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Post by Zone Fighter on Dec 20, 2004 22:51:53 GMT -8
Steven Spielberg is doing a version of War of the Worlds, set in the 21st century instead of Well's 1800s. Going to star Tom Cruise. Trailer available here: www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/waroftheworlds/I like the original, I can't imagine a remake being as good. How many companies does it take to make a film? This is a Paramount Pictures, Dreamworks Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Cruise/Wagner production. I don't think I've ever seen a Tom Cruise film. If I have I've forgotten it.
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Post by Gwangi on Dec 21, 2004 13:43:45 GMT -8
Well, from what I remember hearing, this is suppose to be one of the most expensive features ever produced, and perhaps that is why several companies are footing the bill. (Both Paramount and 20th Century Fox were involved with "Titanic").
I love the original as well, and I really don't know why they would set this during the present rather than the late 19th century. (We already have "Independence Day" for that).
Tom Cruise is a very likeable actor, but with the exception of a few movies, hasn't really been in a lot of great features IMO.
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Post by Shonokin on Dec 21, 2004 15:06:14 GMT -8
I'm guessing as is the Hollywood style, that it will be a psuedo remake of Pal's movie, instead of based on the Wells book. I'm not a big Spielberg nor Cruise fan and can't say I'm really looking forward to this. On the other hand there is an indie movie that's actually based on the book coming out sometime soon. www.pendragonpictures.com/WOTWKEY.htmlwww.cinescape.com/multimedia/Master_Site/Movies/Master_SiteMovies274708.jpg While much of the attention focused on a film adaptation of H.G. Wells' THE WAR OF THE WORLDS has been concentrated this week on the unveiling of the Paramount Pictures teaser trailer (slated for tomorrow), the indie film production company Pendragon Pictures has been working hard on their own version of the classic science fiction tale. Pendragon's movie, titled H.G. WELLS' THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, is set in the late 19th century as was Wells' novel, and this week the production is wrapping up its miniature photography. The attacks brought on by the Martian war machines are being created by a combination of both miniatures and computer graphics imagery (CGI). "It's an exciting time," states director Timothy Hines about the milestone, "as we are bringing to life, one of the most fantasized about creations of Wells' imagination." Pendragon states that the nine-foot tall Martian war machine miniatures were created by a team lead by miniature effects artist Michael Fransen. In the movie the fighting machines will appear as tentacled, ten-story high, three-legged walking machines that shoot poison gas and wield a heat-ray weapon, just as they are described in Wells' novel. On the opposing side of the war, the humans will be fighting back using period human artillery from that era. Sounds like a lopsided fight, but that's part of the fun of Wells' story. Once the minature work is complete the production will move into editing, compositing and scoring of the film. Pendragon also informs us that their first theatrical trailer will be ready around the end of the month, meaning that there will be a double dose of WAR OF THE WORLDS to look forward to in December. (article from cinescape)
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Dec 21, 2004 17:49:43 GMT -8
well, that sounds and looks more interesting. thanks for the news!
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Post by Zone Fighter on Dec 21, 2004 20:24:15 GMT -8
So it's the War of War of the Worlds.
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Post by RoadWarriorYajuta on Dec 22, 2004 1:56:34 GMT -8
I saw the trailer at the thater, and I just don't know. It does reek way too much of Independence Day to me. I did like how they refrained from showing too much in the trailers as they usually do.
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Post by Shonokin on Dec 22, 2004 8:34:33 GMT -8
With the tagline "they're already here" it sounds like a riff on the late 80s early 90s tv series War of the Worlds.
The originality of Hollywood makes me swoon.
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Dec 22, 2004 9:02:53 GMT -8
that doesn't even make sense, unless it's a sequel to the original.
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Cory
Ultran
Posts: 52
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Post by Cory on Jan 5, 2005 9:24:55 GMT -8
I feel caught between a rock and a hard place... The Spielberg version looks like crap, hands down. The Pendragon version, however, while getting mega points for setting it in the Victorian era looks like it has all the production values and directoral skill of a BBC miniseries (which is fine for TV, but a feature film?). I'm looking more forward to the Pendragon version, but I'm not letting my hopes get too far up.
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Post by Torgaman on Jan 5, 2005 17:18:07 GMT -8
This reminds me when Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell played Wyatt Earp around the same time.
Both WARs have alot going against it.
The Pendragon version will look like an obvious attempt to ride the bandwagon for free,since they will undeniably get alot of free publicity for the film and as I type this I'm helping so that might go against them.Plus there is no real Hollywood muscle connected to this project to hold much of a chance in the U.S.
The Spielberg version is the exact opposite.It has the muscle of Spielberg,the stardom of Cruise and as stated in an earlier post here the pockets of various movie studios financing it.Which is where they have their problem.These people's names connected to the film will immediately create HIGH[VERY HIGH]expectations for the film and the question remains can they deliver.The only thing going for them at this point is the typical shutin moviegoer that watches too much FRIENDS could give a damned if they stick to the story [no one batted an eye at the drastic departures RETURN OF THE KING film took from the book]but these same moviegoers have seen RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2 so they obviously would want soemthing even WAY BIGGER than those films combined since it is Spielberg and Cruise together.In my personal opinion the film will try to appeal too much to today's shortattentionspanned moviegoers since the inclusion of Tom Cruise means they want someone to draw people in,not who can act.[Yes Cruise can act but for the most part he's cast to draw people in,make no mistake on that part]If it was Tom Hanks in the lead I'd be a little more optimistic about seeing a good sci-fi film but with Cruise I feel it will be a movie meant to get a good theatrical trailer.So if you see the movie trailer you would probably the really best parts before seeing the whole film.In other words one big explosion after another that eventually lets any rational person feeling numb.Explosions are good,nut not when overdone.Now if they actually have a scene in 1910 where two Japanese soldiers see a giant dinosaur and one turns to the other and says "You can tell your son about it when he's born Major Tanaka"...that would be a good movie.
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Post by Lunkhead on Jan 8, 2005 16:38:38 GMT -8
I'll probably wind up seeing both versions eventually, but really don't have any desire to. I'd rather concentrate on picking up the DVD of George Pal's classic. With all these damned remakes, why can't someone remake the hair I had at 18 (not that it was loads thicker than what's up there now, but every little bit helps). I'd also like to say, "Remake this!", but that still works ok for now.
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jan 8, 2005 17:47:53 GMT -8
going for the porcupine look, wiseguy?
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Post by Lunkhead on Jan 8, 2005 17:56:37 GMT -8
If the wife would only let me...
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Post by Giganfan on Jan 31, 2005 11:33:49 GMT -8
Seen the trailer the other night. Well, to be honest, I liked it, but I didn't. I have faith that Spielberg and Cruise can make a faithful and entertaining movie, so I suppose the teaser isn't all that bad. I'm anticipating it.
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Post by Shonokin on Jan 31, 2005 12:43:29 GMT -8
At the Harryhausen shindig last Saturday, Arnold Kunart mentioned that he heard that in the Speilberg version the invasion was coming from inside the Earth, instead of from Mars. Probably just some web gossip hyperbole, but who knows. Anyway, if the supertitle on the trailer says "they are already here" then there's already something wrong. I doubt this will be faithful in the least. But I'll continue to look forward to the Pendragon production. It looks spiffy. I love it when movies are adapted to the time period they are written in. That's why what looks to be the best Lovecraft adaptation ever is being made by a semi-amature troupe in Colorado. It's being filmed and "aged" in silent black and white. It looks amazing so far and is one of the more anticipated films for me this year. www.cthulhulives.org/CoC/movieinfo.html
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Post by Zone Fighter on Jan 31, 2005 13:03:17 GMT -8
Please not another anicent people, no one knows existed, decides to conquer the surface world. If I want that I'll watch Inframan or Akumaizer 3.
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Post by Zone Fighter on Mar 17, 2005 18:38:34 GMT -8
Paramount iss whinning. They don't like the compitition. Fortunantly there isn't anyting they can do about it, at least not in the US. The copyright expired long ago. So anybody who wants to can make a movie of War of the Worlds. Paramount can however limit the distribution of the other film. It seems Paramount bought the European distribution rights and theyve threanted legal action if the other film is sold outside the US. Big bullies. I have their vertsions bombs.
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Post by Zone Fighter on Mar 18, 2005 13:52:42 GMT -8
If I was running Paramount I'd buy Pendragon. Then after the Parmount version of the new War of the Worlds (which may not have anything to do with Wells book at all) has run in theaters I'd release the original film (its out of print), the new film and the Pendragon film all on DVD. Singularly and in a 3 disc set.
Of course if I was running Paramount there wouldn't be a second Paramount "War of the Worlds" in the first place.
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Mar 18, 2005 16:53:52 GMT -8
well, i guess it could have the same name as the original movie and not resemble it at all except by having two different "worlds" at war, which could be anything. the 90s Lost World had nothing to do with the original except for dinosaurs.
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Post by Zone Fighter on Mar 21, 2005 23:49:10 GMT -8
Seems there is an animated version in the works for 2007. There's a web page dedicated to all 3 new films: www.eveofthewar.com/
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Post by stareater on Mar 22, 2005 6:26:17 GMT -8
I have faith the U.S. remake will be another lame big-budget film, which will of course make money based on the names attatched to it and interest from fans of the original. Tom Cruise never meant "good movie" to me, and neither does "Spielberg" anymore.
Thanks for the heads-up on the Cthulhu production, Shonokin. I'm always up for anything HPL-based, even though I'm usually disappointed in the end.
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