# "War of the Worlds" trailer **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 9, 2005, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998 "2005-05-09T02:03:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/1 "2005-05-09T02:03:30Z")
The new _War of the Worlds_ movie – [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407304/;](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407304/;) [http://www.waroftheworldsfilm.com/](http://www.waroftheworldsfilm.com/) – is opening soon. I saw one of two “teaser trailers” in the theater a few days ago, and the other online. “Teaser” is right – neither trailer gives us even a glimpse of the Martians or their ships. :mad: (You can view both trailers here – [http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/waroftheworlds/](http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/waroftheworlds/) – if you have Quicktime.) I wish they hadn’t updated the story to a contemporary setting. That’s what every _WOTW_ adaptation to date has done, including Orson Welles’ radio play. Just once I’d like to see a _WOTW_ movie set in 1898. Leaving that aside, will they describe the aliens as “Martians” when we now know an intelligent civilization there is almost certainly impossible? And will they change the ending to something less predictable? Based on the plot outline in the IMDB, and one of the trailers, it appears Cruise is going to be playing yet another “Tom Cruise character” – a self-centered jerk at the beginning of the story who learns valuable life lessons and finds some kind of redemption at the end of it. Yet again. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/2 "2005-05-09T02:14:56Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I wish they hadn’t updated the story to a contemporary setting. That’s what every _WOTW_ adaptation to date has done, including Orson Welles’ radio play. Just once I’d like to see a _WOTW_ movie set in 1898. Yes, wouldn’t that be nice? > **[Entertainment](https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/)** > > Entertainment covers all aspects of the entertainment industry including the arts, leisure activities, toys and games, movies, music, television and sports. Cross your fingers. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/3 "2005-05-09T02:25:37Z")
Yeah, I think I’ll be plunking down my money for the 1898 version and skipping the Cruise/Speilberg version altogether. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/4 "2005-05-09T02:29:27Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > Yes, wouldn’t that be nice? > > [http://stuffo.howstuffworks.com/wotw-videos.htm](http://stuffo.howstuffworks.com/wotw-videos.htm) > > Cross your fingers. That movie is supposed to have been released 4/30/05, but I haven’t even heard of it until now. Did it open in the UK only? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/5 "2005-05-09T02:31:47Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Yeah, I think I’ll be plunking down my money for the 1898 version and skipping the Cruise/Speilberg version altogether. If more follow that example, the Spielberg version will be the next _Waterworld._ From the Wikipedia, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War\_of\_the\_Worlds\_(2005\_movie):](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Worlds_%282005_movie%29:) > [@](#): > > In August of 2004, the Internet Movie Database reported that the film was “poised to make history in Hollywood as the most expensive film ever made - surpassing Titanic’s $198 million budget.” The report quoted an unnamed source that said, “No expense will be spared. Spielberg wants to make it the film of the decade.” Some of this movie has been filmed in Rockbridge County, Virginia. The New York Times, the original source for this number, ran a correction a few days later that the budget is actually $128 million. But that’s still quite a wad! ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/6 "2005-05-09T02:35:30Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > That movie is supposed to have been released 4/30/05, but I haven’t even heard of it until now. Did it open in the UK only? I wish I knew. First it was February, the March, then April. Even if it **is** low (or no) budget I’d like to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/7 "2005-05-09T02:37:08Z")
> [@](#): > > neither trailer gives us even a glimpse of the Martians or their ships. The “aliens” are not from Mars according to one site. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/8 "2005-05-09T02:38:24Z")
So…um…it’s going to be like ‘I, Robot’. It bears the name of a classic SF story and bears no actual resemblance to it? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/9 "2005-05-09T02:45:04Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > So…um…it’s going to be like ‘I, Robot’. It bears the name of a classic SF story and bears no actual resemblance to it? Well, it’ll have a few of the original elements from what I understand, but basically you’ve nailed it. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/10 "2005-05-09T06:03:17Z")
According to an article in the _Los Angeles Times_ today, Spielberg is aiming his movie directly from the perspective of Tom Cruise’s character, and getting away from all the stereotypical summer blockbuster schtick. As screenwriter David Koepp says, “I’m sick and tired of watching New York get pummeled in movies and reality. No scenes of beating up on New York. No destruction of famous landmarks. No shots of world capitals. No TV reporters saying what’s going on. No shots of generals with big sticks pushing battleships around the map. Let’s not see the war of the world. let’s see this guy’s survival story.” “No spaceships. No flying saucers. Nothing remotely resembling any machine or creature from the George Lucas Universe.” –Steven Spielberg I admit, it sounds different, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/11 "2005-05-09T08:22:51Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > I wish I knew. First it was February, the March, then April. > > Even if it **is** low (or no) budget I’d like to see it. Good question, check [the IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425638/board/flat/18914812) for details on the director 😛 There are now three versions, the [Speilberg version](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407304/), the much derided (but accurate to the book) [Hines version](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425638/), and now a third straight to video release called “Invasion” [from Asylum pictures](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449040/), that seems to be on the knife edge of legality, having advertising and a DVD cover that rip off both Speilberg’s WOTW and Independence Day and seems to have also picked up a “War of the Worlds” title too somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Abe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f1d935/32.png) [@Abe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/12 "2005-05-09T09:06:00Z")
“… human affairs were being waaaaaatch’d from the timeless worlds of space…” That trailer was particularly painful. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/13 "2005-05-09T09:12:36Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > According to an article in the _Los Angeles Times_ today, Spielberg is aiming his movie directly from the perspective of Tom Cruise’s character, and getting away from all the stereotypical summer blockbuster schtick. As screenwriter David Koepp says, “I’m sick and tired of watching New York get pummeled in movies and reality. No scenes of beating up on New York. No destruction of famous landmarks. No shots of world capitals. No TV reporters saying what’s going on. No shots of generals with big sticks pushing battleships around the map. Let’s not see the war of the world. let’s see this guy’s survival story.” > > “No spaceships. No flying saucers. Nothing remotely resembling any machine or creature from the George Lucas Universe.” > –Steven Spielberg > I admit, it sounds different, at least. Actually, that sounds a lot like SIGNS… ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/14 "2005-05-09T19:51:26Z")
Don’t talk to me about **Signs.** “Alien invaders afraid of water” is only _marginally_ dumber than **V’s** “alien invaders need our water” schtick. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/15 "2005-05-09T20:01:03Z")
If you watch the second trailer there is a very brief shot near the end of a ferry boat being tipped over by ‘something’ coming out of the water. I think that is an alien ship. (disclaimer, I work for one of the film companies that is putting out this movie but I’m not trying to market it through the SDMB) ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/16 "2005-05-09T20:39:57Z")
Hey call me old fashioned but I like to actually WATCH movies before actually judging them…maybe not in the case of that crappy looking BBC straight to video trailer. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/17 "2005-05-09T21:48:19Z")
IIRC, **Cervaise** has met the director before and could say a few things about him. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/18 "2005-05-09T23:05:27Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > Don’t talk to me about **Signs.** “Alien invaders afraid of water” is only _marginally_ dumber than **V’s** “alien invaders need our water” schtick. Actually, it’s worse then that. Signs wasn’t “Aliens are afriad of water” but rather “Aliens aren’t afraid of water even though it kills them”. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/19 "2005-05-09T23:07:43Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > Don’t talk to me about **Signs.** “Alien invaders afraid of water” is only _marginally_ dumber than **V’s** “alien invaders need our water” schtick. Even worse, _Alien Nation:_ “Oxygen-breathing carbon-based aliens dissolve in seawater.” ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998/20 "2005-05-09T23:09:57Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > Yes, wouldn’t that be nice? > > [http://stuffo.howstuffworks.com/wotw-videos.htm](http://stuffo.howstuffworks.com/wotw-videos.htm) > > Cross your fingers. Man, that looks BRUTAL. I’m sure they have good intentions, but in this case, I think good taste would go a LOT further. I’m still looking forward to the Spielberg/Cruise version, but it would have been nice if it were set in the 1890s. I think part of the charm of the book was seeing the events in the eyes of the Narrator, knowing he and his contemporaries had never even imagined anything like that before. And I think Steve is making a good decision not to include all the objective POV of the ships, aliens, news coverage. I think the movie will work much better on that level: Through the eyes of the main character. I say that, but I am still looking forward to seeing the machines and aliens he saw from his perspective. And a good John Williams score to boot. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-of-the-worlds-trailer/302998.md?page=2)