DVD Review
by Chris Alexis
| MOVIE: ** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: * (out of 5 stars) STARRING Gene Barry as DR. CLAYTON FORRESTER Ann Robinson as SYLVIA VAN BUREN Les Tremayne as MAJ. GEN. MANN Robert Cornthwaite as DR. PRYOR Sandro Giglio as DR. BILDERBACK Lewis Martin as PASTOR MATTHEW COLLINS Rated G Studio: Paramount Directed by: Byron Haskin Back to DVD Review Home |
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In preparation for the upcoming Spielberg version of “War of the Worlds”, I watched the original movie in order to compare the two.
I don’t think either “War” will have much in common with each other, despite being based off of the same book. I admit, that I have never read the original H.G. Wells novel, so I cannot compare the novel and the film against each other. I will say that this movie was a letdown.
This film plays for exactly what it is: a 1950s sci-fi thriller meant to kill a Saturday afternoon at the matinee. No deep logic to it, just big ships with ray guns killing everybody.
That’s pretty much the plot. No, really. There’s no real character development, no deep emotions gained, no overall moral to the story.
The film starts off like a typical 50s movie: a cheesy narration that sounds like a documentary explaining why the Martians chose Earth over the other planets in the solar system. From this we are introduced to characters in a small town who investigate a mysterious pod that lands in a field. Soon it begins to glow and hum and kills three men sent to check it out.
By the way, this film is by no means politically correct. One of the men who investigate the pod is Latin-American descent, one of the few minorities in the film, and is an immigrant worker who talks about enchiladas.
Eventually, the pod begins to attack, followed by other ships that follow. Chasing them is a scientist, Dr. Clayton Forrester, who runs next to Sylvia Van Buren, creating a sexual tension that lacks…well, tension. Or sexuality - neither character is extremely attractive.
As Forrester is trying to figure out a way to defeat the Martians, he has a developing romance with Sylvia that is by no means compelling. I actually found their scenes together quite boring. Also boring was all the scenes involving the General and his army trying to figure out how to take down the Martians. In fact, the only semi-interesting parts of this film were the action scenes. Now, of course these are a bit cheesy - but back in the day, I’m sure this was a very violent film for the 1950s.
Chances are you saw this almost exact same story in the remake that was “Independence Day.” Jeff Goldblum plays almost an identical character to Forrester who even looks identical down to the red-rimmed glasses and haircut in an almost identical story. Sure, there are differences, but overall “Independence Day” is just a modern update to this film.
From the trailers, it looks like the new “War of the Worlds” incarnation is very different from the story of the original “Worlds” - focusing more on a father and his children than a scientist and his gal pal. Certainly, it will be a more interesting version of the story than this film captured.
As far as Special Features, well - except for a trailer, there really isn’t any. No commentaries, deleted scenes, or anything else of the sort. Of course, back in the 1950s, there probably wasn’t anyone shooting footage of the making of the film and obviously most of the filmmakers are probably not alive to record any commentary. So, you just get the movie.
Not really worth renting before you see the new one. Although the running time is 85 minutes, it feels much longer and you’ve probably seen the much better version in “Independence Day” - save your money for the tickets for the new incarnation hitting theatres - we all know to go to the theatre nowadays you need to save up as it is.
