"Good news for War of the Worlds Fans..." Topic

"…Rejoice, H.G. Wells fans! A War of the Worlds television series is currently in the works.
According to a report over at Broadcast Now, Mammoth Screen (which is owned by the producers of the new Poldark series on ITV) is working on a TV adaptation of Wells' classic sci-fi novel, and they've brought Peter Harness on board to pen the miniseries.

What's even more awesome is that the new TV series will stick closely to the original text and time period of the book -- which was first released as a serial in 1897 -- with the Martian invasion taking place in the town of Dorking, Surrey, in Victorian England…"
From here
link

Amicalement
Armand

I remember the TV series based on the George Pal movie. After the first season, my brother and I are driving back from a SF convention and we're assuring each other of the implausibility of human civilization being knocked down to primitive levels so soon. You know, people living out of huts made from cowhide and scraps of lumber.

That was when we followed a tight turn in the road and saw what appeared to be a small village made from cowhides and lumber scraps on the side of the road where a rest area was located.

It turned out just to be a beef rancher and his family selling the cowhides they had been sitting in their barn for the last decade or so.

For a second, I thought you were going to say the Americans were going to mess it up again.

I still haven't seen the Tom Cruise "thing" and have vowed I never will.

I still haven't seen the Tom Cruise "thing" and have vowed I never will.

Don't. It's pretty bad. The first time I saw it, I walked out of he theater feeling sick because one third of the way through because I was wondering if the Iraqis thought we were inhuman monsters (great timing Spielberg). I saw the rest of the movie some years later. There are some plotholes big enough to walk a tripod through.

still haven't seen the Tom Cruise "thing" and have vowed I never will.

Avoid.
I waited until it was a cheap DVD, and watched it. I had a negative reaction.
So I waited a month and watched it again.

Basically I wanted all both of the kids to DIE, along with virtually every other human character including Tom Cruise's character.

I for one welcome our new tentacly Martian overlords.

Good CGI/special effects though

There is only one thing (yes one thing) good about the Tom Cruise version…his car! Yup nothing else is good about that movie.

If the TV series is faithful to the book it will fail miserably. It certainly will not keep the attention of the x or y generations. These two generations don't seem to have the capability to follow anything that involves continuity. If they made into a "reality" show, they'll make millions, otherwise they're pandering to the wrong demographic. Most Americans don't give a crap about the classics unless there is nudity and sex involved in the show! Oh, and don't forget about the "cool" factor: sexy vehicles and weapons! It'll fail here in the U.S….

. The x and y generations are the reason why we have continuity based TV series at all, instead of the episodic 'universe resets at the end of the episode' crap that dominated TV during the 20th century.

-Will

Perhaps it will have the production values of Downton Abby and Upstairs Downstairs. Maybe a movie like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but with Martians and 90 years later.

If it fails in the US it will probably do well in the rest of the world.

The only thing I liked about the Spielberg/Cruise version was the "Ulla!" sound effect: YouTube link

Warning: Don't watch beyond the 10-second mark, if you value your sanity.

So… not so good news… (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

They did a War of the Worlds show before it wasn't that good.

Not a Cruise fan but I liked Spielberg's film – didn't love it.

They did a War of the Worlds show before it wasn't that good.

That was a follow on to the 1950's movie though, wasn't it?

-Will

Will I saw this show and it was a direct connection to the 1950's movie and I liked it(for the most part)they even had Ann Robinson who was in the film part a part in the series.

So, in 2005, there were three: Tom Cruise (not so much), C. Thomas Howell (No, and HELL no), and the directed-by Timothy Hines, direct to video.

I thought this was accurate to the work, and BORING.

Accurate AND talent. Needs both.

Doug

The Tom Cruise one was quite good. Don't listen to the haters.

The other one was dreadful, I think, only watched a couple minutes of it.

I really liked the Spielberg/Cruise movie-- it had many of the best scenes from the book present, albeit updated and modernized.

For myself I really hated the Spielberg/Cruise movie.

How the Martians arrived in the Spielberg/Cruise movie is pretty much what killed it for me, and made me question Spielberg's talent as a director as well. I mean the Martians beaming down into their machines that have sat waiting for who knows how long. Really Spielberg? That's the best you can do? What was so wrong with the landing cylinder ya doofus?

Within the last year or two, there was a modified War of the Worlds where the Martians landed just before WWI. It was a documentary-style show in two (?) parts, about 4 hours long(?).

Memory's foggy here. Might have been on BBC? They cut in WWI footage with altered WWI footage to include tripods, etc.

Really liked the 2005 War of the Worlds with the exception of the Tim Robbins occupation rant.
And every time I am waiting at a railroad crossing for a passenger train, a particular scene from that movie plays in my head.

Anyone know how to get hold of the BBC pseudo doc?

TomT