WAR OF THE WORLDS (2005): What It Does Right

A video essay exploring Steven Spielberg's 2005 adaptation of H.G. Wells' 'War of the Worlds' and why it is so effective.
"Chill Wave" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
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[@Penguin2923]

This film is crazy underrated

[@SteVin89]

This captures my personal thoughts and feelings about War of the Worlds perfectly.

[@katjamuller5503]

i just started reading the novel and i have to say the 2005 adaptation is actually pretty good once again reminding me of why I love Stephen Spielberg's work

[@WreckingWood]

People have blockbuster guilty pleasures to have fun watching the effects going full out explosive like Transformers, Independence Day, Matrix Sequels, Star Wars Prequels or Avatar. Well this is a blockbuster guilty pleasure for reasons more subdued and less obvious like atmosphere that's harder to capture. The lightning storm, tripod introduction and aftermath, bodies in the river, the refugees. A number of big set pieces but rather than go full bombast there's instead a slow-burn tension and dread during the gradual reveal of things. The surprise unknown explosions and crash and single long take revealing the crashed jet has a deeper impact than if they went the obvious route. Supported by a rather theme-less John Williams score that proves he can deliver just as masterfully on atmospheric music. Despite it's failures on good story or characters there was still this careful attention to the presentation that would be overlooked on bigger budgets that would instead play high volume as constantly as they can and made it worse.

[@rorrt]

I rewatched this film for maybe the 4th or 5th time the other day. It was on UK tv. I remember watching it in 2005 and liking it. But never treated it as a WotW adaptation, but as an alien invasion film.. But the more I thought about it. I've read the book about 2 times. Listened to the Jeff Wayne record at least 40 times. I was even born about 15 minutes walk from where the book is set, in Surrey, UK. So to see an accurate adaptation would have made my day! But that's it. An accurate adaptation would never be accurate enough for me. This decision was best for everyone. But. The changes, from the Thunderchild changing to the ferry. Tim Robbin's character from the Artilleryman were good, and weren't jarring. And showed some attempt was made to make an adaptation. I mean, i thought the Martians being buried made NO sense. But I like how it's ambiguous as the Harlan (basement guy) and the CBS news crew gave conflicting accounts. If there was a third account, from perhaps a maniacal priest would have made it! And people don't like the ending because the germs win? I mean, that's the book!

[@JAI-fw4el]

love your essay 👌

[@theunstoppableaxeofjustice3991]

I find war of the worlds a very fascinating, aliens are terrifying or should we call them Martians.

[@crowdarnoldsen2933]

Breadtians

[@harbour2118]

They look pretty frightening, sure its not eldritch, but its a solid design

[@tres9007]

This is really good. Good job!

[@gloomyvale3671]

The book was penned in 1897 many years before WW1 I don’t see how this could have influenced Wells unless he was a mystic?

[@TGM_Productions]

Incredible~

[@SaberRexZealot]

Needs more views bruh

[@mollydonahoe2376]

Amazing wow :) !

[@DeroComedy]

very great and good!1!1!!!!

[@MrHelpy34]

The war of the worlds is a beautiful metaphor for Colonialism and paranoia. As you also are Australian I assume, after reading the book it has completely shattered my beliefs of Imperialism. And it is incredibly humbling of my faith in Humanity.

[@thewonderfulworldofderek6087]

Uinveral studios Hollywood movies 2005 war of the worlds. Years 50th anniversary 100th anniversary back lot

[@joshuaball5916]

So what you're saying, is that the anticlimactic ending to the 2006 adaptation is actually good?!

[@doubleabattery8099]

I mean the ending is pretty much the same as the book and thats been praised for years.

[@Optimegatrongodzilla]

​@@doubleabattery8099 And, it's how the 1953 film, which is considered to be a classic, ended.

[@thewonderfulworldofderek6087]

Movie night 2005 years Intrvew review 100th anniversary 50th anniversary

[@thewonderfulworldofderek6087]

History Hollywood home house yesrs review Intrvew Uinveral studios movie Hollywood movie new documentary

[@HPCAT88]

Hey, how about you turn up the Music Volume even higher, and just make Music Videos at this point?

[@veldinjoeable]

I have to say this movie had one of the weakest Scripts of any Spielberg movie but it had by far some of his best directing.