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Post by DanMacK on Mar 3, 2005 6:48:06 GMT
I've been following the developments, but haven't really had the time to post here, but I'll add my input to this.
Firstly, well said Charles and Bayne, I remember when, as you said, it looked like there'd be no WOTW fils of any kind. Now we've got 3 in the pipeline.
I want to see this film succeed, and I want to see Hines' critics proven wrong, but most of all, I want to see this film. This latest article re: the "Four Wall" release is disappointing, and seeing as the closest location is 12 hours away, it looks like I'm waiting with the majority until June 15th. If Hines and Pendragon had been up front with the public, the fans and the media, and stated "This will be a limited release film", I don't think we'd see near the amount of criticism we see on the boards now.
Looking over the past few months, and paying attention to the (lack of) press releases from Pendragon, I can still say, without a doubt I want to see this movie. I'm a War of the Worlds fan, and have been for 13 years. Hines deserves credit for trying this, and hopefully he'll learn from this, and (possibly) correct his mistakes for any future films.
Pendragon's Marketing and PR Department could definitely use a few lessons however, and the importance of the dedicated fanbase for a film like this can't be ignored. Pendragon it appears, however has chosen to ignore the fan base, as well as pretty much everyone else. They missed out on a valuable PR tool. I've been talking to people about the PP Films version, and even saw a guy at work browsing Pendragon's site. People know about this movie, but not enough people, and that's the problem.
I've been part of the "Wait and See" crowd as well, because honestly, if PP can't answer an e-mail or give a straightforward answer to any question, what makes you think we'll have an impact?
I want to see this movie more than any other this year, but I'm just hopign I have the opportunity. *Pictures going to the video store in June* Me: "Yes, I'm looking for "The War of the Worlds" on DVD..." Clerk: "What? It's not even in theatres yet" Me: "No, the other one" Clerk:" Oh, it's over there in 'Science Fiction'" as he points to a big store display of repackaged '53 Pal versions Me: "Wrong one again... look for it in your computer" Clerk: "Oh... here it is, Oh, I'm sorry, it's on back order, we're expecting them on March 30, 2006"
Note, the last lines are intended to be humourous
Cheers, Dan M.
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Post by dudalb on Mar 3, 2005 7:31:38 GMT
"If Hines and Pendragon had been up front with the public, the fans and the media, and stated "This will be a limited release film", I don't think we'd see near the amount of criticism we see on the boards now.' Exactly. And a four wall showing in five cities does not e ven qualify as a limited release. And frankly, I would not bet a lot of money on even that happening.
"But we’re soooo lucky to have people here who care about seeing an authentic adaptation" I want to see a GOOD authentic adaptation. You can have a film that is a page by page authentic adaptation and if, it is badly written, badly acted,with bad effects , and badly directed would still be a bad movie. I would rather see a modern version that is well made than an authentic version that is a bad movie. ( And No, I am not saying the Speilberg version is going to be good.) The footage we have seen from Pendragon is not promising. And I am a lot more concerned about the level of the acting then the SFX. So ,no, if Hines makes an "authentic version" that is a bad movie he is not to be praised. Sorry, but I think that quality is very important. Charles: IMHO Pendragon has not been honest and above board with it's supporters about this film. Hines promised a world wide theatrical release. Hines himself admits that is not going to happen. Explain to me why we should take anything Hines says seriously after the lack of information..just basic information.. and the fact that a lot of what he has said has proven false....about this film. Charles, sorry, but I can't buy your almost blind defense of Pendragon. Even if the film is good, Hines has pretty much blown the chances of anybody outside the hardcore fans seeing it unless he makes a deal for television..which might be a good move at this point. We are want to see an authentic adaptation. It is just that a number of us, imho on very good evidence, think that Hines has, whatever his original intentions were, has dropped the ball bigtime, if nothing else on the marketing and distribution of the film. You cannot take intentions for acheivement. A major problem I have with fans is that they do that. Ed Wood had great intentions, but he had little talent for film making and as a result his name has become a by word for really terrible..though unintenionally funny..movies. Sorry, being a fan is one thing, but putting on blinders that all is well with the Pendragon WOTW is another. I frankly. am not going to believe anything coming out of Pendragon until I see it. Hines has given me no reason to trust him, and strong reasons not to. I get tired that those of us who have become skeptical of this film are being called "haters". If being a "true Fan" (I guess that is the opposite of a hater) means I have to park my brains and turn off my critical judgement and just chant praises of Hines and Pendragon, then I would much rather be called a hater, thank you. I don't like being mislead, and Hines has misled us. Perhaps not intentionally, but it has become a point that as far as the promises of a world wide theatrical distribution goes, it is a choice between thinking he has been dishonest and thinking has been not very competent. I live in Sacramento. If the films plays in San Francisco, I will make the two hour drive to see it. But At this moment I really doubt I will have to make the drive.
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Post by themotile on Mar 3, 2005 10:09:52 GMT
LOL It seems to me that Charles and Grey and a couple of others have this delusion that there are two factions at work on these boards, the evil venomous "Haters" and the superior white and pure "Fans" well I got to tell you guys thats a bunch of crap. I am a fan, the difference between me and the like of Charles and Grey is the fact that I stopped swallowing Hines BS ages ago and can see the tripe for what it is. I agree with dudalb when he says hes offended by the constant lies and tosh that have poured from PP in an effort to build all our hopes up to an unrealistic level. It seems to me in the light of a complete lack of a valid defence other than "wait and see" its easier to devide the forum into two camps and attack the "Haters" as if we are somehow to blame for PP's failings. Hines does NOT deserve credit, Hines does NOT deserve to be applauded, so its war of the worlds woo hoo! get over it and move on, its going to be a film that it crap beyond belief, absolutely dire. I thank my lucky stars its not at my local cinema simply because as a FAN I probably would have been drawn to it like a moth to a flame, no thanks. So I will leave my little rant with just one more thing, there is peace and relative harmony on these boards when every one is just stating their opinions but then the "them and us" attacks start and the board kicks off, so I say to Charles and Gray and any one else who wants to moan about those with a different opinion than theirs, leave your fellow fans alone and turn your attention to your precious Pendargon, take a good hard long look.
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Post by flynnsixtysix on Mar 3, 2005 10:24:41 GMT
so what your saying is that nobody's really been arguing about this movie for 6 months as far as you can tell - it's simply been a war of personalities ?. the 'nice, decent intelligent folk' have had their sandpit spoilt by the 'ungrateful dumb shortsighted impatient repetitive boring tossers' ? - does that about sum it up Charles?
well if were going to live by the 'if you've got nothing good to say - don't say anything' rule of thumb there'd be exactly 3 people posting in here and they'd have nothing to say but ;
'It's quiet in here today' "yes, wonder what it'll be like tomorrow' "mmmh..quiet?" "now now sir , pistols at dawn - please don't be negative - it could get busy after brunch when the factories out for 10 mins air-break"
Sorry if I can't muster the belief some of you have in the great plastic sterile false reality of self-deluding hope and I'm sorry that it 'offends your sensibilites' to hear the ungrateful rabble 'mouthing off again'. Perhaps the great arian master-plan should be engaged once more to 'cull the dissenting voices amongst the rabble' - isn't that how it's always been with the 'upper crust' - charitably servicing the needs of the 'moron heathen masses'. Sending the boys in blue to give them a little bit of a 'salvic beating'? . Any moment now the 'orders will come rolling in from the top to quell the uprising'.
Man when did this place become SO elitist just because there are contrary opinions?
One thing good has come from it though - I'm sure relieved that there will be no 'ecological meltdown' since were believing in the impossible and living in 'only soft and lovely thoughts land'....oops sorry - that's a 'hard issue' - I realise only soft and fluffy 'movie related' issues can be discussed in here - don't stray off the polite and formal please - and nothing too contentious as it may upset the 57 year old child.
Do we really want a world where all the opinions 'agree to disagree' and align themselves politely with 'fake imagined hopes'. If so I suggest you code one - build a little 'yes, tea would be lovely sir fartyskew world' full of 'yes-bots' and get them to constantly pat you on the back for being so 'correct and dignified' about everything.
Just take a pill guys and break into a pheken rage once in a while. admit it - we got screwed....
I am just about smart enough to read between the lines and I see what we got going on here and have done for some time. Reason were always going at it like this is because the 'thought police' come in and start banging the bars of the cage demanding we no longer say bad things. Were talking about the movie and suddenly were having to fight for our right to opinion CONSTANTLY.
So please can we forget that drawing room victorian gentleman bullcrap ethic for once.. it was all just an illusion anyway - those so called 'gentleman of the empire' were the most cold blooded heartless phuken mass murderers the world has ever seen - Wells knew it and he had to leave cos he couldn't get 'hard enough in the company of real naked men' and so couldn't join in the dirty parlour games that the generals liked to play after dinner - that london based empire of old england was a bloodthirsty human slaughter engine and wells , huxley, chamberlain, russell and the like provided a good deal of the emotional and intellectual fantasies they needed to drive primal men of ruthless ambition through to about 2030. You think for a second our leaders could have thought of a 'tank ?' - no way - quiet prim little men in english country gardens come up with that stuff - and true to form as predicted it's nice to see they've passed the 'global domination baton' to old yankee doodle doo...take the heat off the real puppet masters.
It makes me puke to see the endless parody of victorian 'gentlemen' tipping their hats at a passing 'ladies/madams' when they really had a stonking great boner in their pants for an empire expanding world war or a bit of alley way 'hows yer father'- in reality they were fully conscious of their actions and were either emotionlessly planning the demise of a few billion 'johnny foreigners' once the old 'industrial revolution had spread' to Africa or off back-scuttling some victorian sleeper in the billiards room to relieve the tension that their prim trussed up wives wouldn't indulge them in...
.....there never was an 'age of the aristocratic gentleman' - that's a myth - only the aspiring middle class have ever fallen into that trap - keeps em greedy, heads-down and too busy to make a fuss but worst of all it got them POLICING THEIR OWN KIND - you guys should stop living in some fake past that never existed - the real world is full of decent ordinary guys making a living and hoping for some good times whilst the same power mad crazies phuck everything and everyone for a fast buck... and they're gonna do it good and proper this time - just you see).
So pleas stop trying to police our minds with your red leather, brass buttoned armchair middle-class home-brewed steam-punk 'behavioral psychology'
THANKS for the concern, but we'll think bad and incorrect thoughts if we want to.
(btw that was all meant with gentle warmth and giving sincerity - there is no anger in the post - please don't read any into it)
aahem - back to the movie - phew - really don't let me get started - why does it always seem to stray off topic like that!!!..I think I may complain like a whining childish maggot instead of not-reading the posts I don't like..
So in summary - I fully support Tim Hines and I cheer him on - I will buy his DVD if he released one - I can't say fairer than that - but as dub says I don't want a third rate hallmark movie either - even though many seemingly do..I will concede to sit and watch quietly and mourn the missed opportunities and the wasted potential...
for those sensitive types - aahh look soft fluffy kittens everyone - altogether - soft fluffy kittens - say it with me - aaah soft fluffy kittens...come and stroke them - they are soooo fluffy and soft...oohh I feel a bit sleepy - time for bo bo's? ahh..nice beddy byes everyone...
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Post by jeffwaynefan on Mar 3, 2005 11:04:30 GMT
Non of us on here know the truth behind whats going on over at PP it's all 2nd hand stories what we have read or heard, nothing directly from the horses mouth - Chinease whispers, Im sure you know what that means. Were not daft we can see whats going on, we can 'fill in the blanks' so to speak but when we do that are they really accurate.
So what are we looking at here, a director who says he will release a accurate version of the book - still yet to be seen because its not been released yet, on a world wide release - thats been changed to 5 cinamas in the U.S, but were displeased because we thought it was world wide, could be early days yet with time for it to be shown world wide at a later date, the director orignaly stated a budget of $48 million for the film, now down to $12 million - this is not from the horses mouth, but from a interviewer who could have misheard, but will we ever now this, with a newer full trailor to be released in February, which has now passed and without a trailor - what ever the reason its certainly delayed, and the final outcome of this film - non and I repeat NON of the members on here can answer that, just speculate.
We all have our owmn opinions on this film and yes its good to air them, but only to a degree that the one who posts them 1/ sticks to the boards rules, and 2/ the post is not offensive to others.
TH/PP have 27 days to release (if they so wish) any information on where the film is going. If the project has run into problems they are under no obligation to tell anyone other than there own people of which they will use the time to sort it out, this way others will now otherwise. If the film is delayed they will (if they so wish) inform us of a new release date. If they have distribution problems then thats there probelm and concern and something (if they so wish) will sort out in there own time.
The film could go a number of ways - released in selected cinamas, released at a later date world wide, released straight to DVD, taken up by a TV network and shown as a TV Movie, or put on hold if they wish to better the film they already have to please others, giving time to make extra $$$ to put back into the project. . . But do we have a say in any of that - NO. All we can do is sit back and reflect on what we already have - which is not a lot but its something.
As I always say, tomorrow is another day - and who knows what it will bring.
Now matter what we, they, them say you cant please everybody, and thats what we call 'life', so lets just get on with it as its not the end of the world.
Lets be grateful of what we do have.
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Post by RustiSwordz on Mar 3, 2005 11:24:57 GMT
Thats the trouble though Horsell dude. Until we have clear facts all we can do is debate relentlessly on false rumour and out of date info.
At the end of the day thats all we want, fatcs to quash these false suppositions.
But until those fact are forthcoming what can we do?
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Post by themotile on Mar 3, 2005 11:33:05 GMT
Thats the trouble though Horsell dude. Until we have clear facts all we can do is debate relentlessly on false rumour and out of date info. At the end of the day thats all we want, fatcs to quash these false suppositions. But until those fact are forthcoming what can we do? Exactly Rusti, H_C, I think we do know loads of stuff, to say we dont know anything is incorrect. Unless the board is to fall silent over Pendragon I dont see the point of sitting back in our arm chairs with our pipes and waiting hoping for the best. Debate and comment keeps the subject alive and in our minds, even if its negative comments, if something good come out of this all those negative comments will be utterly forgotten by all believe me.
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Post by jeffwaynefan on Mar 3, 2005 12:39:12 GMT
H_C, I think we do know loads of stuff, to say we dont know anything is incorrect. Thank you Motile, that is a prime example of what I mean by 'chinease whisper', another saying something that another did not say. I said - quote<< Non of us on here know the truth behind whats going on over at PP >> unquote - I did not say we dont know anything.
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Post by McTodd on Mar 3, 2005 12:41:52 GMT
so what your saying is that nobody's really been arguing about this movie for 6 months as far as you can tell - it's simply been a war of personalities ?. the 'nice, decent intelligent folk' have had their sandpit spoilt by the 'ungrateful dumb shortsighted impatient repetitive boring tossers'? ...etc. etc... ...for those sensitive types - aahh look soft fluffy kittens everyone - altogether - soft fluffy kittens - say it with me - aaah soft fluffy kittens...come and stroke them - they are soooo fluffy and soft...oohh I feel a bit sleepy - time for bo bo's? ahh..nice beddy byes everyone... That is one of the most bilious, splenetic, vituperative outbursts I have ever read! Fantastic! Huzzah, my good sir! Now bend over while I remove my top hat… ;D
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Post by RustiSwordz on Mar 3, 2005 13:00:27 GMT
Thank you Motile, that is a prime example of what I mean by 'chinease whisper', another saying something that another did not say. I said - quote<< Non of us on here know the truth behind whats going on over at PP >> unquote - I did not say we dont know anything. I agree we do have facts, yet can you distinguish those facts from the fiction?
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Post by jeffwaynefan on Mar 3, 2005 13:06:01 GMT
Fact - Pendragon pictures have been working on a project called 'H.G. Wells The War Of The Worlds'
Fiction - To be released world wide on the 30th March, to then have a review state it would be screened in 5 cinamas in one country (not world wide, unless the U.S have taken over the entire globe)
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Post by HTT on Mar 3, 2005 13:19:04 GMT
As mentioned on other threads, it depends how you define the term world wide.
To some people, the US is the world, hence a world wide release only covers the US. To others, it means in every city, in every country, around the globe. To others it's a select few cinemas in a couple of countries worldwide.
Until we get more concrete info from Pendragon, we won't know for certain. The 'facts' stem from an interview - and mistakes are made in interviews. If Tim HAS been giving interviews, surely he would have arranged for the website to reflect the updated information.
Just have to wait and see...
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Post by Ashe Raven on Mar 3, 2005 13:22:40 GMT
I'm sorry, worldwide in film terms means exactly what it sayson the label
If Tim missed that ittle bit of media knowledge, then he has a lot of catching up to do
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Post by McTodd on Mar 3, 2005 13:38:01 GMT
Some of you guys are a hoot--I'm speaking to the Haters, here. What's the reason for this latest anti-Hines explosion? Well, let's see... It's because the budget isn't as big as you thought it was. OOOOOOOOOOHHHH!!!!! ...It's because a small US indie film is going to get a small US release. OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! ...it's because a filmmaker wasn't 100% truthful when marketing a movie. OOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Or maybe, just maybe, could it be that it's because you realize that it won't be playing at a cinema near you? Ho-boy. All this extra anger after you've already been kicking the movie to the curb for months. It seems like justice, somehow. There's one good thing: When I go to see it (I'm in Atlanta ), I won't have to put-up with you guys in the cinema. For weeks now, I have avoided making any comments on the movie boards, because as I stated recently I regard it as futile and there are far more aspects to WotW than just these upcoming films. However, I have recently ended up, perhaps against my better judgement, making several posts that would definitely place me in The Doubters’ camp, and I’ll tell you why… There have been screeds and screeds of, frankly, pointless speculation (‘how many cinemas will it be in?’; ‘will it be shown at my local?’; ‘he’s got backing you know, wonder who it is?’; ‘what colour hair will the martians have? Better not be blonde’ etc. etc. ad nauseam) which have mostly been uncritically enthusiastic and – and this is the part I really cannot understand – taking Pendragon at their word! And when, as always happens, Hines fu*cks it up, anyone who says anything other than, ‘Oh what a shame, well at least he’s trying, oh I’m so disappointed, if only he’d promoted it a bit better, or not spouted bol*locks about how big the budget was (don’t tell me anyone can mishear ‘42’ as ‘12’, puhleaze!), or not fibbed about how many cinemas it’ll be in, because at least he’s trying’ gets instantly labelled a venomous Hater and slagged to the heavens. And so we go overboard at times, because the sheer blind belief in Hines from The Believers is so syrupy, so saccharine, that thank Christ I’m not a diabetic otherwise I’d have gone into a coma weeks ago. Just because Hines has ‘made an effort’ does not automatically entitle him to unreflective adulation. If I go into hospital for an appendectomy, and I end up with half my colon missing and shi*tting into a bag taped to my hip because it turned out that the surgeon was a complete fu*ckwit but at least he’d ‘made an effort’, somehow that wouldn’t sugar the pill for me. It’s not that we’re pi*ssed off that the budget is only $12m instead of $42m, it’s the fact that Hines BULLSHI*TTED. It’s not that we’re pi*ssed off that if it’s released in cinemas at all it will only be released in 5 cinemas, it’s the fact that Hines BULLSHI*TTED. It’s not that we’re pi*ssed off that no distributor has been announced despite there supposedly having been one arranged months ago and there are now 27 days (27 fecking DAYS!) until ‘general release’, it’s the fact that Hines BULLSHI*TTED. What makes me mad is that just because this is WotW we’re supposed to completely suspend our critical faculties and lap up whatever cobblers Hines dishes out, and many of you have done and continue to do! Many of you who by your other non-Pendragon posts have shown yourselves to be intelligent, perceptive individuals, but who nevertheless turn into bloo*dy Moonies where PP are concerned. Why? Show me anything on PP’s website that speaks of anything other than rank amateurism of the most self-deluding kind and I’ll apologise. Show me any film of PP’s that has actually been on general release, or, indeed, anything of their’s that is actually available in any format. Where is their filmography?
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Post by HTT on Mar 3, 2005 13:42:07 GMT
Ah, but it does give you a get-out clause of sorts, because you're not specifying a Global release!
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Post by themotile on Mar 3, 2005 13:42:56 GMT
Thank you Motile, that is a prime example of what I mean by 'chinease whisper', another saying something that another did not say. I said - quote<< Non of us on here know the truth behind whats going on over at PP >> unquote - I did not say we dont know anything. You will notice H_C that I didnt quote you, the impression I got from your post was that anyhting we post is simply conjecture based on rumour and not facts which is incorrect, we do have some aledged facts to work on. I do have to wonder why people are still counting down the days until March 30th, whats the point? We know its out on that date in five art house cinemas in America, thats it, no miracle world wide release is pending so why worry about it, to my mind it may not even be worth the cost of the budget DVD.
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Post by themotile on Mar 3, 2005 13:48:12 GMT
Ah, but it does give you a get-out clause of sorts, because you're not specifying a Global release! World wide - Global release.....I dont see the difference.
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Post by McTodd on Mar 3, 2005 13:49:08 GMT
Oh come now Motile, don't say that if it was in a poundshop you wouldn't part with a shiny coin, not even the one...?
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Post by themotile on Mar 3, 2005 13:49:12 GMT
I'm sorry, worldwide in film terms means exactly what it sayson the label If Tim missed that ittle bit of media knowledge, then he has a lot of catching up to do Thats exactly right Ashe.
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MarkG
Full Member
Posts: 116
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Post by MarkG on Mar 3, 2005 13:50:04 GMT
I think the real, fundamental problem here is that either PP have no PR staff, or they went into a coma about two months ago and haven't woken up yet. Even with a $12 million budget they should have someone whose job is solely or primarily to handle PR, including scanning the limited number of WoTW web sites... and it should be clear to them that a lot of legitimate questions are being asked about their movie and none are being answered.
No-one can say for sure that the movie is amateurish, but I think it's safe to say that most people should agree that their PR seems to be. IMHO it's absurd that a movie supposedly four weeks from release apparently has no PR activity at all.
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