|
Actors: Gene Barry, Ann Robinson, Les Tremayne, Lewis Martin
|
|
| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The War of the Worlds |
|---|
When a meteor lands in a small American town, the villagers are first awed. Soon, the martians in the meteor start to attack the people. Soon, more arrive and attempt to destroy, and like cockroaches, they can't be easily defeated.
--Estefan Ellison, Resident Scholar
|
A meteorite is sighted falling to earth. Upon further investigation, they find that the meteorite is a spaceship. The aliens, not seen, are approached by Army types and others. Their reaction is swift, blowing up with a laser-type beam those who approach their ship. Eventually we learn that the fallen meteorites are the parts of a ship. Several are formed by the fallen parts and rampant destruction and death follow. The end comes whithout intervention of any one in the movie. Earth bacteria found in nature make do with the aliens. This movie is an adaptation from a radio drama written by Orson Welles and based on the book by H.G. Wells.
--George Patton, Resident Scholar
|
Screenwriter Barre Lyndon, director Byron Haskin, and producer George Pal created this classic 1953 movie based on the H.G. Wells novel. A meteorite that strikes Earth in the mountains above Los Angeles turns out to be the first in a shower of alien invasion vehicles from Mars. Dr. Clayton Forrester (Barry) and his scientist colleagues search for a weakness in the invaders' armor as the Army and Air Force futilely shoot at and bomb the seemingly unimpregnable craft. Earnest, at times schlocky, but with some striking early use of color and pretty decent special effects for its day, the film includes stock footage of the Northrop YB-49 "Flying Wing," only two of which were ever built (and both of which crashed).
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
|
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS is an adaptation of H.G. Wells' book directed by Byron Haskin and George Pal in 1953. Academy award in the Best Special Effects category.
California. As strange meteorits hit planet Earth, the world understands with horror that Martians plan to invade and completely destroy the planet. Even the atomic bomb doesn't disturb these invaders that are protected by a kind of magnetic shelter. Dr. Clayton Forrester must find a way to save the humanity in a lapse of 6 days. Hard job but God is with planet Earth.
Deliciously kitsch.
--Daniel Staebler, Resident Scholar
|
| Analysis of The War of the Worlds |
|---|
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about
books by breaking them down into many different literary
elements, all of which are searchable (click here). |
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 42.5%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzle - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 27.5%
**Fantasy or Science Fiction?**
- science fiction story
Invasion from human defender POV?
- overt invasion (very visible of monsters/aliens)
War and Invasion
Yes
Major kinds of combat:
- spaceship battles
- laser battles
- gun battles
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- scientist
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/medium straight
Body type
- average (man)
Events of movie makes character more...
- aggressive
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- red
Hair style
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn curly
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an entire race
Has special powers?
Yes
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 80%
Setting
Earth setting:
- 20th Century (1950-1970)
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Small town?
Yes
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
Tone of movie
- fearful
Kinds of F/X
- exploding bombs
- exotic spaceships
- exotic aliens
If Soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Orchestra/classical
Is this movie based on a
- book
|
| Most similar reviews by Gordonator ranking |
|---|
| Robotech
starring Larry Abraham, Robert Axelrod, Bill Capeze, Frank Catalano
|
| Wing Commander
starring Freddie Prinze Jr, Saffron Burrows
|
| Star Wars Revenge of the Sith
starring Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman/Hershlag
|
| This Island Earth
starring Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason, Lance Fuller, Russell Johnson
|
| Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
starring Alec Baldwin,Ming-Na,Ving Rhames,James Woods,Donald Sutherland,Steve Buscemi,Peri Gilpin
|
|
Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
|
