you have mentioned some plot-holes.  I'd be curious to know what you mean (not in a smart-ass I'm defending Spielberg way)  I'm curious to know ...

[LGM]

Plot Holes that I caught:

Spoiler

- If every electrical device was supposed to be fried/non-working after the lightning storm, why the hell could people use cameras and camcorders? You see several people taking snaps with FLASH and one fellow using a video camera. Major plothole!
- How could the lasers destroy people and vehicles and huge bridges but leave clothes intact?
- How come there were people floating down the river? Did they kill themselves? Because I'm sure they would've been vaporized if not.
- What was the deal with spraying the blood? This isn't a plothole more than it is a poorly explained plot detail.
- The plane crashed all around the house they were in, yet their van was completely fine. WHA?!

Also, since I am already in spoiler mode, I found it quite too sentimental to see that the area of Boston where Tom's ex happened to be staying was completely untouched and that Robbie survived that hugeass firestorm over the hills.

And to comment your marvel of the graphics, I do agree. But not showing the battle was probably more of a budget constraint... LOL.. Actually most-likely not... Because Robbie was so intent on seeing it, that if we (the audience) did, it would ruin the emotion between them.

[close]

I'll stop rambling now.

[Kinoko]

I haven't seen it yet but I will soon.

I can't wait though and because I'm a BIG fan of Jeff Wayne's musical (much moreso than the book, which I actually found ratherr dull) I'm curious as to what they kept.

I've heard the ending's the same from someone... er, confirmation?

Can you see the heat rays? Because you're not supposed to (being just... heat). Are they even called heat rays or are they "lasers"?

And just a general sort of question, but how do they get over the fact that we can't kill them in these modern times with all out technology? In the original versions, the technology was FAR poorer and they still managed to bring them down occasionally. You'd think it'd be a cinch these days. Do they manage to convincingly portrey why this doesn't happen?

Also...

Spoiler

Do crows pick at them at the end when they're dead? That was always one of my favourite images

[close]

OH! Noone has answered me this one yet, do they still "UUULLLLLAAAAAA!" or some other cry?

[Al_Ninio]

I can't wait though and because I'm a BIG fan of Jeff Wayne's musical (much moreso than the book, which I actually found ratherr dull) I'm curious as to what they kept.

Can you see the heat rays? Because you're not supposed to (being just... heat). Are they even called heat rays or are they "lasers"?

You might be interested in this, then.
Test animations from a CGI movie (official) being made, due out in 2007, based on concepts from Jeff Wayne's musical (well, the booklet that came with it. ).

And even there you can see the heat rays. Because, well. Invisible heat rays in a film would be rather dull.

[Darth Mandarb]

I'm not hiding all of this so ...

SPOILER ALERT - READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

- If every electrical device was supposed to be fried/non-working after the lightning storm, why the hell could people use cameras and camcorders? You see several people taking snaps with FLASH and one fellow using a video camera. Major plothole!

I wondered at that too ... though I guess I didn't think it was such a plot hole.  I mean, if that guy could get the van working again, perhaps cameras and other battery powered things (that weren't on during the storm) can still be used?  That's just what I thought ...

- How could the lasers destroy people and vehicles and huge bridges but leave clothes intact?

I just assumed they had different types of weapons ... like a fighter jet has guns and missles.

- How come there were people floating down the river? Did they kill themselves? Because I'm sure they would've been vaporized if not.

Well ... I'm sure there are thousands of reasons why those people were floating down the river.  There was a lot unexplained in the movie.

- What was the deal with spraying the blood? This isn't a plothole more than it is a poorly explained plot detail.

Yes, there was a lot of that.  I'll explain more in a bit ...

- The plane crashed all around the house they were in, yet their van was completely fine. WHA?!

Have to agree with you on this one!  It was the one thing I complained to Sara about.  The house they parked at was 1/2 blown away and the rest of the neighborhood was demolished but NEVER underestimate the power of the mini-van!!!

Also, since I am already in spoiler mode, I found it quite too sentimental to see that the area of Boston where Tom's ex happened to be staying was completely untouched and that Robbie survived that hugeass firestorm over the hills.

No, this made sense to me.  The attack on that part of the world started in New York ... I got the impression they (the baddies) hadn't made it that far north/east yet (to Boston) so that city probably avoided the major devestation.

And just a general sort of question, but how do they get over the fact that we can't kill them in these modern times with all out technology? In the original versions, the technology was FAR poorer and they still managed to bring them down occasionally. You'd think it'd be a cinch these days. Do they manage to convincingly portrey why this doesn't happen?

OH! Noone has answered me this one yet, do they still "UUULLLLLAAAAAA!" or some other cry?

They are shielded ... the old fall back.  But it works.

The sounds they make are like ultra-loud fog horns.  It's still creepin' me out.  It's quite excellent!

About all the missing details
Spielberg isn't lazy ... and he's not sloppy.  I'm thinking all the ambiguity about certain plot points was intentional.  Because you feel what they (the characters) are feeling.  Total unknowing confusion.   Maybe this doesn't work for some, but it worked for me.

- Why were they spraying blood?  Why were they draining the people in the first place?
- Why were the people floating down the river and not vaporized?
- Why couldn't the probe (in the basement) just switch to infra-red mode and detect their heat signatures?
- How did Robbie find his way to Boston?

But also, there were many questions like this that were left unexplained in this version of the story, but because the story is so well known, those that are familiar with it can fill in the blanks.

I also didn't think anything bad about the ending ... I don't know.  Maybe I'm just a closet Spielberg fan-boy

[Al_Ninio]

SPOILER ALERT - READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

- Why were they spraying blood?  Why were they draining the people in the first place?

From the original novel:
"And this was the sum of the Martian organs. Strange as it may seem to a human being, all the complex apparatus of digestion, which makes up the bulk of our bodies, did not exist in the Martians. They were heads--merely heads. Entrails they had none. They did not eat, much less digest. Instead, they took the fresh, living blood of other creatures, and injected it into their own veins."

As to the rest, I do not know, as I have not seen the movie.

[LGM]

That helps; thanks Al. And nice counterpoints, Darth. Dually noted.

[Las Naranjas]

Am I right in my impression from the trailers that the film is vaguely in the same vein as the book, insofar the book's invasion mirrored colonialism and the film appears to mirror 20th century genocide, rather than being flag waving Independence Day, violent forces of liberation crap?

[earlwood]

How well does this movie emulate the book itself? Just about everyone I ask seems to really like it, thought just about everyone I ask seems to have not read the book or heard Jeff Wayne's musical.

And the one person I did manage to find who had read the book said, and I quote, "This movie is so fuc*ing terrible! What is with that god-like van and underground robots?"

I've been burned before by Sci-Fi Book-Movie conversions, so naturally I'm a little skeptical about this particular movie...plus I'm not a huge fan of Mr. Cruise.

[PaulSC]

When the main title appeared I couldn't help thinking how much better it would've been if Jeff Wayne's main theme had started blasting out. The actual music is pretty functional and forgettable, sadly.

On the electrics - the explanation I've heard is that apparently EMPs only have an effect on devices that are switched on, so as long as the camcorders and cameras were switched off they would still work later.

But I think all the unanswered questions are part of what makes the film interesting. It's so intensely focused on this one family's experience, your mind fills the gaps in a way that makes it feel like there are a hundred other stories going on off-screen. I heard a long time ago that Spielberg wanted to make a trilogy out of this - i'm not sure if he's still planning that, but if he did all he'd need to do is pick some new characters and show the invasion from different perspectives and situations.

It's not really a 'thinking' film, though. I can see how a lot of people (and likely book fans) might not like it.

[Kinoko]

I totally agree that Jeff Wayne's theme should have been used. That, right there, is some absolute kick-ass music. It has that same effect that the Hitchhiker's theme has.

[Darth Mandarb]

On the electrics - the explanation I've heard is that apparently EMPs only have an effect on devices that are switched on, so as long as the camcorders and cameras were switched off they would still work later.

Sara and I were talking this over as well ...

We came up with (as quoted above) that things that were 'off' during the EMP storm wouldn't be damaged.  But then we thought, well it seems unlikely that the mini-van was the only car not 'on' during that storm.

So then we determined that cars, having alternators and starters (which always carry a high-charge) were effected even though the cars weren't on.  Automobiles are a much more complicated system than a camcorder, obviously, so they were effected by the EMP.

I'm going to DL this Jeff Wayne musical ... see what you all are taking about

[Kinoko]

Excellent, Darth. Listen to it in a dark room ^_^

[PaulSC]

Well I doubt Jeff Wayne's too upset about not getting the call for Spielberg's film - I just saw this week's UK album charts and his War Of The Worlds album went in at no. 6. Nice bit of success by osmosis, there.

The album is pretty great, though I'm a bit biased due to the old childhood nostalgia factor. It's kind of cheesy in places, but that main theme, "oohlaa", "BUT STILL THEY COME!!", the squeaking sound of the alien pod door unscrewing... that's all iconic stuff. To me, anyway. The artwork is great, too, especially if you have it on LP.

Also there was a little-known RTS game based on his musical made a few years ago, which I thought was surprisingly decent, when it wasn't being incredibly annoying.