War of the Worlds. Embarassing American Dross again?

[Alexjj]

Ok I am a newbie, but since I found out about Spielberg making this I was forced to join up and post (will be doing so to aint it cool as well) in the off chance that Spielberg or his pleb minions may take a gander at this.

Ok - I am a fan of the book, very much so. HG Wells was and still is, one of the, if not THE most important Sci Fi writers in existance.

Please read his books to see how far ahead of the curve he was, predicting aerial wars (men in flying machines bombing cities and each other etc) to interstellar travel etc. when most other writers were writing "science romances"...

I am not a pedant, however, and I understand that to appeal to the lowest common denominator (where the money is) and for other reasons connected with making films, a certain amount of adaptation is necessary.

So where Minority Report and other films have been awful dross compared to the books, I must also point out there HAVE been successful adaptations which do not lose the essence and rythym of their source material (LOTR for example, the Piano Player, Trainspotting, Gandhi, and my all time favourite Blade Runner etc)

Now take the example of The War of the Worlds.

A truly gripping and clear exercise in many different concepts, with a wonderful command of the English language. It is a joy to read.

Then Hollywood did a frankly embarassing film version in the '50s based in America, which was basically an allegory on Soviet invasion.

It was based in America and furthermore looked instantly dated. Contrast this with 2001, made a decade later which was made largely in the UK, and still outclasses and looks better than most Hollywood low brow Sci Fi fare.

I am livid that Spielberg is attached and if that drivel AI he made is anything to go by, we will face another dumbing down to make this palatable for US audiences.

Please, Please credit the movie going public with slightly average or higher IQ.

I fear that by removing it to the present day, and, additionally, the USA, that whatever cultural and cerebral impact the book and Jeff Wayne's Musical version (on CD/Record) with Sir Richard Burton had, will be lost in a morass of embarassing Americanisms, average acting from those concerned, dubious and frankly offensive sickly sweet moral values laid on thick with a trowel as is standard with Hollywood, and generally, a missed opportunity for an excellent homage.

What a terrible waste. :nono:

[ViRUs]

I agree with what you say, but dont put it down just yet. Have faith in Spielburg, im sure your not going to be disapointed.

[Alexjj]

I appreciate it.

But I fear he has an impossible time scale, and he will lose key aspects of the book, like the struggle of humanity with the Victorian technology at its disposal.

Remember key to the book was the resistance (Remember the music album... Underground!!) mooted, especially since it was set during the time when Great Britain ruled the waves < and most of the world too at the time haha>(viz: Thunderchild shooting down a "fighting machine" with its cannon and so forth)

Therefore if it is removed to present day with all its cultural mores and technology, we might only be party to a decent reworking of ID4 which in itself plagiarised legions of films, all owing homage to the original - the War of the Worlds!

If I was him, I would listen carefully to focus groups. Witness the embarassment of "Thunderbirds" AKA "Spy kids in Space" which was obscene, and epitomises everything that is crass about poor Hollywood versions of genuinely innovative and well written ideas.

For instance. I bet the black smoke doesnt make an appearance - a more insidious and immediate visceral threat than the red weed whic appears "crawling, crawling".

I dont hold out much hope, and I also fear the actors are not up to the task. I fear it will also be unintentionally funny, when it was a deadly serious rout of mankind.

Thanks again for the feedback. I sincerely hope he accords this project with the respect and hard work which it should, and indeed must, merit.

[stonefaced_1]

Yeah, you are a newbie. ;) Look for a thread before you make a new one. Here is the War of The Worlds thread.

http://www.comingsoon.net/forums/showthread.php?t=31979

[Alexjj]

Thanks.

The more I read of that thread the more disheartened I become. However, I am glad that some people HAVE read the book, and agree with me it shouldnt be updated.

I am also stunned that some people listened to the 1977 or so album...

That was the first piece of music I ever bought at the tender age of 5 with my pocket money. Scared the crap out of me for years that did... and some bits are still creepy.. I defy you to listen in the dark to that on your own and not feel... a little transported emotionally and pphysically to another time and place! (take a change of trousers though if your very young!)