Posts tagged ‘The War of the Worlds’
WORKS BASED ON THE NOVEL
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
As I have mentioned in previous posts my interest in alien life, apparently looking at the vast amount of material generated by interest in H. G. Wells’ novel, The War of the Worlds, I am not alone.
Here is a partial list of efforts based on the novel.
Theatrical (movies) 3
Direct to video 7
Television productions 8
Radio productions 17
The first being the famous radio adaptation by Orson Wells.
Music productions 7
Comic books 12
There are also ten other various types of efforts related to the novel
Here is a link for a more detailed list.
List of works based on The War of the Worlds – Wikipedia
In a future post I will discuss the discovery of the possibility of alien life in our solar system.
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
COMPARING THE 2005 MOVIE TO THE NOVEL
CONTINUED
With all my misgivings about the 2005 movie concerning the invasion from Mars, of the two movies, 1953 and 2005, the 2005 version most closely follows H. G. Wells’ novel.
Once the machines emerge from underground an EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) disables all electronic devices. The machines also do this in the 1953 movie. I don’t think Wells knew anything about the effect of an EMP.
The machines are tripods which are the type of machine also in the novel.
Both movies differ from the book because the machines are protected by a shield whereas the machines in the novel can be destroyed. Also, in the movies the invasion encompasses the entire world, in the movie only England is involved.
In the 2005 movie and the novel the machines cultivate a red vine which engulfs the entire area. The vines are grown using human blood which the Martians also use for nourishment. In the novel autopsies are performed on Martians and it is discovered that they lack a digestive system.
And finally, in both movies and the novel the Martians meet their demise through disease caused by bacteria to which they have no resistance. Wells speculated that there are no diseases caused by bacteria on Mars.
Here is a link to a discussion of the 2005 movie.
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
COMPARING THE 2005 MOVIE TO THE NOVEL
Although the 2005 movie version of The War of the Worlds most closely resembles the novel, I have major problems as to how the invasion begins.
As I mentioned in my discussion of the 1953 movie the major stars, Gene Barry and Ann Robinson, appear at the end of the 2005 movie as the children’s grandparents.
The invasion begins with strange lightning bolts strike. Where do these lightning bolts come from? Never explained. Later, in the movie tapes made of those lightning bolts reveal that they contain the Martians.
Their machines are buried beneath the surface of the Earth. In the same encounter with the news team with knowledge of the lightning, it is speculated that they could have been buried for a million years. No matter how advanced a society is, underground for a million years – you turn the key, and they start up, no problem. I have a problem with that. Also, what about technological changes during those million years. Why use machines that are a million years old when the Martians could have brought along newer models. And couldn’t ground penetrating radar detect the machines buried underground?
I pose these questions because I write science fiction and sometimes I do not fully explain details for fear of slowing down the story, but there is a limit. Some details must be given for the story to make sense.
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
COMPARING THE 1953 MOVIE TO THE NOVEL
Of the movies two movies made using
the novel as a guide in 1953 and 2005, my favorite is the movie made in 1953.
Yet that is the movie, of the two, which least resembles the book.
The premise of the movie is an
alien invasion from Mars. This nails down where the invasion originates, of
course, the title serves the same purpose. I say this premise follows the novel
for an alien invasion could come from any planet or any solar system.
One nice touch in the 2005 movie
was to include Gene Barry who plays Dr. Clayton Forrester and Ann Robinson who
plays Sylvia van Buren in the 1953 movie as the grandparents at the end of the
2005 movie.
To begin with, the Martians arrive at
what, at first, appears to be a meteorite. After a short period of time men
guarding the object detect a unscrewing at the top of the object and a device
appearing which destroys the men. What is never explained is how the Martian
machines make their exit with only the small aperture revealed.
In the published description of the
movie, it is said that heat rays are used to cause destruction. But if memory
serves, there were two types of rays. One was a heat ray which caused most of
the destruction and set fires. But initially a ray was used causing men and
vehicles to disappear and is described as a ray which destroys the energy which
joins molecules. Hence, the ray causes whatever it hits to fall apart.
Another difference between the book
to both movies is that the entire planet is under attack. In the novel only
England is involved, the home of H. G. Wells.
In the 1953 movie the machines
arrive already constructed whereas in the novel, upon arrival of the cylinders,
the machines must be firs constructed. Also, the machines in the movie do not
appear as described in the book. The machines in the novel walk on three
extended legs whereas the machines in the movie appear to hover with the theory
that they are manipulating gravity. The machines in the movie are protected by
a force-field. In the novel they can be destroyed.
In both movies and the novel there
is a scene where the characters are hiding in a farmhouse. In the 1953 movie
the characters escape with a rag soaked with Martian blood. In the novel and
the 2005 movie what occurs in the farmhouse is similar with the final result
being the death of a character.
The blood collected and analyzed
reveals that the Martians are anemic and have a poorly developed immune system
which leads to their demise. This failure for the Martians to survive is true
in both movies and the book.
Here is a link to the published version of the 1953 movie.
The War
of the Worlds (1953 film) – Wikipedia
DETAILS OF THE MARTIAN INVASION FOUND IN THE NOVEL THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
CONTINUED
Once the machines emerge from the crater they use a heat ray and black smoke, poison gas, to destroy the humans encounter.
During the invasion the main character seeks shelter in a partially destroyed house with a curate. The curate’s fear increases, and he talks louder and louder, is discovered by the Martians and abducted.
One interesting fact is that the machines are tripods and travel using three long extended legs. Upon examination of the Martian machinery and vehicles it becomes apparent that the Martians have no knowledge of the wheel.
They communicate through telepathy. And in appearance, resemble something out of a Lovecraft story.
During the invasion Martians drink the blood of humans they capture for nourishment. Upon the demise of the Martians autopsies are performed and it is discovered that the Martian lack a digestive system, hence the need to drink human blood. During the invasion massive amounts of red vines are produced and plague the area. Nourishment to create the vines and color is also attributed to the use of human blood.
Of further note is that the Martian vehicles can be destroyed.
The Martians eventually succumb to diseases caused by the bacteria found on Earth. It is speculated that there are no disease-causing bacteria on Mars.
Finally, it is thought that if the Martians launch another invasion of Earth it will occur in a less developed country. But this time humanity will be ready.
DETAILS OF THE MARTIAN INVASION FOUND IN THE NOVEL
The novel begins with the primary character, while using a telescope at an observatory, notices flashes occurring on the surface of Mars. I use the term primary character because his name is never revealed. Also mentioned are the makings having been observed on the surface of the planet.
Eventually, what are thought to be meteorites begin landing in England and only in England which is where the invasion takes place. These are cylinders from Mars. Upon landing the cylinders form deep craters. Activity from the result of flashes and the formation of clouds of mysterious gases are observed issuing from the crater for quite some time. This is because the Martins are using more rudimentary lifeforms and advanced machinery in the construction of their vehicles due to the trouble the Martians have functioning in the greater gravity of Earth as compared to the gravity of Mars
Once the nature of the activity in the crater is realized, the man ponders what is driving the purpose of the Martians in their journey. At one point he also wonders if the Martians have a god and compares the invasion to a European country invading a ‘savage’ culture.
It is revealed that the Martians, through necessity, have increased their intelligence, increased their powers and hardened their hearts.
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
INTRODUCTION TO THE NOVEL BY H. G. WELLS
I have read the novel, The War of the Worlds, written by H. G. Wells in 1898 three times now.
The first time because of my interest in science fiction and my addiction to flying saucers. The second time was for a science fiction book club to which I belonged. The third time was after seeing the 1953 and 2005 movie based on the novel, I noticed stark differences between details of the Martians and their invasion between the novel and the movies.
What follows are discussions of the novel and then how the two movies handle what is found in the novel.
Before I begin, I want to mention that The War of the Worlds is usually referred to as a novel, but on occasion, referred to as a novella. Not knowing the word count, I do not know which classification is more correct. Also, the word count for a novel and novella at times overlap, and at times change.
SCIENCE FICTION BECOMING SCIENCE FACT
Since I write science fiction, I had to give praise to SpaceX landing their 14 story rocket on a barge, not a very large barge, in the ocean.
How many of us, advanced in age and wisdom remember rockets landing in movies or TV in an identical manner. I do not know why but watching the missile land, the fact that the top of the rocket was perfectly flat was something I had never pictured. It’s delivery, gone.
I just had to mention this historic event and contemplate the next science fiction turned science fact. I might share that War of the Worlds is one of my favorite science fiction movies along with The Thing from Another World which scared the shit out of the seven or eight year old Walt. Remember the last line of The Thing after the vegetable James Arness is fried?
“Look to the skies.” I love that line.
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