The 'NEW' Look To The Machines

[jeffwaynefan]

Im glad that the 'test' footage has been released, I can talk about it now.

So guys, what do you think of the 'new' look of the machine?.

Stunning is what comes to my mind. After all these years waiting for this to happen, we finally get to see the machine come to life. Yes, 25 years is a long time to wait, but it would appear that many of our dreams are coming true.

I like the new appearance to the machine - the newly stylised feet and bottoms of legs, the joints around the legs, the larger eyes - just a few to mention. The 'photo' realistic look to the machine gives us the preview of how special this film is going to be.

Nice work

H_C

[RossH]

The tripod design is still not quite what I imagined for Wells WOTW. However, like the '53 move, JW has created his own version of the story (and one of my favourite albums) so I'm inclined to look at it in that context, rather than a faithful retelling of the Wells story.

The tripod model is great- I was expecting some shiny chrome monstrosity, but the modeleers/texture artists have done a wonderful job. The feet design is wonderful and the animators have 'nailed' the method of walking.

If I was to criticize the model, I would suggest that they
made the legs longer. Not only would that make the tripod more menacing, but it would also make it's walk more elegant and effortless (it'd lessen the amount of travel each leg had to make to make a single step). The short legged version is a little reptilian, but that's not a bad thing.

I'd also think about making the eyes appear to have transparent lenses in front of the green, rather than being solid green. It would give the eyes some 'life'...

Finally, as the tripods are made of some mysterious alien unpainted shiny metal, I always liked the idea that (just like the red weed thrives then dies in Earths hostle atmosphere) the tripods would begin to tarnish and rust as time went by as they were exposed to the oxygen and water in the air.

But these are only suggestions. If you were to ask how well I thought they captured the artwork from the album, I'd say they nailed it 100%.

[Chris]

I like the overall design although I am a bit confused as to the scale of the tripods.

From the buleprints, the hatch the martian is supposed to enter in looks quite small compared to the overall size of the cockpit, giving the impression it's quite large. However in the PC game the 'cockpit of the fighting machine doesn't look like it's much bigger than the martian pilot, giving the impression it's quite small.

If the fighting machines are supposed to be around 100ft tall, what dimensions would you give the cockpit?

[RustiSwordz]

thats my only gripe too the eyes are too big. If u look at the handling machine the eyes are the right size to the body IMHO.

[Thunder Child]

The way that the machine moves gives a good intrepretation of the line: "and advancing with a leisurely parody of a human stride". Because the two sidelegs actually move a bit like the legs of a human.

Johan

[Gnorn]

Thunder said:

Because the two sidelegs actually move a bit like the legs of a human.

... who works at the Ministry of Funny Walks ;-)

The clip looks nice. I like JW has gone with those feet, instead of those big round ones seen in the game. I do agree the legs could be longer. And in the end, I hope the whole scene will be filtered to give it a painted look, like the original paintings.

-Gnorn

[the Donal]

Though it does look absolutely fantastic, I would like to see the eyes a little smaller and rounder (more akin to the LP cover) and the ridge that houses the heat-ray funnel a little wider- the feet also seem to me to be a little too different to the overall look of the rest of the machine- pitching a modern look against a more victorian look- but they do also look great and move really well. I do prefer the generally more birdlike shaping of the body shown here- however Michael Trim's blueprints do seem to vary a little in each elevation he has drawn and this captures elements of all of the original drawings/booklet artwork.

The walking motion is fantastically realised- very fluid and extremely convincing. I agree that the legs could be a little longer- but only a little.

I'm not convinced that this is how the heatray is definitely going to look- it appears to be a test just to get the feel of the thing firing and to start canvassing ideas about how it will be realised.

I love the way the render is presented- grainy like film and focussing like the camera is trying to keep up- these may be tests again for the final look of the movie....

Looking forward to seeing more.

[malfunkshun]

i disagree with some of you peeps about the legs. i think they need to be shorter, or have more joints. but then that would destroy the JW design. they've done as well as they could with the animation, based on the clumsy initial design, which was never intended to be actually animated.

[the Donal]

Does anybody think, and I am probably jumping the gun here, that somehow- even though there is no scenery to compare it with, the machine looks a little small?

Awwww- look at the little martian machine. Isn't he cute!!!!! ;D ;D

[jeffwaynefan]

I see this as the album cover shows the machine from the ground/sea level up, where as the CGI test shows it mainly from the side. With the 'extra' detailing on the bottoms of the legs for the newer feet, it would make the machine a little taller, but without buildings and so forth the scale is not shown.

H_C

[Spirit of Man]

I suppose that it does look at little small on first inspection, but I beleive that may have something to do with the speed its moving.

I always imagined the Fighting Machine to slowly stride to places, the sheer length of its legs would allow it to cover huge distances, without them having to move that fast. But being a "Fighting" Machine, it would make sense that they would be pretty nimble.

If they move anything like the game, then they would start off moving quite slow, gaining momentum, but whatever the case, its looks pretty damn cool

[paco417]

i have to agree with spiritofman in regards to the way the FM would initially would move eg:- starting off slowly and then going ballistic in their quest!. can't wait for the finished film to arrive.

[krys666]

Yes the clip(s) are breathtaking! I knew that the tripods were to be "fluent" in moving but this brings another dimension to how we think of fighting machines.

I would love to see it "running", going at full speed, as in the book it isdescribed as going around the speed of an "express train" which if I remember correct, which I might not, is around 100mph...(?).

And any "smoke" from the tripod would look great, as the JW animation team have already proven that they can make brilliant texture effects! Not to forget the lights!

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And I'm sure that all of you would love to see the martians building them, and then them clibling into the hoods and then rising to 100 ft high!


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Also, I would love the other machines and when the cannon brings one down, and the Thunderchild battle!

[Bayne]

[glow=red,2,300]I love the new 'look' to the machines. I also think maybe the legs might be better longer.. just to make it look 100 feet high (isn't the PC games tripods longer legged?) but even then it looks great!

I'm really impressed by the range of motion they got out of it. Way cool!
[/glow]

[Rob]

I'm sure I think the legs are gonna be longer, after all it's only a test. I recon its a test to get the movement right more than anything

[jeffwaynefan]

Guys your forgetting one thing here - the machine is seen on its own and not compared OR scaled to anything other than its self. Beleive me, when its fitted into another CGI shot with a building then its height will become apparant.

As the old sayig goes, you can't judge a book by it's cover.

H_C

[krys666]

Also in the book the tripod can "rise" so we might se this in action for this film

[jeffwaynefan]

krys666 said:

Also in the book the tripod can "rise" so we might se this in action for this film

Define 'rise'

If your refering to that in the novel the machines rises up - eg - due to the legs being jointed then that will not happen in the JW film because the Trim/Wayne machine does not have jointed legs, as mentioned many times.

H_C

[ulla123]

Wow Horsell, calm down, give the guy a break..
Did you get out the wrong side of bed or something?

[jeffwaynefan]

No, but it sure looks like you did.

Our fellow friend Krys does have a good reputation of not listening at times, and as made in numorous postings by other members, the Trim/Wayne machines do not have jointed legs unlike the H.G.Wells machines - is there a problem with stating words to that effect?.