moifs guide to Martian invasions

This post may take a few moments to load...
----

'The War of the Worlds' is probably my favourite book, though if I am honest, this is probably as much due to Jeff Wayne as it is to HG Wells. The book itself a classic of science fiction perhaps the classic work of the genre and a story which has been adapted quite a few times, though seldom with any success. The earliest adaptation was Orson Wells radio play which famously spooked some of its audience who did not understand they were listening to a work of fiction. How much truth there is to this story I can't say, but its amusing with hindsight to think any one could have believed the Martians were landing in America. Every true fan of The War of the Worlds knows that the Martians land in Woking! I've heard the radio play several times and its got a certain flair to it. Orson Wells gets credit for actually making the radio play which is something the BBC, who really ought to have made this into a really good radio play decades ago, have yet to do. Quite why they have neglected this book when one listens to some of the crap they've dramatized in the past is beyond me. They've even done other HG Wells stories, but just not this one.
.
Unfortunately, the geographical misconception of the Wells radio play appears to be the dominent factor in subsequent adaptations of the book since it was repeated in the 1953 film by director Byron Haskin. As TWOTW adaptations go, this one is actually one of the better, for although it takes some broad liberties with the story, and adds an unhealthy portion of religion into the mix, it still manages to create a good vibe regardless. Its redesign of the Martian fighting machines as walking on legs of energy is interesting, though lacking the style of the originals.
.

.
1977 saw Robert Hardy reading the book for an abridged audio production and although this is the original, its not very satisfying. Good old Ray Harryhausen considered a film, but either couldn't get the cash for it or didn't have the time. Its a shame because he was a good film maker and this short piece shows his thinking:
.

.
I should interject that there have been other adaptations of the book, lesser efforts and fan productions which I'm not including here since they don't really merit the same level of attention.
.
Jeff Wayne's 1978 musical version of The War of the Worlds then shattered the silence and this is where a young moif entered the picture for the first time. Listening to a friends copy of the album on and old cassette player, at night under a street lamp outside my home in the UK, my hair rising on end at the thrumming bass line and Richard Burton's voice describing in lurid detail the heat ray on Horsell Common. I've been listening to this album, for years now, and I've bought it on cassette, vinyl and now CD (naturally I have the 100% remastered collectors edition). Despite the years and the format, this remains the best adaptation yet. Jeff Wayne's career as a musician never seemed to get past his master piece. He tried to do other similar projects, but they were strained efforts, not worth listening to at all. I have 'Spartacus' starring Athony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta Jones, but its never left its box but once or twice since I bought it (on offer).
Below is the original video which was released along with Jeff Waynes 2 record TWOTW Album, I saw this on Top of the Pops as an eight year old and the impression of the man with the glasses turning and staring stayed with me for thirty years until I found the clip again on You Tube. The second film is a fan version of the first.
.

.

.
Wayne eventually returned to TWOTW and in the last years has been touring with a concert show. A CGI film is said to be in the making, and it is due to be released within the next year or so. Every so often details slip from the studio and are shown on You Tube... I have not been able to find the original video footage of the Martian fighting machine from the upcoming film, but below is a video which incorporates it. The second film below it shows an introduction animation from the Jeff Wayne TWOTW computer game which generated the impetus for the return of Jeff Wayne's TWOTW and the realisation that a full CGI film might be possible. I'm well impressed with how Jeff Wayne and his team have managed to keep to the spirit of the books even whilst playing about with the various concepts.
.

.

.
After Jeff Wayne's album, there was a long period of inactivity on Mars (there was a long running American TV show based on the 1953 film, but the less said about this monstrosity the better). In 1996 Roland Emmerich presented the world with 'Independence Day 4' which is said to have been a loose, modern rewriting of the story and which had a certain flair to it. I'm not a big fan of the film and frankly, when it came out I didn't even realise it was based on TWOTW at all.
.
Finally, 2005 saw the release of three new movie adaptations of the book. These had been in the pipeline for years previously, with at least two of them being postponed due to 9/11. Steven Spielberg directed the most famous of the three and considering the money and influence he commands, did a pretty poor job. His Martians weren't martians, his heat ray wasn't a heat ray and his film spent more time on Tom Cruise arguing with his children than with the invasion. It was a highly frustrating experience. Every so often, gorgeous tripods would make brief appearances, spreading terror and mayhem in spectacular fashion only to be replaced by two squabbling brats and their clueless father. And then Tim Robbins makes his appearance the whole boat just sinks. Naturally the Spielberg film takes place in contemporary USA.
.

.
The worst part about Spielbergs adaptation was, even though it was pretty poor, it was still the better of the three. The second adaptation was a 'straight to DVD' release directed by David Michael Latt, starring several unknowns and Jake Busey and also taking place in contemporary USA. The only aspect of this production worth noting is the interesting eight limbed fighting machines with tank turret heads (they're supposed to have three legs).
.

.
As bad as this one is, its still light years ahead of the third TWOTW adaption to be released in 2005.
.
This was the one that I was waiting for. This was the film that was billed as being true to the original book, of having CGI comparable to the Matrix and of having the ambience and style of 'Saving Private Ryan'. This was Timothy Hines film.
.
IT IS THE MOST APPALLING NIGHTMARE OF A FILM I HAVE EVER SEEN.
.
You're probably thinking now, he's just exagerating because he was disapointed, or, there's worse films for sure. Yes, there probably is, but I've never seen them.- This really is the most horrible, badly made, badly acted film I have ever seen ...and it never ends! It goes on for hours and hours with the main actor in his ridiculous fake moustache trudging about an American landscape pretending to be in the south of England. Every so often cardboard cut out fighting machines lurch into view and the 'actor', some guy called Anthony Piana (this is the only film he is listed as having been in on IMDb) tries to act and fails. Not only does he fail, but he fails spectacularly. Judge for yourselves....
.

.