War of the Worlds starring Tom Cruise

[heyzeus321]

I thought the movie was better than I thought it was going to be. Although the story kind of rushed the ending a little to quick.

 

[wmdragon]

"Anyone notice how much the aliens resembled the ones from Independence Day. "<br /><br />indeed, and the movie was released on july 4th weekend. hmmm <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[rhodan]

<font color="yellow">Some spoilers below.</font><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><i>Anyone notice how much the aliens resembled the ones from Independence Day.</i><br /><br />I haven't read the book, so I don't know whether Spielberg was merely sticking to Wells' descriptions of the aliens, but I thought the aliens were one of the many weak points of this film. Not the best film in Spielberg's repertoire, but also not quite 1941 too. <br /><br />I can't say I liked it much overall, but I probably went into the theater with too many expectations. I was really ready to be blown away, and that just didn't happen. It was enjoyable and sometimes strong, but then it was too slow too and at times a bit ridiculous. Like in Saving Private Ryan, the most intense part of the movie was the first 25-30 minutes. There's a great build up of tension, the characters are introduced nicely and convincing, although Cruise and the angel faced children just seem to be too much like out of a toothpaste commercial, if you know what I mean. Lacking charisma. But acceptable. The special effects kick in almost right away, and the scene where the tripod emerges in the middle of the street is very well done, with the church being torn apart, until the aliens start zapping people. What's up with the vaporizing? Is that sticking to Well's story again, or is it a rather misplaced 50's sci-fi tribute or something like that? I was quite caught up in it until the silly business with the zapping started. Someone in this thread compared it to Mars Attacks and it was my first thought too. Major let down. But perhaps Spielberg was looking for a way to not make it too bloody, keep it a family film, which I then think was a bad choice. After that I never got quite in the movie again. Of course there is A Family That Needs To Be Healed, like in virtually every Hollywood film, but it didn't really work in this one. When Robbie left Ray and Rachel behind, it just thought 'good riddance', because he was annoyin

 

[Leovinus]

Spoilers below. Read at your own risk.<br /><br />I have read the book. Listened to Orson Welles' radio dramatization. Watched the 50s movie. Bought Jeff Wayne's musical version. And now I've watched Tom Cruise's version. I'll try to answer your questions.<br /><br />In the book, the meteor lands in Horsell Common and shortly thereafter begins unscrewing. I believe that the rotation visible in the street there was a reference to that. <br /><br />In the book, the Martian immediately vaporized anyone within line-of site of the pit where they landed using their heat ray. This gave them time to build their machines and establish a foothold. So in the movie, when the aliens began vaporizing everyone, they were possibly terrorizing the population into submission or simply clearing out any signs of resistence. Who knows?<br /><br />The robot eye came straight out of the 50s movie, even with the axe being used to chop the end of of it. There was a similar basement scene in the book. In the book, the unamed narrarator knocked the preacher unconconcious to keep him quiet, but then the Martians came and dragged him away.<br /><br />Also, the movie combined three HG Wells characters into one -- the Tim Robbins character. The book had an astronomer named "Ogilvy" who went with the narrarator to see the Martians in Horsell Common. Also, there was the preacher who got trapped in the basement of the house when a cylinder landed on the house and started ranting and raving as mentioned above. Finally, there was the looney artilleryman who dreamed of building a new civilization by digging tunnels and living underground. Tim Robbins' character had Ogilvy's name, was trapped in the basement and started making a racket, and was digging tunnels to live underground. While this smooshing together of three characters from the book may not seem right to you, at least it was closer to the book than the 50s movie.<br /><br />I absolutely can't stand Tom Cruise since he always plays a jerk <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[wvbraun]

"Anyone notice how much the aliens resembled the ones from Independence Day."<br /><br />I noticed that, too. Not very original. The tripods looked great though. Plot holes aside it was a good movie, very atmospheric.

 

[rhodan]

Thanks Leo. <br /><br />Just one more if you don't mind. Still about the vaporizing <img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" />: did Wells write the clothes survived the heat ray? That seemed odd. <br /><br /><i>Finally, there was the looney artilleryman who dreamed of building a new civilization by digging tunnels and living underground.</i><br /><br />...And call ourselves Morlocks? <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[wmdragon]

"did Wells write the clothes survived the heat ray? That seemed odd."<br /><br />question is for Leo but I'll butt in: dont remember enough of the book to know if it was based on it, but I read somewhere (maybe in this very thread?) how Spielberg may have injected images of the Holocaust (via Schilder's List) with the people turned to ashes and their remains floating down, a grim reminder of the scale of the massacre permeating the characters' environment. maybe, maybe not, but I think the spirit of tha analysis is correct: the clothes may not make that much sense scifi-wise - just like other parts of the movie dont - but they were there for dramatic effect. I also found that detail puzzling but accepted its emotional purpose. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[Leovinus]

Remember that people were killed two ways: by the Heat Ray and by having their blood consumed. The vaporized people left no clothes behind. The falling clothes were from the digested people. I guess the Martians don't like to eat clothes. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[wmdragon]

no, the clothes were from the blasted people <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[Leovinus]

In the first heat ray use, "Ray" comes home covered in people ashes. That might have been the holocaust analogy. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[wmdragon]

Im pretty sure there were clothes raining down on the street scene, not just ashes. you could see the clothes blowing away when the people got incinerated. and in the scene in the forest with the clothes coming down there were ashes too, and they were running away from a field where people were getting blasted. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[Leovinus]

The running down the street scene: Imagine someone getting blasted in the mid-back as they run away. The sudden heat causes the torso to explode. One would expect some debris to be blasted into the air and float back down.<br /><br />My daughter didn't get to see the movie with me and I may have to go see it again with her. If so, I'll keep an eye out for clothes. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[wvbraun]

"Im pretty sure there were clothes raining down on the street scene, not just ashes."<br /><br />I don't think so. The clothes were from the digested people who had been pulled out of the water...

 

[wmdragon]

"One would expect some debris to be blasted into the air and float back down."<br /><br />yes, that was more or less my explanation. it also reminded me of the incredible star trek phasers which disintegrate people without affecting much of anything else around. cool visual effect, unrealistic technology. I think the idea behind the alien rays was not scifi realism but artistry:<br /><br />- morbid eye candy<br />- dramatic effect<br />- as pointed out by another poster, avoiding violent gore (which ironically Spielberg did so well in Private Ryan)<br /><br />but who knows, Im sure plenty of geeks out there are researching scientifically possible explanations for the alien rays. I just looked into neutron bombs, but that doesnt do the trick. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[wmdragon]

curious, the people who saw the movie with me, and myself, all wondered why the rays disintegrated people but not their clothes, so there is a disconnect between our memories and/or intrepretations of some scenes. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[ivanjs]

Wow, what a great movie. Cruise works very well in the film and the first 30 minutes after the storm are some of the most intense in film.<br />John<br /><br />

 

[Leovinus]

Yes, he was very believable in playing a jerk. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[wmdragon]

two things I learned from War of the Worlds:<br /><br />1. dont gawk at big alien machines coming out of the ground, just run away<br /><br />2. buy a gun <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[Leovinus]

One thing I learned from WOTW: Minivans never run out of gas. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[commander_keen]

The aliens weren't digesting the people. Remember that scene in the basement? They were taking their blood and spraying it on those plants as fertilizer. <br /><br />Overall, I liked the movie. I agree that the dated concept of the original hurts it somewhat (much respect to H.G. Wells, but bacteria killing aliens just doesnt fly anymore in modern times). I also didnt think Cruise's character was too convincing. But, WOTW had some very, very powerful scenes that made up for it. <br /><br />EDIT: The movie actually convinced me to go out and read the original. Very entertaining novel so far. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />EDIT: Lets not forget the most important rule of hollywood: the prettier the people are, the greater their chance is to survive.

 

[Leovinus]

spoiler<br /><br />If the aliens weren't digesting people, what do you think "Ray" was doing getting sucked up into the belly of the beast? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[flynn]

Couple of things I learned.<br /><br />1) Sony CamCorders can withstand a EMP.<br /><br />2) Don't go into a basement with Tim Robbins.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#800080">"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - <strong>Chuck Palahniuk</strong>.</font> </div>

 

[avaunt]

What, they mixed a little of his "Mystic River" character in there, and he became "Jonglenns worst nightmare" ?. A Shotgun toting Brown Hatter!. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Saw a movie on the MGM channel two nights ago. Called something like " Louis Machiborrne V's the human race " it was a French "Comedy". I was thinking "This movie was MADE to horrify Jonglenn. SOme guy being chased by Poofs that liked skinny white dudes, all over Paris. He ends up in a Jail cell, twenty year sentence, with the traditional big bent bald bloke as "Roomie".

 

[wmdragon]

spoiler reply<br /><br />"If the aliens weren't digesting people, what do you think "Ray" was doing getting sucked up into the belly of the beast"<br /><br />I think sure he was just being taken out for spraying. wasnt the sphincter thru which he was sucked the same thru which he came in? people have to be taken out of the cage for spraying some way. what I wonder is how he pulled out TWO grenade pins with one hand while in the middle of that tug-of-war. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[Leovinus]

About EMP: I thought that older cars, like "Ray"'s Mustang, could withstand an EMP because it didn't have electronic ignition or a boatload of computer chips in it. That's why I thought they introduced it in the beginning. But now I see they put it in there because Tom Cruise insisted on having a hot car. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>