H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds (2005 film)

H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds (2005 film)

:Otheruses3|The War of the Worlds (film)Infobox Film | name =H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds


caption =
director =Timothy Hines
producer =Susan Goforth
writer =Timothy Hines
Susan Goforth
H. G. Wells (novel)
starring =Anthony Piana
music =Jamie Hall
cinematography =
editing =Timothy Hines
distributor = Pendragon Pictures
released = June 14, 2005
runtime = 180 min.
language = English
budget =
imdb_id = 0425638

"H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds" is one of three film adaptations of H. G. Wells' classic novel released in 2005. This version was produced by the independent film production company Pendragon Pictures and is distinguishable from the other film adaptations of the novel in that it is not a contemporary retelling, but rather set in the book's original time period and location. It is also the first film adaptation to be set in the United Kingdom as opposed to the more popular setting of the United States. It received mixed reviews by critics and was released on DVD, generating over a half million DVD sales in the U.S., Canada and through the Armed Forcesfact |date=July 2008. The movie has recently been released through GAGA on DVD in Japan.

Production history

The film's roots date back to 2000, when Pendragon Pictures approached Paramount with plans for their version, but with no results. Director Timothy Hines had long desired to make his own version of the story since he read the original novel at the age of eight. He had always wanted to tell the tale just as it was in the novel, but he eventually settled on a modern retelling, much like the original 1953 film and the 2005 Spielberg adaptation. Hines' version was to take place in Seattle, with a Martian attack preceded by neutralizing electromagnetic power, so that events could be kept as similar to the novel as possible.

Anticipation for the film began to stir in July 2001, specifically from many anxious Wells fans. In a 2004 interview with "Scifidimensions.com" [http://www.scifidimensions.com/Nov04/timothyhines.htm Timothy Hines (Director, H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds) ] ] , Hines stated that after early Microsoft employees and others in the computer industry saw his desktop film, "Bug Wars", a package of $42 million was assembled for the updated modern version. Katie Tomlinson was supposed to lead the cast as the lead character Jody, the foreign correspondent, and Susan Goforth was also set to star. Hines stated that in 2001 he began negotiations with Michael Caine, Charlize Theron and Eric Stoltz to be in the film. [http://www.computercrowsnest.com/sfnews2/04_sept/news0904_9.shtml Spielberg beaten to War of the Worlds by secretly shot English rival ] ] Hines was also planning to shoot the film in the brand new Sony CineAlta HD system which George Lucas had used to film "" [ [http://www.eveofthewar.com/articles/6462 eve of the war free at eveofthewar.com ] ] .

Production began in early September 2001, with plans to move into principal photography by October of that year, and a Halloween 2002 target release date. Businessweek [ [http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/sep2001/nf20010928_5901.htm BW Online | September 28, 2001 | On with the Show? Don't Bet on It ] ] reported that Hines abandoned this approach after the World Trade Center attacks. Two weeks later, with the support of Charles Keller, the director of the H. G. Wells Society, Hines began writing a new script with producer Susan Goforth, while they were filming "Chrome". The new direction taken was that this version was to be adapted directly from the Wells novel.

Little information appeared about the film until 2004, when it was revealed that the principal photography had finished under the fake title of "The Great Boer War", and the producers planned to release the film on March 30, 2005. That date came and went with no film release; the film never opened in theaters, but was released in North America on DVD in June 2005. In a series of questions presented by audiences [ [http://www.pendragonpictures.com/WOTWQA.html Director Answers Questions About War Of The Worlds ] ] , Hines claimed that the film never saw a theatrical release due to exhibitors pulling out, either from being bullied by Paramount, or through fear of reprisal from the studio.

A book published in early 2005 entitled "" which includes a respectable amount of information on the Pendragon film, says that the budget amount was approximately $25 million. [Flynn, John L. (June 28, 2005). Galactic Books. ISBN 0976940000, p. 111] .

Critical reaction

Although the film's score by Jamie Hall, was well received as a major feature of the film [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20060518052127/eveofthewar.com/articles/9421/DVD_Review:_H._G._Wells'_The_War_of_the_Worlds,_Pendragon_Pictures_(Late_in_depth_breakdown_review) DVD Review: H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, Pendragon Pictures (Late in depth breakdown review) ] ] [ [http://www.bumscorner.com/bumnuke/index.php?module=ProdReviews&func=showcontent&id=146 BumsCorner.com :: Movie & DVD news, reviews and interviews...disheveled ] ] ,the film as a whole was received with mixed reviews by critics; who, though praising the good intentions behind the project and its faithfulness to the source material [ [http://www.mania.com/49424.html H.G. Wells' War Of The Worlds ] ] , sometimes described the result as "unendurable" [ [http://www.flickfilosopher.com/flickfilos/archive/2005/warworldspendragon.shtml FlickFilosopher.com: H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds (review) ] ] , with "awful" effects [ [http://www.war-ofthe-worlds.co.uk/war_of_the_worlds_hines.htm Review of The War Of The Worlds (Timothy Hines, 2005) ] ] .

Reaction evoked the work of Ed Wood by some associates of the creator of a 1970s musical version of the H. G. Wells work, and the worst of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" [ [http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=16756 DVD Talk Review: The War of the Worlds (Pendragon) ] ] . One reviewer suggested the performances were like that in British period melodramas, and likened Hines to Karel Zeman [ [http://www.computercrowsnest.com/features/arc/2005/nz8272.php H.G Wells' The War of the Worlds: Mark's Take ] ] .

Controversy

Film rights to "The War of the Worlds" are in the public domain in the United States, with Paramount claiming rights in the European Union, leaving the rest of the world markets wide open and thus allowing adaptations such as Pendragon's version to be legal. However, Hines claimed that Paramount had harassed him over legal issues and held up the release of his film, showing a letter from Paramount to Susanne Ault [http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA627223.html Video Business news dated 4/8/2005] , which pointed out that he had no right to distribute his movie in the European Union.

In July 2006, Pendragon Pictures gave formal legal notice on the claim that the Dark Horse Comics publication comic book, the similarly named "H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds", lifted certain unique elements, such as camera angles, from Pendragon's film. The production company set up a site that displayed comparisons and let audiences decide for themselves, but as part of a settlement of the legal action with Dark Horse, this site no longer exists.

Re-releases

To date the film has been re-released twice, available in 17 countries including Japan, but neither are available in the European Union.

"H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds: Director's Cut"

Released: September, 2005
After complaints about the original film's three hour running time, this version cut about forty-five minutes from the running time. The version was only available in regions 2 and 4, and thus not available in the United States and Canada.

"The Classic War of the Worlds"

Released: December 25, 2006
This edition is the special final cut edit of "H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds" and is 125 minutes long, fifty-five minutes shorter than the original film. It has added scenes, re-edits, and re-tooled special effects. The director says this is the definitive version. The Classic War of the Worlds replaces the 3 hour rough cut version, "H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds", that was widely distributed and is now discontinued.

ynopsis

The film follows the novel's plot, almost in exact detail, with some minor deviations.

Main cast

*Anthony Piana - The Writer/The Brother
*Jack Clay - Ogilvy
*John Kaufmann - The Curate
*Darlene Sellers - Mrs. Elphinstone
*James Lathrop - The Artilleryman
*Susan Goforth - The Wife
*Jamie Lynn Sease - Miss Elphinstone

References

External links

* [http://www.pendragonpictures.com/WOTWKEY.html Official site]
* [http://www.waroftheworldsmovienews.com/ News Repository]
* [http://www.waroftheworldsmovienews.com/Variety.html "Variety" ad placed by Pendragon Pictures in 2001]
* [http://www.syfyportal.com/news422156.html 'War Of The Worlds' Nightmare Continues For Pendragon]
* [http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/sep2001/nf20010928_5901.htm]
* [http://www.dowse.com/movies/wotw-news.html Pre- and post-9/11 info]
*imdb title|id=0425638|title=H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds


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