In Reply to: That may be posted by RGA on July 10, 2005 at 17:58:58:
>>> "And in a good movie I would not pick on it. In a bad movie then i wonder why Spielberg just didn't make a NEW monster movie. Plenty of directors have what is called creative licence...this movie could have used a total re-vamp for a 2005 audience not a 1940's audience or whenever this originally aired." <<<...I think Clark is refering to the original novel, by H. G. Wells from the 1890's, not the radio broadcast scripted and directed by Orson Welles' Mercury Theater from the 1930's or the George Pal produced 1950's film adaptaion, not that this would matter much in your estimation. Oh, BTW, as I see it, a director's "creative license" shouldn't be the same as the one issued by the British Admiralty to James Bond. :o)
The point Clark is making is a fair one because, even in the course of fine-tuning the story for a modern audience, Spielberg was trying to remain true to the author's intellectual work. War of The Worlds is much more than a "monster movie" just like it's alleghorical content as a written work is more than about space invaders. You can still enjoy popcorn with it, but please, no Cheetos! ;^)
In any adaptaion of a classic novel a seasoned 1st tier director who respects the author's work will want to anchor his vision to the original story in certain areas. If Roger Cormon had produced WoTW I'm sure that it would've hired a hack to totally revamp Well's seminal work for a hip young 2005 audience, or at least it would've been so cheesy that it would "seem" hip to those who don't read books.
Spielberg took some risks here and, IMHO, they paid off. Of course, your mileage will undoubtably vary.
Respectfully,
AuPh
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Follow Ups
- Ummmm... - Audiophilander 22:56:58 07/10/05 (2)
- A film should stand ENTIRELY on its own merit! - RGA 11:44:44 07/11/05 (1)
- "If I read the book I would not need to see the film..." - It's a classic! I thought that everyone had read WoTW... - Audiophilander 17:01:02 07/11/05 (0)