WAR OF THE WORLDS thread... (merged)
07-01-05 | 06:35 PM
#201
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From: NYC
Originally Posted by Sessa17
All the reasons you pointed out are my exact issues with what digitalfreak posts, & why it comes off like he is just being that guy. The reasons he hates WOTW just have no merit, especially when he says ROTS is the "best" movie of the year. The movies he says he loves contain the exact same things he bashes WOTW for having. And clearly other people have posted agreeing with me. Nobody is saying WOTW is classic, I think the last quater of the film is awful, but even the people that have not liked the movie, aren't going as far as he is going, & his reasoning just makes no sense. I mean, bad CGI, the guy has got to be joking, yet he praises ROTS with it's dreadful use of CGI. He bashes the characters for being stereotypes, yet the films he says he loves have characters that are the EPITOME of stereotypes, and his argument about the "set-up" of the film doesn't even make sense, when again, the films he loves use essentially the exact same means to set the stage for the story & action.
Huh. Did you not feel like you bashed me enough before or are you just bored at this point?
And I still want to know who the fuck "that guy" is.
07-01-05 | 06:44 PM
#202
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From: City of the lakers.. riots.. and drug dealing cops.. los(t) Angel(e)s. ca.
But Oprah liked it. If not for the praise it's getting here, believe it's good cause Oprah does.
P.S. "that guy" is a reference to the lone rebel who no matter how many folks like something, there has to be one person who goes against the masses and says it sucks just for the sake of being different.
P.S. "that guy" is a reference to the lone rebel who no matter how many folks like something, there has to be one person who goes against the masses and says it sucks just for the sake of being different.
07-01-05 | 06:54 PM
#203
DVD Talk Legend
Just glad Rivero's not here anymore...
Saw it. Loved it. However, I don't think a movie with this level of brutality and gloom is something the masses are looking for. So...fuck them! This movie actually decided to do what the old sci-fi movies of the 50s did and make some social statements, and Spielberg did a great job of reinvigorating that style. This movie was scary, but rather than going for the "boo" factor, Spielberg creates an creepy aura that sustains itself for an interlude as opposed to a brief shock.
That said, just once I would like to see a movie about alien invasion that explores the mindset of the aliens as well as the humans. I mean come on, would it be too much to develop an alien general character to stand in as a chief baddie for once? That's what I like about books by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle or Harry Turteldove about mass invasion, they give both sides of the story.
Saw it. Loved it. However, I don't think a movie with this level of brutality and gloom is something the masses are looking for. So...fuck them! This movie actually decided to do what the old sci-fi movies of the 50s did and make some social statements, and Spielberg did a great job of reinvigorating that style. This movie was scary, but rather than going for the "boo" factor, Spielberg creates an creepy aura that sustains itself for an interlude as opposed to a brief shock.
That said, just once I would like to see a movie about alien invasion that explores the mindset of the aliens as well as the humans. I mean come on, would it be too much to develop an alien general character to stand in as a chief baddie for once? That's what I like about books by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle or Harry Turteldove about mass invasion, they give both sides of the story.
07-01-05 | 07:13 PM
#204
Mod Emeritus
Originally Posted by chanster
As for the narration, I found it to be fantastic, mostly because it was straight from the book. IMHO "War of the Worlds" book cannot be overly praised, it is simply a fascinating piece of fiction that really foresaw the destruction of the old European order, the use of chemical and nonconventional weapons as the ultimate bringer of death in modern society. It is quite a marevelous read and can be found at Barnes and Noble for $3.95 list price (plus you can buy 2 classics, and get the 3rd for free) Please read the book, you will see that it is quite good, better than the movie.
Check out this thread for more apocalyptic fiction:
07-01-05 | 07:14 PM
#205
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Originally Posted by Giantrobo
I still don't understand this complaint. Dakota was doing what 99% of the little girls on Earth would probably do seeing the horrors she saw and having to run for her life every hour.
Screaming her friggin' head off.
Screaming her friggin' head off.
Totally agree. It's not like she was set up with a bunch "cute" lines. Some people just can't take that she can hold her own with experienced actors.
As far as Tim Robbins' character, that was crucial to the movie. He was SUPPOSED to be annoying and a freak. There are probably a lot of people that would literally flip out if something like this happened.
Strange how we all disagree on some of this stuff.
07-01-05 | 07:22 PM
#206
DVD Talk Legend
I wanna drag my wife to it some time this weekend. I found I had to keep making myself keep my eyes from being open too wide through most of the movie... Good stuff.
I would have preferred the crazy character been played by Boston Rob, instead of Robbins... That's pretty much my only complaint.
I would have preferred the crazy character been played by Boston Rob, instead of Robbins... That's pretty much my only complaint.
07-01-05 | 07:43 PM
#207
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From: NJ, the place where smiles go to die
Originally Posted by digitalfreaknyc
Huh. Did you not feel like you bashed me enough before or are you just bored at this point?
And I still want to know who the fuck "that guy" is.
And I still want to know who the fuck "that guy" is.
Like I've said, I have no problem at all with someone not liking this movie, but your complaints were just so off base from even the people that have criticized the film & even flat out non making any sense (things like bad CGI, annoyed by Cruise's constant heroic antics, when the guy did nothing but run & hide the entire film) that it seems to me that you are being "that guy". Jack explained "that guy" pretty well.
Last edited by Sessa17; 07-01-05 at 07:54 PM.
07-01-05 | 08:25 PM
#208
DVD Talk Special Edition
Originally Posted by pingie
I’m basically new to this forum. The only few posts I have are in Book Talk I believe. Anyways, there was a special early premiere of War of the Worlds at midnight before its wide release here in New Orleans, so I decided to see it with a couple of friends. I thought it was an okay film, not as great as some people here are saying and certainly not as bad as others here are saying either.
After viewing the film, my friends and I just didn’t think it was worth it to see the special premiere at midnight. It just wasn’t all that. Certain aspects of the film that I didn’t like are mentioned here already, such as the ending with the son, the wife and the rest of the family. I thought it was all too convenient when it comes to what was happening with Cruise’s character and his family...how they have the only working car, how they spent the night at the mother’s house and woke up to find that everything was destroyed outside but the van somehow was still intact without a scratch, how the highways were opened for them to drive through without traffic and such. I’ve been through a hurricane evacuation before and I can tell you that the interstate leading out was not as open as the interstate was in the film. It was all bumper to bumper with no room whatsoever. And this was a hurricane evacuation. Just imagine what it would be like with an alien invasion! I’m sure that all the major interstates would be jammed with no room for a car to pass. The ending was somewhat of a disappointment too. I never read the book but I understood the ending. I just felt like the film was cruising at a good pace and suddenly out of nowhere it comes to an abrupt stop with an explanation of sort by the narrator. Uh…OKAY.
Anyways with those aspects aside, the film was pretty entertaining. Acting, special effects and action sequences were great. I didn’t think the daughter was annoying at all but the son was very annoying at times, especially when he babbled on how his father should let him go to fight and stuff. Overall, a decent film but I had more fun with LAND OF THE DEAD. Oh, the tripods definitely reminded me of HALF LIFE 2 as mentioned by someone here...
After viewing the film, my friends and I just didn’t think it was worth it to see the special premiere at midnight. It just wasn’t all that. Certain aspects of the film that I didn’t like are mentioned here already, such as the ending with the son, the wife and the rest of the family. I thought it was all too convenient when it comes to what was happening with Cruise’s character and his family...how they have the only working car, how they spent the night at the mother’s house and woke up to find that everything was destroyed outside but the van somehow was still intact without a scratch, how the highways were opened for them to drive through without traffic and such. I’ve been through a hurricane evacuation before and I can tell you that the interstate leading out was not as open as the interstate was in the film. It was all bumper to bumper with no room whatsoever. And this was a hurricane evacuation. Just imagine what it would be like with an alien invasion! I’m sure that all the major interstates would be jammed with no room for a car to pass. The ending was somewhat of a disappointment too. I never read the book but I understood the ending. I just felt like the film was cruising at a good pace and suddenly out of nowhere it comes to an abrupt stop with an explanation of sort by the narrator. Uh…OKAY.
Anyways with those aspects aside, the film was pretty entertaining. Acting, special effects and action sequences were great. I didn’t think the daughter was annoying at all but the son was very annoying at times, especially when he babbled on how his father should let him go to fight and stuff. Overall, a decent film but I had more fun with LAND OF THE DEAD. Oh, the tripods definitely reminded me of HALF LIFE 2 as mentioned by someone here...
I thought the atmosphere and tension throughout was great, especially the emergence of the first tripod, the driving-through-the-crowd scene, train scene, and basement tentacle. Those parts were incredibly tense and for the situation seemed like how it would realistically play out if such a thing would happen,
Spoiler:
I liked the acting very much as well. Cruise, I thought, was very good and Dakota was great and I thought she portrayed her character in a way that young girl in her situation would react. The son's part was servicable but I couldn't grasp how anyone could be so eager to fight an enemy that was seemingly invinceable (but I'll forgive that as the plot was probably better served having just father and daughter to contend with in the basement),
Spoiler:
I did think that certain scenes were stupid in how the mass of people reacted which someone else already touched on and the highway would have been gridlock, but then had it been we wouldn't have been treated to that fantastic circling, swirling shot, so I don't mind so much.
I thought the CGI was great for almost everything with the exception of the water in the ferry scene,
Spoiler:
Now the way the aliens were stopped was perfectly plausible and I had no problem with it but it all just felt so anticlimactic. I mean we are lead on this anxious journey throughout the entire movie and then all of the sudden... it's over and I couldn't help but feel let down,
Spoiler:
Overall, I thought it was O.K., but not great I gave it three out of five stars in the rank them as you see them thread.
07-01-05 | 09:56 PM
#209
DVD Talk Special Edition
Up until they went into the basement with Tim Robbins I LOVED it..I mean, it was mesmerizing. But after than it went downhill for me. I would have rather have not seen the actual aliens. And the ending..I didn't buy it. I know that foreign germs you don't have immunity to will make you sick and kill you. Yes I understand that and it makes sense. Problem is, these are super-advanced aliens who had been planning this attack for who knows how long..Don't you think they were smart enough to prepare for this themselves?? Like wear special suits or make vaccines or something? I can't comprehend that they wouldn't have expected it and taken appropriate precautions. It was enough to make me consider the movie a disappointment.
07-01-05 | 11:45 PM
#210
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From: Virginia Beach, VA USA
It was a great movie until the end. It's like Spielberg decided to go home early instead of finishing it. 2 stars.
I've listened to the radio play, I've seen the movie, hell, I even saw the TV show. I knew how it was going to end. And still, it was a major letdown. It took a great start and just screwed it up.
D
I've listened to the radio play, I've seen the movie, hell, I even saw the TV show. I knew how it was going to end. And still, it was a major letdown. It took a great start and just screwed it up.
Spoiler:
D
07-01-05 | 11:50 PM
#211
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From: Earth
eh not bad not great. The things that really killed it for me were the lame happy ending (not specifically what killed the aliens, but I'm sure if you've seen the movie you know what I mean) and weird "WTF?" type things.
I give it like 2 or 2.5 out of 5. Worth seeing theatrically if only for some of the awesome sound (the noise the tripods make is killer) but I'm not sure it's worth 9.50 unless you really felt like seeing a movie. If you're torn between this and Batman, do yourself a favor and see Batman.
Spoiler:
I give it like 2 or 2.5 out of 5. Worth seeing theatrically if only for some of the awesome sound (the noise the tripods make is killer) but I'm not sure it's worth 9.50 unless you really felt like seeing a movie. If you're torn between this and Batman, do yourself a favor and see Batman.
07-02-05 | 12:16 AM
#212
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Cardiff Giant
(the noise the tripods make is killer)
Spoiler:
:shudder:
I would have also preferred a bigger battle at the end. Perhaps with small furry forest creatures defeating the tripods using say, logs rolling down a hill, or two logs, one on each side, swung on ropes, crushing the tripods "head" in the middle.
07-02-05 | 12:25 AM
#213
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From: Las Vegas, NV
Originally Posted by cdollaz
Loved the ending. For once a big action movie where the main character didn't figure out a way to beat the aliens himself or hop in a jet and blow everything up.
07-02-05 | 01:57 AM
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From: Columbus, Ohio
I enjoyed the hell out of this movie and had no problem with the ending.
Actually, I was so relieved that Cruise had nothing to do with the alien's downfall anything could happened and I wouldn't have been disappointed. I was so worried HE was the one that was causing them to die after he blew up the one Tripod!
Actually, I was so relieved that Cruise had nothing to do with the alien's downfall anything could happened and I wouldn't have been disappointed. I was so worried HE was the one that was causing them to die after he blew up the one Tripod!
Last edited by Li; 07-02-05 at 02:03 AM.
07-02-05 | 02:08 AM
#216
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Originally Posted by Derrich
It was a great movie until the end. It's like Spielberg decided to go home early instead of finishing it. 2 stars.
I've listened to the radio play, I've seen the movie, hell, I even saw the TV show. I knew how it was going to end. And still, it was a major letdown. It took a great start and just screwed it up.
D
I've listened to the radio play, I've seen the movie, hell, I even saw the TV show. I knew how it was going to end. And still, it was a major letdown. It took a great start and just screwed it up.
Spoiler:
D
I don't mean to insult, but your version is by far the standard formula Hollywood ending. Spielberg's fit the tone of the film, and even though yes the reunion was a little oft putting, it was short and to the point, hardly drawn out. But the lack of bombast and huge battle scenes that lose the main characters I think works very much in the films favor.
And knowing more about the aliens...I think is a terrible idea. Spielberg hit this note of confusion by sticking pretty much strictly to POV. I thought it worked marveously. I just saw the film really about survival, this adventure through these moments, the confusion and chaaos. Backstory would be hard to fit in to the story well, and completely irrelevant to what the film was trying to do. Not to mention, I think it would harm the relative reality this film was able to have, by grounding the film and really keeping these villians alien in every sense of the word.
Not to nitpick, but seeing what people have in mind for alternatives, the more I realize I really liked how Spielberg ended this. While the reunion had its amount of sap, it really isn't overplayed in my opinion. It's a quick capper to this journey, isn't drawn out, though yes I'll admit perhaps a little sap there. But in a film nearly devoid of that, I don't mind much. It really has little effect on the overall impact of the film, which I felt far was a visceral, involving experience versus a more plot laden caper. And it was quite captivating I say.
I'm jsut thinking while I read and write and the more I htink about it, the more I realize how much I enjoyed this thing.
07-02-05 | 02:33 AM
#218
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From: City of the lakers.. riots.. and drug dealing cops.. los(t) Angel(e)s. ca.
yeah, I loved how the focus was away from the battles. Especially over the hill. We saw what cruise saw and that was nothing but the explosions over the horizon. If was perfect as a POV film.
07-02-05 | 02:59 AM
#219
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally Posted by Jackskeleton
yeah, I loved how the focus was away from the battles. Especially over the hill. We saw what cruise saw and that was nothing but the explosions over the horizon. If was perfect as a POV film.
Even beyond that, the story of the family is so banal and simple (not to mention done to death), that we already know how its going to progress, further leading me to not have that level of association with the characters.
As for the cop out at the end....Spielberg just couldn't leave it alone, could he? Well, its hard to bitch about a man who in every other respects puts together a mean movie (just one I didn't care for.
I'll admit that this is something that might play better for me in the future (once we're all off Tom overload), but based on this viewing, I'd give it a 3/5.
07-02-05 | 05:22 AM
#220
DVD Talk Special Edition
I still can't see how folks are rationalizing the ending..I realize it's the book ending apparently but it's ridiculous...A super advanced alien species that is light years beyond us in technology doesn't know our germs will kill them? How can anyone buy that and not be bothered by it? If they had thrown in some kind of explanation to make it make some kind of sense it could have worked but the way it was played out no way. It's a contradiction. That were incredibly smart and advanced and complete morons at the same time.
07-02-05 | 05:50 AM
#221
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From: City of the lakers.. riots.. and drug dealing cops.. los(t) Angel(e)s. ca.
New bacterias advance every day. Much like tossing an orgin into someone and the body will reject it even though we know well in advance that it's a decent match.
If you liked Signs then you really have no room to talk on it since in that the aliens are being stopped by water, something that on the surface you can tell is 70% of the planet. Bacteria on the other hand is something you really do need to look closely for. It's not rationaliztion, it's simply accepting what was already knowledge in the War of the Worlds franchise.
I'm tired of directors taking a name of a book or series and then just making it something completely different. This atleast stuck to the book in that regards and I'm glad it did.
If you liked Signs then you really have no room to talk on it since in that the aliens are being stopped by water, something that on the surface you can tell is 70% of the planet. Bacteria on the other hand is something you really do need to look closely for. It's not rationaliztion, it's simply accepting what was already knowledge in the War of the Worlds franchise.
I'm tired of directors taking a name of a book or series and then just making it something completely different. This atleast stuck to the book in that regards and I'm glad it did.
07-02-05 | 06:48 AM
#222
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From: New Jersey
I am totally stunned that so many people like this movie. I talked to my friends who saw this and they all felt the same once tim robbins shows up the movie dies. I don't mean to be annoying, but if people are getting paid to write good reviews of this movie on the website how can i get in on the action.
07-02-05 | 07:11 AM
#223
DVD Talk Hero
That seems to be the dividing line for those who like or didn't like the film. For me, it has a good opening 45 minutes, 2nd act sags (Tim Robbins's bit part and the hide-n-seek bit got old quick), and the final act peters out. So, that accounts for my grade of C+ for this film. Ray and his family just wasn't as good a hook for me into this story of alien invasion. Obviously, for others, the film had them on the edge of their seat, I wasn't one of them.
BTW, I thought Signs was much scarier, but its lame ass ending also ruined a good movie up to that point.
BTW, I thought Signs was much scarier, but its lame ass ending also ruined a good movie up to that point.
07-02-05 | 08:17 AM
#224
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From: Friggin Fiji
I watched it again yesterday ... that is the first time I watched a movie twice since Return of the King ... and twice even before saturday night of opening weekend .. now that I had like .. never ...
dragged my wife along and she really liked it, but did not get the ending
she had never read the book or watched the '53 movie. When I explained it, she thought back, pictured the crows on top of a tripod and said
Interesting way of putting it I was confused as to what was up with the crows, but I think it just signified
, not sure what Tom Cruise is yelling there ... i fear we have gotten too used to watching DVDs with subtitles on, some of the dialogue was very hard to listen too.
Also, the sound was fixed this time and kicked MAJOR behind.
This is also the first movie in a looong time that made me follow 9 pages of discussion on DVDtalk
The whole Tim Robbins scene makes more sense to me know and the build up as to what is happening to him.
I'd love to find the tripod sounds somewhere online .. maybe to use as email notifications or something I will check the official website .. maybe they actually have them
dragged my wife along and she really liked it, but did not get the ending
she had never read the book or watched the '53 movie. When I explained it, she thought back, pictured the crows on top of a tripod and said Spoiler:
Interesting way of putting it
I was confused as to what was up with the crows, but I think it just signified Spoiler:
Also, the sound was fixed this time and kicked MAJOR behind.
This is also the first movie in a looong time that made me follow 9 pages of discussion on DVDtalk
The whole Tim Robbins scene makes more sense to me know and the build up as to what is happening to him.
I'd love to find the tripod sounds somewhere online .. maybe to use as email notifications or something
I will check the official website .. maybe they actually have them
07-02-05 | 08:30 AM
#225
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From: Friggin Fiji
as to the endlessly mentioned "why does that guy's video camera work" discussion ... i have from a reliable source that the scene where he takes it out of a metal container saying "EMP proof" will be re-inserted into the DVD version of the movie 