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Old 06-27-05 | 10:39 PM
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Originally Posted by scott shelton
And if anyone wants to write a paper on how Spielberg "owns" the MPAA, start with this film. I can't believe they didn't get slapped with an R rating.
Cool. I was hoping it'd at least be a hard PG-13.

A little dissapointed to see the runtime at just under 2hrs, I was hoping at least 2:20...
Old 06-27-05 | 10:46 PM
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Originally Posted by scott shelton

And the pussified ending?

So it ends like the book did?
Old 06-27-05 | 10:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Mopower
So it ends like the book did?
Didn't read it. Please fill me in...
Old 06-27-05 | 10:58 PM
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Originally Posted by scott shelton
Didn't read it. Please fill me in...
Spoiler:
The Martians are destroyed by microbes and are chased down by packs of dogs.
Old 06-27-05 | 11:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Matthew Chmiel
Spoiler:
The Martians are destroyed by microbes and are chased down by packs of dogs.
Yes and no.

Think cigar-chomping military types in the latter role. Kinda lame.
Old 06-27-05 | 11:04 PM
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Originally Posted by scott shelton
Yes and no.

Think cigar-chomping military types in the latter role. Kinda lame.
Well I would assume that since the original book was written in the late 1800's. It also doesn't surprise me that Spielberg goes for the "pussified" ending. His endings never usually take "chances."
Old 06-27-05 | 11:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Matthew Chmiel
Well I would assume that since the original book was written in the late 1800's. It also doesn't surprise me that Spielberg goes for the "pussified" ending. His endings never usually take "chances."

What's wrong with this ending? That's the ending from the book and it's also (if I understand correctly) the ending from the original film. People always criticize filmmakers for not sticking true to the source material and here we go with the backlash of people now saying the ending should be changed.
Old 06-27-05 | 11:46 PM
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Originally Posted by JBurns24
What's wrong with this ending? That's the ending from the book and it's also (if I understand correctly) the ending from the original film. People always criticize filmmakers for not sticking true to the source material and here we go with the backlash of people now saying the ending should be changed.
The ending does stay true to the novel. HOWEVER (from what I've heard), a plot point that the audience accepts happens near the start of act three of the film which is completely retracted come the finale. THUS Shelton's "pussified" response.
Old 06-28-05 | 02:14 AM
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I loved it...I haven't been this scared in a movie for years. I was on the edge of my seat... sure, the last 10 minutes really put a quick bow on the whole thing, but overall, for a summer popcorn flick, it delivered the goods...can't wait to see it again!

MATT
Old 06-28-05 | 03:06 AM
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The book was great, a fantastic piece of science fiction. If anyone here's seen it, I just have few questions:

Spoiler:
I take it that the red fungus that's used to terraform the planet is in the movie? It's very prominent on the teaser poster.

Is the black smoke in the movie?

Is the ending the same as the book? I theorized that the military came up with biological warfare as opposed to the martians just naturally succumbing to it through exposure.

I know that a lot of people die, but are there corpses strewn everywhere like in the book?
Old 06-28-05 | 04:51 AM
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I thought they hacked into the alien spaceships with an Apple computer and wireless modem and sent them a
Spoiler:
computer virus.
Old 06-28-05 | 07:01 AM
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RT has it 7 /0 Positive
Old 06-28-05 | 08:34 AM
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Originally Posted by mdc3000
I loved it...I haven't been this scared in a movie for years. I was on the edge of my seat... sure, the last 10 minutes really put a quick bow on the whole thing, but overall, for a summer popcorn flick, it delivered the goods...can't wait to see it again!

Did you really feel it was a popcorn film?

I think the origin of the red weeds is enough to kick it out of that feeling.
Old 06-28-05 | 08:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Superboy
The book was great, a fantastic piece of science fiction. If anyone here's seen it, I just have few questions:

Spoiler:
I take it that the red fungus that's used to terraform the planet is in the movie? It's very prominent on the teaser poster.

Is the black smoke in the movie?

Is the ending the same as the book? I theorized that the military came up with biological warfare as opposed to the martians just naturally succumbing to it through exposure.

I know that a lot of people die, but are there corpses strewn everywhere like in the book?
Yes, yes (I think), no (on the military), and no (they turn to dust).
Old 06-28-05 | 10:10 AM
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Originally Posted by scott shelton
Did you really feel it was a popcorn film?

I think the origin of the red weeds is enough to kick it out of that feeling.
Well, there is some subtext going on here, and certainly the performances and direction elevate it from standard popcorn fair, but it is certainly not Schindler's List we're talking about here. But don't get me wrong, Spielberg and co have knocked it out of the park and i can say with confidence, this is probably the best movie of the year so far and audiences are going to be terrified nationwide come wednesday.

MATT

Last edited by mdc3000; 06-28-05 at 10:12 AM.
Old 06-28-05 | 11:18 AM
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My worry: it will terrify them so much they can't make a family night out of the film, which will hurt it in the long run.
Old 06-28-05 | 12:00 PM
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now that was one hell of a movie,

for me it was the best Spielberg in more than a decade

better than Schindler's List, imho
Old 06-28-05 | 12:15 PM
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I well see this, but this would probarly be the last time I'll ever seen Tom Cruise on the big screen. I just can't stand the guy at all. His ego has gotten too big lately, and I'm so sick and tired of hearing about his stupid looney religion. I feel so sorry for Katie, he got her brainwashed.
Old 06-28-05 | 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Dr. DVD
My worry: it will terrify them so much they can't make a family night out of the film, which will hurt it in the long run.
Full agreement.
Old 06-28-05 | 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by scott shelton
I'd like to think of WORLDS as a supermodel. It's pretty to look at. At times, it's downright gorgeous. All the parts are in working order. The company it keeps with you is distracting enough to be enjoyable.

But to spend two hours with it leaves you feeling empty.

It'll be interesting what audiences come away with from the film, but IMO, this is a bleak creation, not terribly involving. It features some of Spielberg's best shot constructions, but at the end of the film, this is a pretty joyless creation.

Not that all summer movies have to be fun, but WORLDS isn't even pleasant in a Earth-is-fucked way. It's just dark for dark's sake.

And the pussified ending? Well, I'll let everyone else take a crack at that.

And if anyone wants to write a paper on how Spielberg "owns" the MPAA, start with this film. I can't believe they didn't get slapped with an R rating.
I don't see this in your film list - what letter grade are you giving it?
Old 06-28-05 | 01:18 PM
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I read an interview with Senior Spielbergo where he said that it won't have the same ending as the book, which we all now know is a bunch of hooey.

Still, I'm glad I know it's the same, becuause if I saw the movie while expecting a different resolution than the book, but got the same thing, I'd be pissed. Now that I know it's the same, I'm kinda disappointed, but at least I won't be pissed.

Anyways, I think it should end with an army of Scientologists using their mind-bullets to kill the aliens...
Old 06-28-05 | 03:07 PM
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Originally Posted by superdeluxe
RT has it 7 /0 Positive
14-0 now. Not bad. Makes me more excited to see it with the positive buzz.
Old 06-28-05 | 03:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Giles
I don't see this in your film list - what letter grade are you giving it?

I would give it around a C grade. It looks like I'm in the minority, but that's cool. I want people to have a good time at the movies no matter what I think.
Old 06-28-05 | 03:23 PM
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Hey Scott: FWIW, I remember critics and people thrashing Spielberg for making Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom too dark in 1984, and that sure didn't hurt it. Granted, it didn't do Raiders numbers, but it was a success.

Of course there's a chance audiences have changed a bit since then and are less tolerant of dark plots.
Old 06-28-05 | 03:43 PM
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Harry liked it. A lot.
http://aint-it-cool.com/display.cgi?id=20580

(Yes, I know he liked Van Helsing, Phantom Menace, Blade II)


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