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Post by BrutalDeluxe on Feb 24, 2005 23:40:53 GMT
I have seen some horribly, horribly bad straight to DVD/video films in my time which make TH WOTW look like James Cameron's Titanic! No one in their right mind could have possibly thought these films would break even, let alone make a profit, yet there they are on the store shelf. Some directors out there still value the art of telling a story regardless of the cost and I for one applaud them, no matter how nutseful the end result is.
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Gray
Full Member
Posts: 114
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Post by Gray on Feb 25, 2005 0:38:41 GMT
Fer crying out loud! Who woke The Motile?
Here's another way to look at it: Instead of Hines as scoundrel and deceiver, he intended all the dates that he dropped to be good. He intended to announce a distributor at MIPCOM in October as he said--and something went wrong. Something happened. The deal went south. It didn't happen for him. That threw a wrench in the works, and now here we are. He's been scrambling ever since.
Seems more plausible than him plotting and lying just to get our dander up.
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Post by themotile on Feb 25, 2005 3:24:08 GMT
Fer crying out loud! Who woke The Motile? Here's another way to look at it: Instead of Hines as scoundrel and deceiver, he intended all the dates that he dropped to be good. He intended to announce a distributor at MIPCOM in October as he said--and something went wrong. Something happened. The deal went south. It didn't happen for him. That threw a wrench in the works, and now here we are. He's been scrambling ever since. Seems more plausible than him plotting and lying just to get our dander up. For crying out loud! your such a drama queen! Does anyone actualy believe that when Hines said it was going to be a world wide cinema release that he actualy believed that? Is there anything other than his statement that indicates a cinema release? Anything at all? Is anything seen so far cinema quality? Nope. Has any cinema you can contact anywhere even heard of this film, doesnt look like it. If something had 'gone wrong' there would at least be signs that it was meant for a cinema release, like advertising, decent trailers, the movie actualy appearing on cinema web sites stuff like that. You believe what you want gray and I will wait for the DVD.
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Post by dudalb on Feb 25, 2005 3:44:15 GMT
"Does anyone actualy believe that when Hines said it was going to be a world wide cinema release that he actualy believed that? " This is where, although we are on the same wave length generally, you and I part company. I think that Hines started out with good intentions, He wanted to make a good period WOTW for theatrical release.. But somewhere along the line things went south. My own suspiscion is that he has ran into money problems, and might be having trouble finding the cash to finish the film. I don't question Hines intentions, but I do think he has been overwhelmed by the problems of making, distriubting, and marketing a motion picture. Even on the indie level, they are staggering.
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DvB
Junior Member
Posts: 11
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Post by DvB on Feb 25, 2005 9:55:21 GMT
Well i recieved some VERY interesting news yesterday! A friend of mine works in the IFC here in Dublin, its an Indie/art movie theatre considered quite trendy over here, anyway he informed me that PP WOTW was scheduled into their spring programme ( basically indicating it was definitely NOT getting a general release over here at least) but has been put on hold to the summer schedule at the moment, he did say this was quite common though for independent films as they quite often run overtime on the post production end of things for numerous reasons! He did say they'd heard nothing to indicate it was nothing more than a delay though but would let me know if he heard anything else!
So take from that what you want!
Slain
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Post by Gnorn on Feb 25, 2005 11:45:21 GMT
Indeed, sounds interesting!
I also think the movie will be shown at the SF Museum (mind you, this is NOT fact) but with Mr. Hines involvment with the WotW exhibition, it would make sense.
-Gnorn
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Post by themotile on Feb 25, 2005 12:33:30 GMT
"Does anyone actualy believe that when Hines said it was going to be a world wide cinema release that he actualy believed that? " This is where, although we are on the same wave length generally, you and I part company. I think that Hines started out with good intentions, He wanted to make a good period WOTW for theatrical release.. But somewhere along the line things went south. My own suspiscion is that he has ran into money problems, and might be having trouble finding the cash to finish the film. I don't question Hines intentions, but I do think he has been overwhelmed by the problems of making, distriubting, and marketing a motion picture. Even on the indie level, they are staggering. I have never said he hasnt had good intensions, I know he has wanted to make this sinse he was a kid, and yes they obviously have some sort of problem they are working through, but the whole thing from the start has had no indication it was meant for a world wide cinema release apart from Hines's statement to that fact. I am simply of the belief that it was always going to be a DVD affair with the odd indie cinema screening.
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Post by notobfukwiv on Feb 25, 2005 23:35:57 GMT
Probably DVD. If that is the case, what a great and unique opportunity wasted. The job of promoting, screening, making of this film etc etc etc should have been placed in the hands of professionals, film organisations that produce results and get the right exposure at the right levels.
In my professional opinion, the marketing team for this production ought to be answering serious questions and if not them somebody, somewhere should.
The authentic version of this story I'm sure is very close to the hearts and minds of the vast majority of WOTW fans. The story in my opinion, needs, has, should be told in the way it was written by the genius Wells. How dare we insult him in this manner, more care ought to be taken. I'm not a great follower of the Speilbergs version, although I will see it and I'm sure it will be a great product but to me it's kind of Independence Day dressed up differently.
My opinion peeps, if it doesn't fit well that's your beef not mine.
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Zoe
Full Member
Posts: 105
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Post by Zoe on Feb 28, 2005 2:35:50 GMT
Well this is all going round and round in circles isn't it guys? Fairly new to this board and just having a look round the Pendragon thread..... or Gordian knot or whatever.... My mum and sister were extras in a film once.... back in the 70s.... It starred Oliver Reed and Susanna York and Susan George and some other big names..... They spent a couple of weeks filming on location in England. Anyway, the film never came out. It didn't go straight to video either..... It was pulled.... abandoned.... scrapped. My mum and sister waited and waited to hear a final release date and instead they just heard that the project had been terminated. That's the way it is with films. I don't know how many films.... especially indy films.... never make it but I bet it's a lot..... Maybe Hines's budget nearly all went on legal fees and filming a couple of test reels - hereinafter known as the trailers.... I don't know. It happens. Companies often shoot 'trailers' to show to potential backers to close the deal..... If the backers cough up cash they finish the film.... if not the test reels disappear into the white elephant's graveyard. Even closing the deal doesn't guarantee a release..... There's many a slip twixt cup and lip..... release dates slip too.... Having two or more versions of the same film coming out isn't necessarily the kiss of death.... Look at all the different versions of 'Dracula' we've had. When it comes down to it either this film will happen or it will not. Fans do not 'own' a film project..... they may have invested a lot of emotion in it but the production company can't pay people with emotion.... If they could I would be rich by now! We just have to realise we are beating up nobody else but ourselves..... And I'm no judge as I'm way too old to know what the cinema going public will go to see..... I asked a teenage girl to look at the trailer for The War of the Worlds and she thought it was "Very cool"..... In the end her generation will decide whether it succeeds or fails so if she turns out to be typical then Hines has got himself a hit...... If she's not typical he's got a turkey..... Same as it ever was Zoe
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Post by flynnsixtysix on Feb 28, 2005 9:19:06 GMT
zoe - shsshhh - be carfeul what you say - the walls have ears. Meet me at dawn behind the old oak tree and I'll show you the proof that many of us have been compiling for nearly 5 years. As you say 'test reel'..say no more..
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Zoe
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Post by Zoe on Feb 28, 2005 22:03:18 GMT
zoe - shsshhh - be carfeul what you say - the walls have ears. Meet me at dawn behind the old oak tree and I'll show you the proof that many of us have been compiling for nearly 5 years. As you say 'test reel'..say no more.. If you think I'd meet any bloke at dawn behind a tree you must think I've just fallen out of one. This is sounding more and more like the Monty Python sketch "There was I about to release my film 'HG Wells's The War of the Worlds' when Steven Spielberg rushed his through while mine was still at the chemists!" Not quite the same.... but it is close. The truth is that in this world of ours "Betamax is better than VHS"; "OS/2 is better than Windows"; and "Pendragon's War of the Worlds is better than Dreamwork's" - but nobody cares! Video Distributors drop Betamax despite endorsements from the BBC and other professionals who use nothing else; software developers ignore OS/2 despite endorsements from the world banking system who use nothing else; so what hope has a small independent film company got against the whole, monolithic film distributing system clunking along like some ancient dinosaur with it's head in the clouds. It's great to be a fan.... an enthusiast. You can drive your Tucker car that is still 'the best thing on the road' after all the cars that beat it are rusty heaps in the scrap yard. You can laugh with delight as your OS/2 system zips along, virus free and crashproof while the news announces another security problem with the latest Windows or you can dream that one day someone will make the perfect film version of you favourite HG Wells story..... But a dream is all it is. I'd love to see a film version of The War of the Worlds that stuck to the book and the period setting. I don't think we will ever see it. The biggest argument against it is that Hynes himself did not originally plan it that way. He was going to do a modern version too. To be honest, I don't even think Spielberg is on to a winner with his version. If you are a fan of Wells you love the idea of a new version of a Wells story. If you are just an average filmgoer you are a teenager without a car or a place of your own looking for a couple of empty chairs in a darkened room where you can snog your bird..... Or else you are the bird - in which films with 'War' in the title aren't that appealing and Tom Cruise is just about past his sell-by date. I can't see much to please the average punter with the Spielberg 'War' - let alone with the Pendragon film. I just don't get any buzz about it. 'Independence Day' killed it off. From what I've heard this 'version' keeps the tripods and ditches the story..... So it's probably going to be an also ran movie that pleases no one - still less the Wells enthusiasts. Come back George Pal! All is forgiven! Zoe
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syrtismajor
Full Member
Heat rays are for wimps, all hail the egg whisk!
Posts: 87
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Post by syrtismajor on Mar 1, 2005 18:46:03 GMT
Been (trying) browsing independent cinema's in Great Britain to see if there is any sign of this films release other than the one with the IFC (Anymore nees DvB?). I found this pdf file for the National Film Theatre, www.bfi.org.uk/news/releases/2004/2004-09-15-nft-forthcoming.pdfScroll down to page 4, and in the month of 'May', it says that they are having a H.G.Wells film festival. Says nothing of the films being shown but may be a possible line of further investigation? Probably just will be the 1953 film and the two 'Time Machine' films but thought I'd link it anyway.
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Post by EvilNerfherder on Mar 1, 2005 19:44:07 GMT
There are loads of other Wells movies.. 'First Men in the Moon', 'Things to Come', 'The Invisible Man', 'The History of Mr Polly' and so on, so it could be interesting. I've emailed them and will let you know if they reply with a list of films to be shown.
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Post by themotile on Mar 1, 2005 19:53:59 GMT
Been (trying) browsing independent cinema's in Great Britain to see if there is any sign of this films release other than the one with the IFC (Anymore nees DvB?). I found this pdf file for the National Film Theatre, www.bfi.org.uk/news/releases/2004/2004-09-15-nft-forthcoming.pdfScroll down to page 4, and in the month of 'May', it says that they are having a H.G.Wells film festival. Says nothing of the films being shown but may be a possible line of further investigation? Probably just will be the 1953 film and the two 'Time Machine' films but thought I'd link it anyway. Thats mighty fine detective work there sheriff....
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syrtismajor
Full Member
Heat rays are for wimps, all hail the egg whisk!
Posts: 87
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Post by syrtismajor on Mar 1, 2005 19:55:42 GMT
Thats mighty fine detective work there sheriff.... Cheers , I do try!
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Post by EvilNerfherder on Mar 1, 2005 20:00:52 GMT
That was indeed good work.. With any luck I'll get a reply from the BFI tomorrow so watch this space...
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