Eve Of The War
http://www.focusgaming.co.uk/eveofthewar/

Another Newbie delurking
http://www.focusgaming.co.uk/eveofthewar/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=1327
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Author:  Agent Scooter X [ Wed May 31, 2006 9:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Another Newbie delurking

Hi,

I recently startd getting into War of Worlds. I recently watched the 2005 movie and was pleasantly surprised on how much I liked it (because I can't stand Tom Cruise).

I immediatly bought the 1953 George Pal movie and season 1 of the TV series.

I loved the original movie and the TV series had some great episodes and not so great episodes but overall I enjoyed them.

Is there any plans/news on season 2 being released ?

Author:  eveofthewar [ Thu Jun 01, 2006 11:42 am ]
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Hi Agent

Welcome to the forum! Enjoy ya stay 8-[

Author:  Lonesome Crow [ Thu Jun 01, 2006 6:53 pm ]
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Hi 'Scooter X' and welcome to the forum.
It's not often we see any one say they enjoyed the the TV series, I think they released the first season to see if anybody was interested enough, before releasing the second season, so don't hold your breath because the second season was twice as bad as the first season. :lol:
I did like the opening idea for the Martians (sorry Aliens) return, having the radiation kill of the bacteria that was holding them in their dormant state, but for me, it was all down-hill from there :a009:

Author:  morrisvan [ Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:12 pm ]
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Hello, I've just joined and I hope we can share our interest in "WOTW". I first read the book when I was twelve and since then I've had Martian tripods striding round my head. I liked the Tom Cruise version because they kept to the spirit of the book with a feeling of hoplessness and mankind not coming out of it very well. I thought the scene where Cruise and his children in the car were attacked by the mob was very good and in keeping with the scenes of panic that Wells described in his book.

I saw the first episode of the TV series on video years ago, but I've never seen the rest of the series. I think it was shown ITV in a late night slot but I'm not sure.

If you get hold of the special edition of the 1953 version you might be interested in the commentary. Ann Robinson does most of the talking and poor Gene Barry dosen't get a word in. Mind you Robinson's commentary is very informed and friendly.

Al the Best

Author:  Lonesome Crow [ Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:40 pm ]
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Have you seen the Pendragon version of 'WOTW' (Please keep swearing to a minimum in your response :lol: :lol: )

Author:  morrisvan [ Thu Nov 23, 2006 10:54 pm ]
Post subject: 

I've heard a lot about Pendragon's film version. Is it really as bad as everyone says. Was there anything good about it?

Thanks

Author:  Lonesome Crow [ Fri Nov 24, 2006 8:42 pm ]
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morrisvan wrote:
I've heard a lot about Pendragon's film version. Is it really as bad as everyone says. Was there anything good about it?

Thanks

I have vowed never to buy it, So I'm not the best person to ask, But;
It's about three hours long and everyone who's given a review on it, were unable to watch the whole film in one sitting (The general opinion was, there's only a certain amount of awfulness they could take all at one go) I have seen clips from the film and the special effects are a joke, as is the acting, the location is all wrong, It's supposed to be outside London and yet there are tropical trees bordering the fields.
I should think the only good bit about the film is where it says 'THE END'

for more information about the Pendragon version, visit the 'Pendragon Movie' thread on this forum.

Author:  morrisvan [ Fri Nov 24, 2006 8:56 pm ]
Post subject: 

So obviously a missed opportunity. Or could botched opportunity be more appropiate.

Ideally who do you think would be best to produce a version of WoTW that would be faithful to the novel. Who should direct it, write it. Who should appear in it (consider lesser known but good actors as well as star names). How could you make it relevenat and what changes, if any, would you make?

Author:  Lonesome Crow [ Fri Nov 24, 2006 10:36 pm ]
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I think the BBC could do a fair job of it, I said in another thread 'they're good at costume dramas, the special effects team that do Doctor Who and Torchwood or the people who did 'Walking with Dinosaurs'
I watched a new version of 'The Quatermass Experiment' on BBC 4 last Monday, starring Jason Flemyng as Professor Quatermass and I thought then that he would be perfect as the Journalist (he also played Dr Jekyll in 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) and someone like Sean Bean as the Artilleryman. I don't know about TV directors, so I can't say who would be best for the job, but if it's an accurate film version you want, You couldn't do better than Peter Jackson, I am a big fan of 'The Lord of the Rings' books and I can't see how anybody could have done the trilogy better.

:-k I've just noticed 'Torchwood' is an anagram of 'Doctor Who' am I the last person in Britain to have noticed this :lol:

Author:  morrisvan [ Sun Nov 26, 2006 10:24 pm ]
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Yes I'm afraid you are the last person to realise "Torchwood" is an anagram for "Doctor Who". It was used as a cover when tapes of the first series were sent down to London. It also turned up in the episode "Bad Wolf" as one of the qustions asked in "The Weakest Link" parody. From throwaway gags TV spinoffs grow.

I agree that Jason Flemying would be suitable as the Journalist. He has presence but would not be a clear-cut hero which wold be in keeping with the character. As for The Artilleyman I would suggest Richard Armitage ("North and South" and Gisbourne in "Robin Hood") and Robin Hood himself Jonas Armstrong. Both are strong but also capable at expressing the Artilleryman's weakness of character. Another candidate would be Tom Hardy who played Fleming in the "A for Andromeda" remake.

Tom Hardy could also be considered as the Journalist's brother as he could convey the character's resourcefulness. For the courageous Miss Elphinstone I would suggest Laura Fraser (Henrietta in the David Tennant version of "Casanova") or Sophia Myles (Lady Penelope in the 2004 version of "Thunderbirds" and more recently the Doctor Who story "The Girl in the Fireplace"). For the curate I would nominate Oliver Dimsdale who's worked mainly in the theatre but who started in the 2004 period drama "He Knew He Was Right" as a man who wrongly believes hiswife to be having an affair. Dimsdale conveyed his mental breakdown very well which is why I'd think he'd be suitable. Failing that there is Brian McCardie who played a corrupted, troubled cop in the Channel 4 thriller "Low Winter Sun" shown in September this year.

Director wise it would be best to have someone experienced in handling technically difficult productions, or with fantasy experience. Stuart Orme would be one having directed the 2001 version of "The Lost World" and the David Jason vehicle "Ghost Boat". Also some of the directors who've worked on "Doctor Who" would be worth considering. People such as Euros Lyn, James Hawes, James Strong, Joe Ahearne. Their direction has utilised such things as tight close-ups and interesting camera angles which has brought an excitment back to television direction.

Stylisticly it may be worth considering the nuclear war films "The War Game" and "Threads" as a basis. "The War Game" uses hand-held cameras to create a gritty documentary-style and also to emphasise the confusion and panic of a nuclear attack. While "Threads" used montages and photocaptions in depicting normal life before the attack to the devasated post-holocaust world of shocked survivors and blasted landscapes. If anyone has seen "Threads" then you may remember the scenes of running, panicking crowds while a mushroom cloud rises menacingly into the skyline, and the attack depicted in a series of brief shots such as milk bottles melting in the heat blast, a milk float smashed and on fire, a cat blown along in the firestorm and a man on a bicycle blown into a tree. Imagne how these styles and maybe shots could be adapted into a WoTW adaptation.

These are all just ideas to give me some relief from my monotonous job as a pen-pusher, although in these computer-literate days maybe "keyboard-tapper" would be more appropiate.

Thanks

Author:  Lonesome Crow [ Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:52 pm ]
Post subject: 

:shock: Wow, you obviously watch a lot more TV than I do, half these names I've never heard of, but I agree Richard Armitage or Jonas Armstrong as the artilleryman and while we're on Armstrongs what about Alun Armstrong from BBC's 'New Tricks' as the Curate? He could even play the same confused character.
I can see Julia Sawalha (Saffy) from 'Absolutely Fabulous' as Miss Elphinstone.

And as for someone playing the Journalist's brother, you just use the same actor and put a false moustache on him, that's what Pendragon did. :lol:

Author:  morrisvan [ Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:18 pm ]
Post subject: 

Hello again.

Is that what the did in the Pendragon version? My goodness. Sounds like an even more of a botch job than I've heard.

I wouldn't say I watch a lot of television; I tend to be very choosy. What I suggested was what I've seen which has impressed me and which I think would be helpful if there was serious adaptation of WoTW. Incidentally the two films I mentioned: "The War Game" and "Threads" are available on DVD and worth watching as well as fitting in with the British tradition of Disaster Fiction (which Wells pioneered).

I'm not sure about Alun Armstrong as the Curate. I've always seen him as playing strong characters (such as Inspector Bucket in "Bleak House" for instance) I've always seen the Curate as a weak man, possibly from a pampered background who goes to pieces very easily and that was why I suggested those other two actors who conveyed mental breakdowns very well.

Some other casting suggestions I've thought of: Anna Maxwell Martin who played Esther in "Bleak House" (and also the "Doctor Who" story "The Long Game") as Miss Elpinstone and Caroline Martin ( who also appeared in "He Knew He Was Right) as the Journalist's wife. She has lovely, calm features and would be symbolic of the peaceful, domestic life which is disrupted. The character's part is quite small but could be builtup as it was in the Dark Horses graphic novel. For instance, the Journalist could be haunted by memories of her and his guilt of having abandoned her, and at one point he could have a nightmare of her being captured and drained by the Martians.

Ive also thought that either Stephen Lewis or Robert Fythe from "Last of the Summer Wine" would be suitable for the old man rescuing his orchids from the Martian advance: "I was saying these were vallyble".

Thanks

Author:  Lonesome Crow [ Thu Nov 30, 2006 8:12 pm ]
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I see one of the three robbers who try to steal the chaise from Miss Elphinstone and her sister-in-law, played by Roger Lloyd 'Trigger' from 'Only Fools and Horses'
Who would you suggest to play the sister-in-law? I don't think Wells specifies her age, but I see her in her late 40s or early 50s :-k you need a timid mouse-like actress like Una Stubbs but she's not quite right.

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