Those Beautiful Deathships (and about those wires...)
Added 2/9/2010
While not a perfect film version of the H.G. Wells novel -- there hasn't been a perfect movie adaptation yet -- the 1953 George Pal production has always been one of my favorite science fiction films, if only for the incredible visuals. I can forgive some of the corny dialogue and Ann Robinson's screaming, just to see those Martian deathships, so beautifully designed, and far more imaginative than any of the other spaceships depicted then or more recently. The colorful heat rays and death rays (backed by weird sound effects), the destruction of L.A. city hall, people on a hillside watching an atomic blast, the three-color Martian camera lens -- all of these are so very memorable and thrilling.
About those visible wires, the ones clearly supporting the Martian ships in some shots: to my understanding this film was originally photographed & released in the Technicolor process, the color contrast designed to blend those wires into the background. So first-run audiences didn't see any wires back in 1953. (I believe this movie won the Oscar for Best Special Effects that year, and rightfully so.)
In the late 1960s, however, new prints were struck using the Eastmancolor process. Result? The wires then became visible -- even more so on DVD given the higher resolution.
Some have suggested that digitally "erasing" the wires would be historically incorrect -- like pulling a George Lucas with his new versions of the 1977, 1980 and 1983 Star Wars films. I disagree: Since the wires weren't visible in the original (Technicolor) release in 1953, it seems perfectly permissible -- and necessary -- for a digital "facelift" to have been done for the new DVD, wouldn't you think? By adjusting the color contrast & using digital technology, War of the Worlds (1953) can then be presented as it was originally shown & meant to be seen.
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Good on it's own but separate from the novel
Added 2/7/2010
This is the original Academy Award winning movie (best special effects) from 1953. Although absolutely nothing like the novel by H.G. Wells (the war machines didn't fly, characters are not the same etc.), this film does put the story in a more modern era. Even today, this film still leaves you with a sense of terror as people flee helplessly from the invincible war machines of the alien invaders. If your looking for a version that follows the novel more closely, the Tome Cruise version is actually surprisingly accurate, with a few minor differences: 1. Set in the 21st century, whereas in the novel it took place in the 19th century; 2. The main character in the book was by himself in search of his wife, whereas in the Tom Cruise version, it was a man with his two kids fighting to get to his ex-wife; 3. The war machines had another weapon in the book - a poisonous gas used to exterminate humans. There are few other little differences, but if your looking for an original storyline and Hollywood history, then I strongly recommend the 1953 version.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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my husband was very pleased
Added 2/4/2010
He's been wanting a good copy of this movie for quite some time. He's very happy with the quality of the movie since it was upgraded to digital.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Please remove the wires!
Added 12/17/2009
Everyone here knows what a fantastic movie this was. The martian war machines are still breathtaking. However this digital transfer makes the wires plainly visible in almost every scene! It wouldn't be too difficult to release a new edition without the embarrassing wires holding them up. How about it powers that be?
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All around excellent
Added 10/21/2009
The other reviews said this was a very crisp copy of the movie. They were absolutely correct.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Those Beautiful Deathships (and about those wires...)
Added 2/9/2010
While not a perfect film version of the H.G. Wells novel -- there hasn't been a perfect movie adaptation yet -- the 1953 George Pal production has always been one of my favorite science fiction films, if only for the incredible visuals. I can forgive some of the corny dialogue and Ann Robinson's screaming, just to see those Martian deathships, so beautifully designed, and far more imaginative than any of the other spaceships depicted then or more recently. The colorful heat rays and death rays (backed by weird sound effects), the destruction of L.A. city hall, people on a hillside watching an atomic blast, the three-color Martian camera lens -- all of these are so very memorable and thrilling.
About those visible wires, the ones clearly supporting the Martian ships in some shots: to my understanding this film was originally photographed & released in the Technicolor process, the color contrast designed to blend those wires into the background. So first-run audiences didn't see any wires back in 1953. (I believe this movie won the Oscar for Best Special Effects that year, and rightfully so.)
In the late 1960s, however, new prints were struck using the Eastmancolor process. Result? The wires then became visible -- even more so on DVD given the higher resolution.
Some have suggested that digitally "erasing" the wires would be historically incorrect -- like pulling a George Lucas with his new versions of the 1977, 1980 and 1983 Star Wars films. I disagree: Since the wires weren't visible in the original (Technicolor) release in 1953, it seems perfectly permissible -- and necessary -- for a digital "facelift" to have been done for the new DVD, wouldn't you think? By adjusting the color contrast & using digital technology, War of the Worlds (1953) can then be presented as it was originally shown & meant to be seen.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Good on it's own but separate from the novel
Added 2/7/2010
This is the original Academy Award winning movie (best special effects) from 1953. Although absolutely nothing like the novel by H.G. Wells (the war machines didn't fly, characters are not the same etc.), this film does put the story in a more modern era. Even today, this film still leaves you with a sense of terror as people flee helplessly from the invincible war machines of the alien invaders. If your looking for a version that follows the novel more closely, the Tome Cruise version is actually surprisingly accurate, with a few minor differences: 1. Set in the 21st century, whereas in the novel it took place in the 19th century; 2. The main character in the book was by himself in search of his wife, whereas in the Tom Cruise version, it was a man with his two kids fighting to get to his ex-wife; 3. The war machines had another weapon in the book - a poisonous gas used to exterminate humans. There are few other little differences, but if your looking for an original storyline and Hollywood history, then I strongly recommend the 1953 version.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
my husband was very pleased
Added 2/4/2010
He's been wanting a good copy of this movie for quite some time. He's very happy with the quality of the movie since it was upgraded to digital.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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