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beltmann
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
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Location: West Bend, WI
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 Posted: 07.07.2005 2:46 am Post subject: |
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| j miller wrote: | | Did you ever hear of a movie called "Hope and Glory"? |
It's one of my favorite WWII movies of all-time.
| j miller wrote: | | What did you think of the ending to War of the Worlds? |
I know some people feel the "explanation" is unlikely and given short shrift. Perhaps the movie would be better if Spielberg had devoted more energy to developing the nature-versus-machine theme, but honestly I don't think it was necessary to the story he did try to tell. The movie is about an ordinary man trying to save his family from annihilation--a pure and timeless human theme, surely--and not about all the mumbo-jumbo that usually clogs up sci-fi tales. The biological "explanation" feels a little abrupt, yes, but Spielberg's real story has certainly reached a satisfying end.
Eric
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the night watchman
Studio Exec
Joined: 27 Jun 2003
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Location: Dark, run-down shack by the graveyard.
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| Posted: 07.07.2005 5:13 am Post subject: |
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| beltmann wrote: |
| j miller wrote: | | What did you think of the ending to War of the Worlds? |
I know some people feel the "explanation" is unlikely and given short shrift. Perhaps the movie would be better if Spielberg had devoted more energy to developing the nature-versus-machine theme, but honestly I don't think it was necessary to the story he did try to tell. |
I agree, but at the same time, I'm familiar with the story of War of the Worlds, so I was expecting something akin to the ending Speilberg/Friedman/Koepp provided; indeed, it seems as though anyone who knows the story wouldn't be jarred by the ending. With that in mind, I have encountered a fair number of people, mostly teenagers, who were confused or frustrated with the abruptness of the conclusion. Is it possible that they're unfamiliar with the story?
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beltmann
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 2341
Location: West Bend, WI
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| Posted: 07.07.2005 12:48 pm Post subject: |
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| the night watchman wrote: | | I agree, but at the same time, I'm familiar with the story of War of the Worlds, so I was expecting something akin to the ending Speilberg/Friedman/Koepp provided; indeed, it seems as though anyone who knows the story wouldn't be jarred by the ending. With that in mind, I have encountered a fair number of people, mostly teenagers, who were confused or frustrated with the abruptness of the conclusion. Is it possible that they're unfamiliar with the story? |
That could be it. I read the novel many times as a kid, so perhaps I too was primed to accept the ending.
Eric
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Danny Baldwin
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 1354
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: 07.07.2005 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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| beltmann wrote: | | the night watchman wrote: | | I agree, but at the same time, I'm familiar with the story of War of the Worlds, so I was expecting something akin to the ending Speilberg/Friedman/Koepp provided; indeed, it seems as though anyone who knows the story wouldn't be jarred by the ending. With that in mind, I have encountered a fair number of people, mostly teenagers, who were confused or frustrated with the abruptness of the conclusion. Is it possible that they're unfamiliar with the story? |
That could be it. I read the novel many times as a kid, so perhaps I too was primed to accept the ending.
Eric |
To me it wasn't so much the abruptness of it all but how illogical it was. Sure, this is science-fiction, but the third-act, to me, almost extinguished what made the movie so terrifying in its first two-thirds: the real feeling of it all.
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the night watchman
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| Posted: 07.07.2005 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Danny Baldwin wrote: |
To me it wasn't so much the abruptness of it all but how illogical it was. |
Do you mean you found it illogical that the Martians/aliens weren't immune to Earthly diseases, or that they weren't prepared for the possibility of infection?
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Danny Baldwin
Studio Exec
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Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: 07.07.2005 10:10 pm Post subject: |
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| the night watchman wrote: | | Danny Baldwin wrote: |
To me it wasn't so much the abruptness of it all but how illogical it was. |
Do you mean you found it illogical that the Martians/aliens weren't immune to Earthly diseases, or that they weren't prepared for the possibility of infection? |
The latter. I could've even gone with it had they not been planning it for "millions of years," but to me, it just seemed silly. The actual "lack of immunity" idea could've worked well.
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j miller
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Joined: 05 Jul 2005
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Location: West Bend, WI
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| Posted: 07.08.2005 1:41 am Post subject: |
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I read somewhere that the original H.G. Wells novel is Darwin's Survival of the Fittest theory in disguise. The martians in the book had to come to Earth since their planet was becoming unhabitable, I think. Earth was choosen since it appeared to be like their planet. So humans and martians were both fighting for their right to be the "dominant species" of the planet.
How did Oglivy (in the movie) actually know the amount of time the aliens have been planning this (or perhaps that was part of him being delusioned)?
In regard to point of view, perhaps Spielberg hid the aliens' actual motive from the audience in order to keep us at a level with Ray and his family - we know what they know.
Josh
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the night watchman
Studio Exec
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Location: Dark, run-down shack by the graveyard.
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| Posted: 07.08.2005 2:35 am Post subject: |
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| j miller wrote: | | I read somewhere that the original H.G. Wells novel is Darwin's Survival of the Fittest theory in disguise. |
That's natural selection, and there really isn't much disguising going on.
| j miller wrote: | | How did Oglivy (in the movie) actually know the amount of time the aliens have been planning this (or perhaps that was part of him being delusioned)? |
I think he was speaking in hyperbole, but all the same he can't be far off the mark; the Martians must have planted those war machines in the earth before recorded human history -- at least 60,000 years.
| j miller wrote: | | In regard to point of view, perhaps Spielberg hid the aliens' actual motive from the audience in order to keep us at a level with Ray and his family - we know what they know. |
I think so too, and I have no problem with the motivations of the aliens being unfathomable; but the problem do I have is the fact that what can be deduced by the evidence that is presented doesn't add up rationally or logicially. It doesn't even suggest any internal or intuitive logic, which is of prime importance in stories of the fantasitc. Why must a species that is advanced enough to control weather and move through bolts of lightning be dependent on technology that must be at least tens of thousands of years obsolete for them? Indeed, as Danny pointed out, why wouldn't they anticipate the flu?
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j miller
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Joined: 05 Jul 2005
Posts: 37
Location: West Bend, WI
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| Posted: 07.08.2005 5:04 am Post subject: |
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Perhaps the aliens were blinded by their greedy arrogance and desire for power, that they completely looked over the small details. But you'd think that sometime over the million year period, that idea would pop into one of their heads.
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My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way.
--Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) |
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kaestner
Key Grip
Joined: 03 Jun 2005
Posts: 25
Location: West Bend, WI
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| Posted: 07.08.2005 5:22 am Post subject: |
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I watched some movies today--even though they were on tv. But all three were repeats
Saving Private Ryan- Amazing visuals, battle scenes, and emotion it brought out of you. Tom Hanks' character's death was so sad. Easily one of the best war movies.
Enemy at the Gates- Focuses on a different part of WWII, but still very important. I overall enjoy the movie with the flaws it has-- everyone speaking English, but people in the distance speaking German. It just sticks out to me. I particularly enjoyed the music it had, different from anything I've heard.
What About Bob?- Classic Bill Murray film. I actually saw it for the first time about a month ago, and its old humor still holds up.
Batman Begins- I saw this two weeks ago and loved it. I enjoyed the background it gave and how Batman had all of his tools/weapons/gadgets. It was much darker with Nolan directing it. Bale had another strong performance. MUCH better villains than.....Mr. Freeze  |
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beltmann
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 2341
Location: West Bend, WI
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| Posted: 07.08.2005 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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| kaestner wrote: | | Tom Hanks' character's death was so sad. |
What?!? Thanks for ruining the ending for me!
Eric
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the night watchman
Studio Exec
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Posts: 1373
Location: Dark, run-down shack by the graveyard.
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| Posted: 07.08.2005 8:27 pm Post subject: |
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Hey, Eric, in Titanic, the boat sinks.
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"If you're talking about censorship, and what things should be shown and what things shouldn't be shown, I've said that as an artist you have no social responsibility whatsoever."
-David Cronenberg |
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kaestner
Key Grip
Joined: 03 Jun 2005
Posts: 25
Location: West Bend, WI
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| Posted: 07.09.2005 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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| the night watchman wrote: | | Hey, Eric, in Titanic, the boat sinks. |
and Leo dies  |
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beltmann
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 2341
Location: West Bend, WI
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| Posted: 07.10.2005 1:19 am Post subject: |
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| the night watchman wrote: | | Hey, Eric, in Titanic, the boat sinks. |
| kaestner wrote: | | and Leo dies |
Bastards.
Eric
_________________
"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment |
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beltmann
Studio Exec
Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 2341
Location: West Bend, WI
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