matome

That's a pretty cool shot.

iggystar

Right, so maybe this was a probe that was purely motion sensitive. It would pick up on movement then "look" to see what was there. The rats were there, it then focused on the rats, checked them out, didn't see anything else and moved on. Since Tom and crew were scattering and holding still in a position it couldn't get a lock on them if it was a motion detection kind of device as they kept moving and hiding.

And perhaps this was just a rudimentary probe, with more advanced equipment used for other things. They didn't use their best equipment for this search because if they had found the humans they could easily exterminated them anyway.

Ok, I'll buy that. I still have the same overall opinion of the movie, but I'll acquiesce a little on my hatred for that basement scene.

Booth

I've been thinking about that. Why would they even bother burying the tripods that long ago? Why not just come down from the sky with them? It's not like the surprise gave them much more of an advantage than they already had. Why didn't they succumb to the bacteria when they were on earth to plant the tripods?

I've thought of several possibilities and this is the best I could come up with. It's obvious that Spielberg has tried to weave aspects of 9/11 and even the holocaust into his version of WotW. One of the biggest shocks of 9/11 was that the terrorists had planned the attack for so long and that the attack originated from within our own transportation system. Prior to 9/11, most people saw war as two armies going head to head against each other. That perception has obviously changed. Having the tripods already hidden in the ground instead of just coming out of the sky is just a reflection of this lesson.

Granted, it serves the allegory but I think it still brings up too many questions and possible story holes.

Giantrobo

Or the Water tube from The Abyss.

X

Risen from the depths...

matome

Groucho

Thank you, sir!

LorenzoL

Thank you X.

Mopower

Thanks!

Deftones

Good call, X. This was a good thread, and one person (sans mods) should have the power to delete all this relevant discussion about the flick.

Big Worms

Thanks!

RocShemp

¡Mil gracias, X!

This has quickly become my favourite review thread and it was a huge blow to see it suddenly vanish.

raven56706

thank you...... now.... back to saying that this movie rocked...

Charlie Goose

Wouldn't it be funny if Artman decided to delete this thread now?

flixtime

Also (if it hasn't already been mentioned in this or the other WotW thread), it was an homage to the 1953 version

It's been a while since I've watched the '53 version, but another tip of the hat by Spielberg to that version is

Also, at the end

scott shelton

To those who posted in here and thought their work was deleted, I deeply apologize.

My initial deletion of this thread was not done in childish anger (like many really, really want to believe), but as a response to a request.

Nobody here deserved it. And don't worry, I won't be starting any review threads anymore! Rejoice.

Y2K Falcon

I'm sure someone can find the direct text of the Morgan Freeman voiceover, but it mentions how "God hath" created earth and what is on it, and how things changed over thousands of years, including, said bacteria by implication.

Think about how currently pediatricians need to be judicious over use of antibiotics because the diseases they are fighting are becoming more tolerant to this sort of treatment.

Giles

okay... so I finally saw it and I have to say I thought that Spielberg did a great job creating a film about chaos and featuring some pretty cool special effects but when it came to the actors he completely missed the mark.

I thought Cruise was miscast. Dakota and the actor that played the brother were terribly inconsistent.

It wasn't scary as other's had led me to believe.

now when they get to Cruise's wife's house with all the power on and everything, wouldn't it have dawned on them to turn on the TV?

grade:B+ for the special effects (the aliens looked to much like the ones from ID4 though)
acting: D

digiboy

I really enjoyed this movie, typical Speilbergian plotholes but great fun and a real thriller ride.

I hope this isn't a spoiler, I'd call it more of an Easter egg. Anyway, be forwarned.

Sorry if anyone else already posted about this, I did look thru this thread but I may have missed it if someone did.

I know Gene Barry was mentioned, that was a treat.

Speilberg also nods to another sci fi classic from around the the same period as the orginal WOTW. There's a scene where Cruise walks out to to a small hill that has a wood post fence running across it. The set has a cheesy look to it, out of place with the look of the rest of the movie. It jumped right out at me that Speilberg was referencing the hill and the fence in the back yard of the little boy from the original "Invaders from Mars." Anyone who knows that film should remember that hill with the fence. It's too much of a coincidence to not be intentional. It's placed in almost the identical angle on the screen. You may have missed it the first time, if you go back to see WOTW again, look for it.

whotony

turned on the tv for what?


i also noticed the fence and was reminded of invaders from mars. i said it to my wife. she never saw that one though.

The Ferret

Just saw it, and it was great. This one you have to see in theatres. The acting and CGI were both great. I feel like I had more to say but I can't remember it now... My only problem is what happens with Ray's son. 4/5

digiboy

" now when they get to Cruise's wife's house with all the power on and everything, wouldn't it have dawned on them to turn on the TV?


turned on the tv for what?"

If they had just turned on the radio at the end they would have heard the Orson Wells Mercury Theater and realized it was just a bunch of actors putting on a drama. ;-)

RocShemp

I guess to see the news of what was going on. But given how stressed out Cruise was and how aloof his kids were whenever something wasn't chasing them, it's no surprise no one turned on the TV.

Mopower

I think the TV remark was a joke people. Like everything seemed so normal in their house they could have been watching the whole invasion on TV.

Giantrobo

Speaking of TV and alien invasion, does anyone remember the WotW TV series from years ago? It started out ok then suddenly revamped and sucked.