War of the Worlds

[slanderous]

Yeah, I know Wells' radio play came before the Cold War, but many "alien invasion" films were thinly-veiled political or cultural allegories; I just wondered if the radio play could have been adapted for such a purpose? (I haven't seen the original film, by the way.)

Apparently, the world premiere in Tokyo has been cancelled for "security" reasons. I'm going to take a wild guess and suggest that Cruise's recent hijinks have studio execs veeerry nervous.

[colette]

Actually, a lot of critics have said that the 1953 film version traded heavily on America's paranoia about the bomb, communism, and Roswell.

[monsterzero]

I think we should all breakdown and call this War of the Weirds because the way Cruise is headed, it's going to sink this film whether it's worth watching or not.

[colette]

I hate the clams, I hate Cruise, but WoTW is CLASSIC sci-fi and therefore, I'm there. On opening weekend. Standing in line.

I just want to know how they update the story considering the way the enemy was defeated in the original story no longer works considering modern techonology.

[duskwolf]

Eh, when it comes to sci-fi, I'd rather just return to the source than try and watch someone re-imagine it. I always look forward to science-fiction movies that are original in their own right, that way, I can complain about what was wrong with it, with nothing else to compare it to, instead of being disappointed.

OT: The only sci-fi movie I've seen in recent years that didn't degenerate into some stupid action flick is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I could be wrong. But I rented Dark City a few days back to reaffirm my faith in the genre.

Back on topic: Even if the story is classic, if it's a Tom Cruise movie, it exists purely to feed his ego. But this time, it was on the set while the cameras weren't rolling, too. And I am PISSED that Spielberg of all people folded on letting a tent on the set for the Co$.

[angel17987]

I saw the trailer for it last night and it looked good, but I think its appearance is deceiving. The last few Spielberg movies have majorly sucked and so have the last few Cruise movies. Plus, now their egos are even more massive. I'm thinking this is going to be overprocessed and boring and if it gets glowing reviews it's only because both men are coasting on previous successes and love from critics. Of course I could be wrong.

[monsterzero]

Nah angel, you're more right than you know. Never before has so many coasted on the successes of so few films. I'm just waiting for the day where people will say 'oh Christ, another freaking Spielberg televised war film? Get over yourself!'

[mrpancake]

I'll definitely be seeing this movie, even though I don't really care for Tom Cruise anymore now that I am more aware of his religious fanatacism and his remarkes about PPD. However, I enjoy him as an actor, and I like Steven Spielberg's films. I thought Collateral was really good and I thought Minority Report was excellent, plus Steven Spielberg will always get love from me for making E.T., a movie I used to watch every single day as a child. Can't wait to see it, but I wish Tiny Tom would chill out a lot.

[Deleted]

slanderous said:

Yeah, I know Wells' radio play came before the Cold War, but many "alien invasion" films were thinly-veiled political or cultural allegories; I just wondered if the radio play could have been adapted for such a purpose? (I haven't seen the original film, by the way.)

Wrong Wells. H. G. Wells was a sci-fi author, who wrote War of the Worlds, The Time Machine and The Island of Dr. Moreau. He died in 1946, but WOTW was written in 1898.

Orson Wells was an actor, screenwriter and director. He's the one who did the adaption of War of the Worlds on the radio.

[Deleted]

So I saw it last night. It was...okay

How many years Cruise has been in the movies? Same old acting. Such a one-note actor, he is. I was so disappointed with the ending but then I realized it *is* a Spielberg film, can't expect anything different.