BBC War of the Worlds
Discussion
I wonder if the original plan was to show it linearly, but they then realised that all the later stuff was arse-numbingly dull and that nothing at all actually happens in it, so they had no choice but to edit it with all the flash-forwards.
What would a “director’s cut” be like where they put it all in order and ditched 90% of the later “red-sky” stuff? Probably still rubbish.
Oh, that kid they rescued from the beach - did she get a single word of dialogue before she was squashed by the Martian? That was bizarre. Maybe she was mute so they could shoehorn a disability in there as well.
What would a “director’s cut” be like where they put it all in order and ditched 90% of the later “red-sky” stuff? Probably still rubbish.
Oh, that kid they rescued from the beach - did she get a single word of dialogue before she was squashed by the Martian? That was bizarre. Maybe she was mute so they could shoehorn a disability in there as well.
t.
'And before we judge of them too harshly we must remember what ruthless and utter destruction our own species has wrought, not only upon animals, such as the vanished bison and the dodo, but upon its inferior races. The Tasmanians, in spite of their human likeness, were entirely swept out of existence in a war of extermination waged by European immigrants, in the space of fifty years. Are we such apostles of mercy as to complain if the Martians warred in the same spirit?'
Chapter 1, page 1 of the novel... so some of the themes in the TV adaption are not so far adrift... still boring though!
Chapter 1, page 1 of the novel... so some of the themes in the TV adaption are not so far adrift... still boring though!
timbo999 said:
'And before we judge of them too harshly we must remember what ruthless and utter destruction our own species has wrought, not only upon animals, such as the vanished bison and the dodo, but upon its inferior races. The Tasmanians, in spite of their human likeness, were entirely swept out of existence in a war of extermination waged by European immigrants, in the space of fifty years. Are we such apostles of mercy as to complain if the Martians warred in the same spirit?'
Chapter 1, page 1 of the novel... so some of the themes in the TV adaption are not so far adrift... still boring though!
I would have preferred a speccy old pipe smoking professor to make this point in a meeting with all the bigwigs. Chapter 1, page 1 of the novel... so some of the themes in the TV adaption are not so far adrift... still boring though!
During the somber conference a tea lady* would have wheeled in a trolly with an assortment of biscuits and the mood would
suddenly lighten for a bit.
- only female role in the production lol
techiedave said:
It was a philosophical and hopeful ending.
Didn't the book end with a second wave of stuff coming from Mars, with the suggestion that they'd adapted and would remember not to get out of their tripods this time? So not quite as hopeful. (I say "the book", I just seem to recall that from the Jeff Wayne record).techiedave said:
The green shoot was a symbol that things would return to normal. It was also symbolic of the heroines new found sexual freedom.
As they'd seemingly found a way to kill off the red weed, I was surprised that the green shoot in the bell jar was surrounded by weeds, that they hadn't spent a few minutes just digging out around it. And she'd broken the jars, in a scene that reminded me of Blackadder the Third: "Hurrah! It's the Scarlet Pimpernel. ... And you've killed him."I sat through it. I normally steer clear of stuff set at this point in history because it's usually quite dreary, and I don't watch TV for dreariness. I should have stuck with that, really. I mean, the story itself isn't all that cheerful, but then neither was "Survivors" and I enjoyed that so much more.
The epilogue of the book notes that a second invasion is possible, maybe likely, but also notes that the Martians might have invaded Venus (!?!) but there is no second invasion in the book. Jeff Wayne's musical ends with a NASA trip to Mars meeting heat ray bearing aliens.
There does seem to be a lot of criticism of the TV adaption based on folks misremembered idea of what's in the book coloured by Jeff's version!
There does seem to be a lot of criticism of the TV adaption based on folks misremembered idea of what's in the book coloured by Jeff's version!
You really have to work hard to turn War of the Worlds into this sort of turgid mess. Can’t fault the actors, the production values, or the CGI, but the story telling and pace were dreadful.
As for the whole flash forward thing, it was just a distraction that sucked any pace out of the plot.
As for the whole flash forward thing, it was just a distraction that sucked any pace out of the plot.
I managed to make it to the end but it was struggle.
Slow beyond comprehension, I was actually happy when the Martian got George. I liked the brother but he felt like he was in the wrong era. Although his speech that it's ok to be a liberal in your front room but in the field with the enemy you get a different view was good.
The flash forward stuff didn't work.I think they missed the lecture at cinema school of show don't tell. Having the characters explain the Martians had died was just a damp squib.
Slow beyond comprehension, I was actually happy when the Martian got George. I liked the brother but he felt like he was in the wrong era. Although his speech that it's ok to be a liberal in your front room but in the field with the enemy you get a different view was good.
The flash forward stuff didn't work.I think they missed the lecture at cinema school of show don't tell. Having the characters explain the Martians had died was just a damp squib.
Zirconia said:
BBC does good work, this was a dud. Not overly worried, cant get it right all the time.
This really sums it up for me. Caught up on last two episodes last night. Mrs-C thought it was OK and I was happy they kept the colonial and religion bashing from the book (yeah I'm one of those people!) but bloody hell it dragged ...There's a lot on the BBC I don't like (including this) but plenty enough that I do
timbo999 said:
The epilogue of the book notes that a second invasion is possible, maybe likely, but also notes that the Martians might have invaded Venus (!?!) but there is no second invasion in the book. Jeff Wayne's musical ends with a NASA trip to Mars meeting heat ray bearing aliens.
Now you've said that, I have a vague idea that there's a "second edition" version of the musical version, with an extra bit on the end. I'm sure mine doesn't end like that, but it's ages since I've played it. I thought the version I heard was more subtle. (ETA - seems not, if Wiki is correct. I must just have forgotten that bit.) I haven't read the book, though.timbo999 said:
There does seem to be a lot of criticism of the TV adaption based on folks misremembered idea of what's in the book coloured by Jeff's version!
I'd freely admit the only version I've any experience of is the record. It's been a bit jarring hearing spoken extracts that are very similar, presumably from the book, but then not having the music that came immediately after. Right at the very start, the "no-one would have believed" speech is there, and even though I knew it wouldn't, part of me wanted to hear the "dah dah duuuummmm". 
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