Reviews

I was so looking forward to this series when I saw the first trailer. The sight of Rafe Spall watching as a tripod rises over and above him. That was awesome!

Sadly,, that's where my praise ends.

Some things I just didn't understand, but the biggest mystery to me was where in the HELL did the Tripods come from. It all begins with this strange sphere arriving on Earth. It was the size of the Boulder that chased Indy in "Raiders of.the Lost Ark", and served absolutely NO PURPOSE!!

In the original and BEST version of this story,the 1953 Paramount film produced by George Pal, the Martian antagonists arrive in meteoric cylinders large enough to transport three War Machines, but where and how these tripods came to be here is anybody's guess.

Why do these idiot writers have to make the plot of this series so damn convoluted?!

If you watch this., expecting massive Tripod machines stomping cities to the ground and turning folks into dust with their heat rays, you're going to be SORRLY DISAPPOINTED!!

As I said... the Tripod was a fantastic design, but they appear in this series, all up, perhaps five minutes at the very best.

If you wanted viewers, why on Earth would you keep these frightening machine OFF-screen?

THAT is what we wanted!!!

It's called "The WAR of the Worlds", but there is very little "war"to be had!

I really wanted to like this, but I simply couldn't.

Please try harder next time and give us ACTION, and NOT a soppy love story!

Cheers.

George Pal's 1953 film version of the Herbert George Wells seminal 1898 novel about an invading vanguard of Martians, "The War of the Worlds" is, in my opinion, not only the greatest sci-fi film of the 1950's, but the GREATEST sci-fi film of all time! The action of HG Wells story is moved from England to Southern California. The hero of the story, 'Dr Clayton Forrester' is played ably by the handsome Gene Barry in his first starring role. His leading lady, 'Sylvia van Buren' is beautifully played by the lovely Ann Robinson. George Pal didn't cast big names in the film, because he wanted the Martians to be the TRUE stars of the show. The eerie way the Martians are first introduced, unscrewing their ominous cylinder, the cobra-like heat ray eminator slowly rises and looks around, STILL evokes chills! Three deputies, posted to watch over the cylinder, try to communicate with the visitors, only to be turned to dust by the murderous monsters. The Martian War Machines are an incredible design! Made of copper, the hills were based on the Manta Ray, and heat ray eminator modelled, as I said before, on the cobra. As our heroes flee, the War Machines trample and destroy everything in their path. The Martians themselves are seen twice in the film. Once when Forrester and Sylvia are trapped in a decimated farmhouse. The Martian lays it's creepy three fingered hand over Sylvia's shoulder, only to be chased out by Forrester wielding an axe. The second time the Martian is seen is at the end when the Machines are brought down. Gordon Jennings and his crew won the 1954 Academy Award for Doecial Effects, but sadly, Jennings, by this time, had already passed away. The fate of the three model War Machines is quite sad as well. They were sold to a Boy Scout Copper Drive and melted down after Paramount had finished with them, so they no longer exist. The supporting cast is also wonderful, all filling their roles beautifully. The film score was done by Leith Stevens, and truly works in wonderfully with the action onscreen! The film was directed by frequent Pal collaborator Byron Haskin. Using three strip technicolor, the colour saturation is astounding and holds up very well today, all these years later. "The War of the Worlds" is the absolute BEST film of its type, and today, it has truly earned its cult status. I will never tire of this wonderful film, and if you haven't yet seen it, what are you waiting for?!! You are in for a treat! I first saw this film when I was seven, and the gorgeous Ms Ann Robinson was my first crush! I am now fifty, and I'm proud to announce that the lovely Ms Ann Robinson is now a good friend of mine! I will ALWAYS be in love with this magnificent film! In my opinion, "Gone With the Wind" and "Citizen Kane" don't have ANYTHING on "The War of the Worlds"!

Starring a young relatively unknown actor named 'Steven McQueen', originally titled "The Molten Meteor", this film tells the story about an omnivorous organism that hitches a ride to earth in a meteor. discovered by an old man (played by the wonderful Olin Howlin) it soon attaches itself to his hand and begins absorbing his flesh. He runs out onto a road, and is narrowly missed by Steve McQueen driving an old blue Plymouth. The Blob eats the old man completely and then begins eating the local inhabitants. Steve and his girlfriend Jane (Anita Corseaut) with the help of his teenage pals, spend their time trying to warn the townsfolk and convincing the police that it's not a prank. The Blob itself is a giant mass of red jelly, and it grows larger and larger with every person it consumes. This film is fairly formulaic when it comes to all the sci-fi thrillers, and it is perhaps best known as the first film Steve McQueen starred in. As a kid, this movie frightened the hell out of me, but viewing it as an adult, it is nothing short of hilarious! I've often liken it to a movie musical, but without the cast breaking into a song and dance routine. I have to say, that as an adult, this film lists as one of my top five in my list of my favourite films. I watch this film so often that I'm now onto my third DVD of it, as I just wear it out. My dream is to attend "Blobfest" and actually view this movie with an audience in The Colonial theatre in Phoenixville, PA, where it was actually filmed Living in Australia, I doubt that will ever happen. "The Blob" also has the catchiest theme music of any other 1950's film! The theme was actually penned by a young musician/songwriter named Burt Bacharach. Bottom line... this movie is pure and simple fun!! This is what movies are supposed to be....ENTERTAINMENT!! An interesting fact is that at the time of McQueens early death in November of 1980, he had one poster hanging in his bedroom. It was the movie poster of "The Blob". He was quietly proud of this cult classic.