Random Statement Of the Day: War of the Worlds.

[logansrogue]

War of the Worlds is NOT ABOUT ALIENS.

It's got aliens in it, but it's not about THEM per se. So the next time some motherfucker decides to make a movie about it, let's get someone who GETS WHAT THE BOOK IS ACTUALLY ABOUT.

Comments

[sl_walker]

Amen!

[secrets-n-lies.livejournal.com]

AMEN x 2!

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

This is why I love you people.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I was reading a thread about movies so bad they're laughable at Shakesville, and someone mentioned War of the Worlds with Tom Cruise. I'd laugh, but that got made over a movie about the actual book. The best we have is a fan effort with crap acting but decent costuming.

It just occurred to me in that thread that nobody has made a movie that follows the main story of the book - the end of civilisation and humanity in the face of destruction. It's like people have forgotten about layers in storytelling. If it's not being screamed in their faces, they don't fucking get it. Makes me want to break inanimate things.

[leviathan0999.livejournal.com]

Actually -- and loathing Tom Cruise as I do, it hurts me to say this -- I feel the Spielberg-directed "WotW" movie did a remarkable jobe of updating HG Wells' novel, while staying very true to his intentions and themes.

Wells, disgusted by European colonialism (primarily in Africa) set out to show his countrymen what it would be like for England if it were on the other end of that experience, by confronting his proud military empire with an enemy that technologically outclassed it. Spielberg gives exactly the same treatment to America and her reliance on military might. In Ogilvy, the crazed Ambulance driver, played chillingly by Tim Robbins, we get both the Curate and the Artilleryman.

There are definite problems -- sugaryfun points out two biggies -- but I walked out of the movie feeling that Wells would have approved.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

There were great performances in it, and the script had some good moments.

Just - ugh. Tom Cruise.

[sugaryfun.livejournal.com]

Have you been watching the latest film version? They tried to do something clever with the political commentary thing (apparently the fact that the aliens were already on earth underground and just 'activated' by the meteors instead of coming down in them is supposed to suggest terrorist cells already in the community) but I don't think it really works. Also, (SPOILER) it's a massive copout that neither of the kids die.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I loved the CGI of the alien tripods and the sounds they made. The way the tripods lumbered through the city and destroyed people wholesale - that was really cool. And that. Is. It. They made the aliens run around on their feet, fast. Which is stupid. The entire idea of the aliens is that we underestimate them, laugh at them, feel superior to them. And then they come out of nowhere and WIPE US THE FUCK OUT.

Erm - yeah. As I said to someone else, I as talking about the new movie and it occurred to me that in all the incarnations of this story that I've seen, nobody bloody gets what it's about. Except Jeff Wayne and his musical. That's faithful and AWESOME. How can you go wrong with Richard Burton and Phil Lynott?

[leviathan0999.livejournal.com]

Oh, so much love for Jeff Wayne's version! More awesome than I can possibly describe.

[sugaryfun.livejournal.com]

Yes, the musical version is amazing.

[apolla.livejournal.com]

THIS! A MILLION TIMES!

So much so that I've been half-toying with the idea of writing an adaptation that's part-book (which I started to read) and part-Jeff Wayne, updated perhaps for 'now' in maybe musical-TV form or something. I never started but one day...

For now, whenever I need a bit of a boost, I like to listen to Richard 'lyooominous' Burton and my boy Philo together... just because I can.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Me and Scotty always quote his funny lines from that horrible Exorcist sequel. "The wowk you do is incredible!"

[hotclaws.livejournal.com]

And it will be forever Autumn, cos you;re not here.