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Post by wargasm on Jun 7, 2005 4:21:01 GMT
Also, from the screenshots that were posted and what you saw from the movie, would you call those screenshots "degraded"?
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Post by Lensman on Jun 7, 2005 4:46:58 GMT
Stupid question - is the black smoke in the film? It almost is not. There's a brief scene of a tripod squirting smoke around a house-- in fact, I think that's in the new trailer-- and there's a line of dialogue referring to "black smoke". But we don't get to see the tripods discharging cannisters with the "bazookas" as the novel describes, nor do we get to see large sections of urban areas inundated with huge quantities of the stuff. And the latter at least is a glaring omission-- the black smoke causes far more casualties than does the Heat Ray.
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Post by Lensman on Jun 7, 2005 5:09:29 GMT
There are also scenes where a tentacle will pick up a person and throw him. It's actually more comical than serious because of the bad CG. Unfortunately that is true: There is much unintentional humor in this movie. I was rather irked when someone compared the final trailer to Ed Wood's work. I think the trailer is reasonably good, other than the shot of the Handling-Machine near the end. OTOH, the movie itself *does* invite comparisons with Ed Wood. No, I don't really think it's *that* bad. But then, the average theatrical SF movie today is much better than they were back in Wood's day. Why a tripod would pick up a random person and throw him is beyond me. I think there is only one scene where the Tripods are shown capturing people. (The atmospheric scene where a tripod captures drunks staggering out of a building is missing from the movie.) In a couple of shots in the one such scene in the film we see what looks very like a metal trash can stuck on the back of a tripod-- otherwise the tripods aren't shown with any container to hold human victims. And there is a metallic clatter when a victim is tossed into the can. Not exactly the "fisherman's basket" described in the novel!
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Post by Lensman on Jun 7, 2005 8:10:16 GMT
Here's a tip: if you post a review on Amazon.com make sure to include a link to the Stuffo trailers. If people want to see how bad it is then let them. Let's see how long it takes for Hines to pull his own trailers from the web! Interesting: When I checked Amazon.com just now, every reviewer gave this film either the worst possible or the best possible rating-- nothing in between. Hmmm... is it just *possible* some of those are from Pendragon shills? (I guess that's what Brits on this forum call "sock puppets"??)
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Post by HTT on Jun 7, 2005 9:06:40 GMT
[glow=purple,2,300]Thanks for the brutally honest review Lensy! At least we know why Hines says he cries when he watches it!
I was hoping that the Wal-Mart copies were Proof Of Concept DVD builds disrtibuted in error, but looks like it is the final film.
I think I'm most disappointed with the reviews of the Thunderchild CGI, the fact that he's cut out the FM taking the drunken party, the black smoke and the Crescent battle line.
Oh well, it'll probably appeal to my offbeat sense of humour - I love Plan 9 and Killer Tomatoes. Still, in UK terms, cheap at twice the price! [/glow]
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Post by mctoddridesagain on Jun 7, 2005 9:46:11 GMT
Oh my God, Lensman! I know we've exchanged sharp words on occasion before, but I have to take my hat off to you for posting what is clearly an objective, honest (brutally honest, even) review.
It actually sounds worse than I thought...
I've ordered it, but now I feel soiled, as if I'll be watching the cinematic equivalent of a car crash.
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Post by maniacs on Jun 7, 2005 10:58:32 GMT
INTERESTING!!!
If you look at the reviews on Amazon check out the links next to each review...
' see all my reviews '
You will find the negatives have more than one review wilst all the positive remarks have only one. Weird huh!!!
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Post by RustiSwordz on Jun 7, 2005 12:27:41 GMT
Rusti passes out again @ Lensmans review...
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SEAN
Full Member
Posts: 146
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Post by SEAN on Jun 7, 2005 12:32:24 GMT
Hi.
Can I ask a really dumb question? My dvd player is uncompatiable regarding hacking it, and I would either need to take it to a shop to get it chipped, or get some computer software to ssort it.
The other option is to but that dvd player from amazon that plays all regions. Its only £20.
Is it worth me doing the latter option or will I end up being really narked off? I really wan to see the film but am very very concerned about the reviews that have been made here.
Cheers guys. Sean.
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Post by mctoddridesagain on Jun 7, 2005 12:48:39 GMT
If the only region 1 DVD you intend to buy is WotW, then I wouldn't even waste £20 on a new player if I were you. However, if you do get the player, you'll be open to the whole wide world of region 1 DVDs in general - they sometimes have superior extras to region 2, there are some real oddities only available in region 1, etc. So it's up to you really, depends on where you'll go with it...
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Post by Lensman on Jun 7, 2005 13:34:43 GMT
What McTodd said!
Don't buy a multi-region DVD player just to be able to watch this turkey. Buy one so you can play any Region 1 DVD!
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Post by tempest on Jun 7, 2005 13:43:40 GMT
INTERESTING!!! If you look at the reviews on Amazon check out the links next to each review... ' see all my reviews 'You will find the negatives have more than one review wilst all the positive remarks have only one. Weird huh!!! must be either friends of Hines or Pendragon workers. but most likely people who have never read the book well that the impression I got reading them
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Post by HTT on Jun 7, 2005 13:50:00 GMT
[glow=purple,2,300]yep - Regardless of whether you want PPs WOTW, you really should get a region free DVD! So much more is available to you!
For instance - I now have Legend: The Ultimate Edition (2 discs with Directors cut & US versions), and Escape From New York: 2-Disc Collectors Edition (includes the original beginning with Snake's robbery &s capture). Both released a couple of years ago and still only available on Region 1.[/glow]
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SEAN
Full Member
Posts: 146
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Post by SEAN on Jun 7, 2005 14:10:06 GMT
Cheers guys.
Will probably order it then. Some of the reviews for the player were actually a bit iffy as well, but at £20 might as well take the plunge.
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Post by Phil on Jun 7, 2005 15:27:47 GMT
Very interesting point made in the Amazon reviews. Please note that this is NOT my opinion, and I'm just copying a message; make of it what you will:
From a personal point of view, I have ordered the film as after reading all the back-and-forth posts over the last year or so I am determined to finally see the (un)finished product. I expect it will be terrible but I do enjoy cheesy no-hope films. And the price was very cheap too!
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Post by Lensman on Jun 7, 2005 15:53:16 GMT
It's even cheaper at Wal-Mart; less than $9.
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Post by timeship2 on Jun 7, 2005 16:32:25 GMT
It's even cheaper at Wal-Mart; less than $9. Seems things are moving fast. I am off to my Walmart today to see if they have it. If it's that cheap then I can afford to waste some of my hard earned dollars just to see it for my own eyes.
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Post by lilfeat on Jun 7, 2005 18:16:26 GMT
My review: Only worth buying for curiosity sake. Some of it is so bad it is funny. I feel sorry for this guys investors. Anyone who gives this any kind of decent review must be associated with Pendragon. Nobody loves War of the Worlds more than me. But this thing is a disgrace. The only good thing I can say is that it only cost $9 US including tax from the local Walmart.
Too bad this guy has ruined any chance of someone making a turn of the century verision of the story.
As I have always said, the best way to make War of the Worlds in the original time and place would be in animated format. I really don't care that much for the Jeff Wayne "opera", and I do not like the machines in his illustrations, I've always felt they were too slick looking.
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Post by dudalb on Jun 7, 2005 18:43:27 GMT
Thanks for the honest review, Lensman. I will give my own review when I get my preordered copy from Amazon . I notice that the Elphinstones seem to be taking the worst beating as far as acting is concerned. Maybe the fact that Susan Goford is also Mrs. Hines has something to do with the casting. The postive reviews at Amazon are so obviously the work of shills that it's kind of funny. They are read the same, they use the same wording, they make exactly the same points (Faithful to the book,story is more important then sfx, snide remarks about Spielberg and Cruise,poor Hines is being harassed by Paramount, etc) and none of them,as pointed out, has ever reviewed a movie on Amazon before. Hines cannot even shill properly. He should have posted a few reviews of other movies at Amazon with his shill names to build up some credibility, but then marketing and PR have never been Hines strong points.
Roll on Jeff Wayne! Thank heavens that when Wayne was approached to have his music used by Hines, Wayne took one look and refused...
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SEAN
Full Member
Posts: 146
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Post by SEAN on Jun 7, 2005 18:43:50 GMT
Hi.
Just ordered my copy from amazon.com, and a £20 dvd multi from amazon.co.uk, (my wife to be rolled her eyes when I told her).
Just a question, when purchasing something from the states, is there any issues regarding paying tax or something? I heard someone mention you need to say it's a "gift", otherwise you can pay heavy duty on it.
Any help would be much appreciated!! Sean.
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