War Of The Worlds

They have new releases (Star Wars just came to town), but they're always in Thai. :(

What's truly amazing about WOW is that it was a rushed project. They stopped filming just 2-3 months ago. That's talent. In other hands a rushed project might have looked rushed.

Wouldn't it be interesting if Spielberg made a small indie flick using the DV format? Just to see what he can do with next to know budget and some no name actors. Come on Spielberg, you've made enough money to pay rent this month, take a risk and do something shocking.
 
PK, I don't think you should worry. I'm sure they'll be a WOW boot leg DVD in a couple of days. :)

Terri, you're up kind of early! :beer: <--- its a cup of coffe.
 
although I haven't seen the film yet, but I think it'S gonna be just the same as all the films like this... I mean the story and the characters, they just use different backgrounds and cutomes. I think I am not wrong, am I?
 
Spielberg edits on a flatbed. This man is not using DV any time soon. He does use a video-like aesthetic, here, though to drive home a sense of realism and panic.

Anyhow, the first half of this movie is the best directed sixty minutes of film I've seen in years (although some parts are weaker than others.) The rest just falls apart. But it's awesome to see Spielberg messing with new editing aesthetics. The use of long takes and a simulated documentary cinematography style was so perfect for this movie. There are so many great shots, but instead of cutting, they're strung together with brilliant camerawork. It's like Citizen Kane, only showier and slightly less brilliant but a million times more exciting. I love the use of aperture framing, too. It gives a sense of being trapped in the destruction. Plus, people get evaporated, what more could you want?! The mis-en-scene was brilliant, too. This guy had the most crazy crowded sets with deep focus cinematography and still drew your attention to just the perfect part of the frame. Spielberg's ability to tell a universal story alongside a personal one was impressive, but he did this visually as well. Amazing stuff; this is truly prodigious film making. Spielberg's not a Hollywood crafstman as some claim, he's a master artist and this movie confirms it completely. (Not that I ever doubted him. I loved Catch Me if you Can and the visuals in AI were pretty despite the film itself being a muddled, pretensious, boring, mess. Even Minority Report was fun until it got silly.)

The second half, though....what a let down. There's no sense of causality, no desperation, and the threat becomes almost arbitrary. Too bad. Oh well, Lucas confirmed he still had it in him with Episode III and Spielberg did the same with this, only to a greater extent--he is, after all, a much better director. The movie, as a whole, though, was a big dissapointment. Still recommended, but cautiously. The sad thing is, if the first half hadn't been so amazing, I'd probably recommend it more strongly since it wouldn't be such a let down. After all, there are some great moments (and amazing visuals) throughout the rest of the film, as well.
 
everytime i watch spielberg films, I forget about all the arguments we have here about asthetics. which is surprising because im crazy about camera work, asthetics and 24p.
but yeah, can't wait for spielberg to do some DV.... i doubt it'll happen because he's too old fashioned. Lucas is more likely to shoot with mini-dv than any other big directors. But He'll probably stick with sony 24p.

WOW inspired me last night. that's all I have to say. I keep thinking how I haven't felt like that in a long time watching a movie.. just amazing. hands down. Bravo Spielberg.
 
Yeah, Spielberg is a master simply because he's able to work within film form so precisely that his manipulations of it become invisible--he's doing amazing stuff, but he doesn't draw attention to it. That's what I love about his direction so much. The ideas are there, the intellectual stuff is all there, but there's no pretension. His brilliance is such that it you don't even notice it--it's just there and it's incredibly effective.

He's still incredibly inconsistant.
 
dvpixl

I too have not been inspired by a film in ages; and this was flat out inspiring. Wonderful work.

I keep hearing a bit about how it ends and want to emphasize it is very close to the source material; the book by H.G. Well's. Can't discount Steve on this one. The book end's as dramatic (or not so dramatic I should say) like the film.

Policar

Nice review; until the second half of your review. :lipsrseal :laugh: Are you completely deranged?

The movie, as a whole, though, was a big dissapointment. Still recommended, but cautiously. The sad thing is, if the first half hadn't been so amazing, I'd probably recommend it more strongly since it wouldn't be such a let down. After all, there are some great moments (and amazing visuals) throughout the rest of the film, as well.
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The movie as a whole is a disapointment (After your first half rave of a review) and then "there are some great oments and vsuals in the rest of the film..."

:undecided

I'm busintg your balls Policar. That was a nice review :thumbsup: :)



surfalthough I haven't seen the film yet, but I think it'S gonna be just the same as all the films like this... I mean the story and the characters, they just use different backgrounds and cutomes. I think I am not wrong, am I?
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You are wrong wrong wrong. This film is akin to JAWS more than any of his films in the last 20 years. This film has a seriousness level that is not for children. I almost took my son (% years) to this and decided not to at the last second and am glad I did not.

But no; I have to disagree; this is not a rehash of previous Spielberg films.
 
John_Hudson said:
This film has a seriousness level that is not for children. I almost took my son (% years) to this and decided not to at the last second and am glad I did not.
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LOL

Your son must be reeeeeaaaaallllllllly young to be percent years old. ;)
 
Yeah, I agree, WOW shows why Spielberg is Spielberg....

The sequence where the aliens first reveal themselves... I was just in gaping awe. That was one of the most incredible sequences I have EVER SEEN! That and the boat sequence, were just unbelievable, and some of the best stuff Spielberg, or anyone, has ever done.

The minivan shot, my buddy pointed out may have been referential to something Kubrick did in the Shining. Awesome shot, very effective...

Only thing I can say remotely negative is (SPOILER)

...Robbie coming back at the end felt a little forced to me, but it didn't ruin the film. I loved the shots with the leaves flying around.
 
Hi Chance

Subjectively I would have left Robbie out in the cold; for the audience to deterimine his fate. A super minor ***** on my part.

I hear that alot 'Spielberg Editing on A Flatbed' still. I don't know. Michael Kahn has been his editor since what? Close Encounters? Is Kahn editing on a Flatbed? IMDB syas he edits on an upright.
 
I can't see how a film like WOW would ever be edited on anything but an NLE (Avid I'd guess).

The workflow must demand a fully digital post-production.
 
just got back from the theater! it was a cool movie, very intense! i was definitely biting my nails. Overall, i liked it a lot.

IMO- although the film was packed with action, suspense, etc...i felt it was lacking in a grand climax. I know Speilburg was following the source story, but that doesn't mean he could have changed it a bit..right?

to me, it was like this:
yeah.jpg




ah maybe i'm just hard to please :undecided
but still...go see it!! :thumbsup:
 
I hated this film.

What pointless, ridiculous garbage.

The Spielberg lovers need to have their brains checked.

That's all.

No offense.
 
Coltrain, you're kidding right? I hope you are kidding. there is absolutely no reason to hate this film.
 
You just want to start a fight Coltrain don't you?

I enjoyed the film, I think I need to see it again...I went in with different expectations. Wasn't a huge fan of the narration at the beginning and end but I know that is how the original was. The people that came with me kept talking and even after the narration at the end, I had to explain it to them...yikes.
 
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