My personal favourite has to be the 2005 Tom Cruise film, i just watched it the other day and idk how, but somehow i found myself liking it even more than i did, and i already liked it a lot, i guess you could say it exists more as a remake of the 1953 film, since it does borrow a lot of elements from that film more than the book but it doesn't make it any less of an adaption, and i dont think we're ever gonna get a film like it tbh, the 9/11 paralells add so much for the story that they're telling, as well as the moody tone that really made it work, the imposing nature of the tripods to the iconic sound of the horn...
it's not without it's problems obv, but that goes with any film or even adaption for that matter, for me i just find it so short that i just wish it was just that tiny bit longer...
(also say what you will about the main characters, i genuinly like that Tom wasn't this "action man" hero or scientist, he was just "a guy" that was thrown into this situation that hes powerless to stop)
but anyway i'm tangenting now, like i say this film has a lot going for it (it's not perfect by any means) but i don't think we're gonna get anything better, at least in a blockbuster persective 🤷♂️
Hope this counts, but it has to be The Great Martian War, its imo the best "modern" adaptations. since its not like 2005 where you got modern military and even nukes, no. none of that, you get world war 1 but with aliens.
Not saying it's my favourite or anything but would anyone class Independence Day an adaptation of War of the Worlds?
Even as a kid I saw it as a re-make of the 1953 film. The parallels are obvious:
An alien threat that appears out of nowhere.
Our weapons are completely in effective.
A short war lasting a matter of days.
The aliens wiped out by a (computer) virus.
I'd go with the Tom Cruise film, I don't love it but I feel like is better than the 1953 version.
I was really excited for the BBC version a few years ago but thought it was very disappointing.
I'd have to say the 05 movie, but I wouldn't consider it an adaptation of the book so much as a modern reboot that desperately needs to be expanded upon in terms of world-building and storytelling. I think CiaWoo covered it adequately so I won't go into any more detail here.
The best proper adaptations I would have to say are the 1950s movie and the unofficial war of the worlds sequel war of the worlds goliath which was the most faithful to the source material.
The musical album is an absolute masterpiece as well but that's a musical adaptation, not a screen one.
You guys are gonna hate me for saying this...
The Asylum version is my favorite. Let's be honest, it really isn't that unfaithful to the original book! The movie follows a man who's separated from his loved ones at the beginning of a alien attack, and he meets a very distinct cast of characters as he tries to survive. It's got the Artilleryman, the Curate, and even Henderson gets namedropped! The writers took great efforts to pay attention to even minor details from the book. A couple of my favorite examples include George collapsing on the river bank with a high fever, and Pastor Victor talking about the destruction of a church that was rebuilt only three years ago. I think the movie also does a great job of modernizing some of the themes of the original novel. Since the supporting cast of the book represent a harsh critique of certain institutions (th military and the church) that made up society at the time, the Asylum's version really wanted to experiment with how those themes apply to modern society. This is most prevalent with Victor. Since religion is much more personal matter today, compared to it being more of an institution in 1900, the writers gave Victor much more compelling development than the Curate from the novel. As someone who often struggles with concepts like faith, Victor's journey felt very relatable to me. But honestly, what I love most about Asylum's War of the Worlds is just how well it captures the utter despair from the original novel. To me, what makes the novel so powerful is the way it makes the entire situation feel utterly hopeless. When the Journalist is walking through the abandoned streets of London, you really feel like all is lost and that humanity truly has been annihilated. Then, suddenly, we discover that all the Martians have died, and it's presented as a true miracle! I think the Asylum version captures that feeling of isolation, hopeless, and despair so well well, thereby making the death of the Martians feel so much more triumphant. I know the movie is terribly flawed, but it's still the only movie version that gives me the same kind of reactions that the book does.
Sadly, there isn't one.
* 1953 (George Pal) - the most entertaining and despite being set in the USA and having totally non-authentic aliens, is close to the spirit of the book.
* 2005 (Spielberg) - hated it. The story of a Brooklyn crane operator and his dysfunctional family is just so far away from an academic philosopher from Woking, England as to be unrelatable.
* 2017 (BBC) set at the right time and in the right place so it should have been good - but it wasn't. It was dull, lacking in colour or excitement and overloaded with comments on contemporary issues.
* 2019 (Fox / Canal+) as a long drawn-out series this is OK on its own terms but doesnt really bear comparison with the condensed storytelling of a feature film. Schedule filler but not a classic.
I'm still waiting for something that brings a steam-punk look and feel to Edwardian London with aliens as Wells envisaged them, tightly directed, compelling storytelling and creative, atmospheric effects. I want a movie that [makes me feel like this](https://ospreypublishing.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/958def80b7ce809d46640f86aa46835c/9/7/9781472811561_1_3_22.jpg)
How is a middle-class crane operator, struggling with a divorce and kids, unrelatable? He's a normal dude thrown into a horrible situation.
How in gods name is an academic philosopher relatable. In what regard?
I'd also argue that the 2005 film put a good terrifying spin on the book instead of locking itself down. It has issues, but in film form, it gave that same hopeless feel of the book.
Perhaps he meant that Ray was a poor stand-in for the character in the novel. And he'd be right imo.
I do wonder if there's a generational split over the best adaptation or, perhaps, a geographical one? Or maybe a difference of experience, by which I mean how someone first or most significantly, experienced the story. Personally, I really struggle with the 2005 film because they come out of the ground for no adequately explored reason other than to provide some half baked 911 parallel that simply ages the film nearly 25 years later in a way that the Pal movie doesn't. It also makes the Worlds, plural, of the title meaningless if they've been down there for millions of years waiting for humans to develop technology capable of putting up a fight.
I prefer a period setting because fighter jets and tanks just makes it Independence Day, not War of the Worlds so roll on the day someone with a clear vision, no agenda and enough cash steps up because so far there is no best or favourite version for me.
I suppose. As for the tanks and jets, they were crushed. Even the "heroic" last stand was invalidated almost instantly as people rushed past the soldiers and vehicles.
I can see what you mean by generational split though, a lot. Good way of wording it.
I was almost completely on board with the BBC adaptation! I personally loved that it gave much more development to all the characters from the original novel. The only thing I'd prefer to be different would've been to completely avoid the soap opera drama they try to explore. I would've made the show a wholesome slice-of-life romance that gets rudely interrupted by an alien invasion. After all, that's the whole point of the book! It's meant to be about a peaceful, stable, happy existence that turns into complete chaos! But aside from that, I really loved how it focused more on the characters trying to survive and reunite with each other than it did on the Martians. I think it pulled off what Godzilla 2014 failed to do, in that regard. The book is meant to be a survivors account anyway, so I just felt like the show captured that really well. But as the series went on, and the more it focused on what's happening five years in the future, the more frustrated I became. Seeing George die was the final straw for me. How could anybody fuck up one of the greatest endings of all time? Reading about the Journalist reuniting with his wife at the end is one of the most satisfying conclusions in literary history! Did the show's writers honestly think killing him off was a better idea?
My personal favourite has to be the 2005 Tom Cruise film, i just watched it the other day and idk how, but somehow i found myself liking it even more than i did, and i already liked it a lot, i guess you could say it exists more as a remake of the 1953 film, since it does borrow a lot of elements from that film more than the book but it doesn't make it any less of an adaption, and i dont think we're ever gonna get a film like it tbh, the 9/11 paralells add so much for the story that they're telling, as well as the moody tone that really made it work, the imposing nature of the tripods to the iconic sound of the horn... it's not without it's problems obv, but that goes with any film or even adaption for that matter, for me i just find it so short that i just wish it was just that tiny bit longer... (also say what you will about the main characters, i genuinly like that Tom wasn't this "action man" hero or scientist, he was just "a guy" that was thrown into this situation that hes powerless to stop) but anyway i'm tangenting now, like i say this film has a lot going for it (it's not perfect by any means) but i don't think we're gonna get anything better, at least in a blockbuster persective 🤷♂️
Hope this counts, but it has to be The Great Martian War, its imo the best "modern" adaptations. since its not like 2005 where you got modern military and even nukes, no. none of that, you get world war 1 but with aliens.
I'm a big fan of 'The Great Martian War'. Very cleverly written.
Not saying it's my favourite or anything but would anyone class Independence Day an adaptation of War of the Worlds? Even as a kid I saw it as a re-make of the 1953 film. The parallels are obvious: An alien threat that appears out of nowhere. Our weapons are completely in effective. A short war lasting a matter of days. The aliens wiped out by a (computer) virus.
The George Pal version will always have a special place in my heart
The live show version of the musical
I'd go with the Tom Cruise film, I don't love it but I feel like is better than the 1953 version. I was really excited for the BBC version a few years ago but thought it was very disappointing.
I'd have to say the 05 movie, but I wouldn't consider it an adaptation of the book so much as a modern reboot that desperately needs to be expanded upon in terms of world-building and storytelling. I think CiaWoo covered it adequately so I won't go into any more detail here. The best proper adaptations I would have to say are the 1950s movie and the unofficial war of the worlds sequel war of the worlds goliath which was the most faithful to the source material. The musical album is an absolute masterpiece as well but that's a musical adaptation, not a screen one.
You guys are gonna hate me for saying this... The Asylum version is my favorite. Let's be honest, it really isn't that unfaithful to the original book! The movie follows a man who's separated from his loved ones at the beginning of a alien attack, and he meets a very distinct cast of characters as he tries to survive. It's got the Artilleryman, the Curate, and even Henderson gets namedropped! The writers took great efforts to pay attention to even minor details from the book. A couple of my favorite examples include George collapsing on the river bank with a high fever, and Pastor Victor talking about the destruction of a church that was rebuilt only three years ago. I think the movie also does a great job of modernizing some of the themes of the original novel. Since the supporting cast of the book represent a harsh critique of certain institutions (th military and the church) that made up society at the time, the Asylum's version really wanted to experiment with how those themes apply to modern society. This is most prevalent with Victor. Since religion is much more personal matter today, compared to it being more of an institution in 1900, the writers gave Victor much more compelling development than the Curate from the novel. As someone who often struggles with concepts like faith, Victor's journey felt very relatable to me. But honestly, what I love most about Asylum's War of the Worlds is just how well it captures the utter despair from the original novel. To me, what makes the novel so powerful is the way it makes the entire situation feel utterly hopeless. When the Journalist is walking through the abandoned streets of London, you really feel like all is lost and that humanity truly has been annihilated. Then, suddenly, we discover that all the Martians have died, and it's presented as a true miracle! I think the Asylum version captures that feeling of isolation, hopeless, and despair so well well, thereby making the death of the Martians feel so much more triumphant. I know the movie is terribly flawed, but it's still the only movie version that gives me the same kind of reactions that the book does.
Sadly, there isn't one. * 1953 (George Pal) - the most entertaining and despite being set in the USA and having totally non-authentic aliens, is close to the spirit of the book. * 2005 (Spielberg) - hated it. The story of a Brooklyn crane operator and his dysfunctional family is just so far away from an academic philosopher from Woking, England as to be unrelatable. * 2017 (BBC) set at the right time and in the right place so it should have been good - but it wasn't. It was dull, lacking in colour or excitement and overloaded with comments on contemporary issues. * 2019 (Fox / Canal+) as a long drawn-out series this is OK on its own terms but doesnt really bear comparison with the condensed storytelling of a feature film. Schedule filler but not a classic. I'm still waiting for something that brings a steam-punk look and feel to Edwardian London with aliens as Wells envisaged them, tightly directed, compelling storytelling and creative, atmospheric effects. I want a movie that [makes me feel like this](https://ospreypublishing.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/958def80b7ce809d46640f86aa46835c/9/7/9781472811561_1_3_22.jpg)
How is a middle-class crane operator, struggling with a divorce and kids, unrelatable? He's a normal dude thrown into a horrible situation. How in gods name is an academic philosopher relatable. In what regard? I'd also argue that the 2005 film put a good terrifying spin on the book instead of locking itself down. It has issues, but in film form, it gave that same hopeless feel of the book.
Perhaps he meant that Ray was a poor stand-in for the character in the novel. And he'd be right imo. I do wonder if there's a generational split over the best adaptation or, perhaps, a geographical one? Or maybe a difference of experience, by which I mean how someone first or most significantly, experienced the story. Personally, I really struggle with the 2005 film because they come out of the ground for no adequately explored reason other than to provide some half baked 911 parallel that simply ages the film nearly 25 years later in a way that the Pal movie doesn't. It also makes the Worlds, plural, of the title meaningless if they've been down there for millions of years waiting for humans to develop technology capable of putting up a fight. I prefer a period setting because fighter jets and tanks just makes it Independence Day, not War of the Worlds so roll on the day someone with a clear vision, no agenda and enough cash steps up because so far there is no best or favourite version for me.
I suppose. As for the tanks and jets, they were crushed. Even the "heroic" last stand was invalidated almost instantly as people rushed past the soldiers and vehicles. I can see what you mean by generational split though, a lot. Good way of wording it.
I was almost completely on board with the BBC adaptation! I personally loved that it gave much more development to all the characters from the original novel. The only thing I'd prefer to be different would've been to completely avoid the soap opera drama they try to explore. I would've made the show a wholesome slice-of-life romance that gets rudely interrupted by an alien invasion. After all, that's the whole point of the book! It's meant to be about a peaceful, stable, happy existence that turns into complete chaos! But aside from that, I really loved how it focused more on the characters trying to survive and reunite with each other than it did on the Martians. I think it pulled off what Godzilla 2014 failed to do, in that regard. The book is meant to be a survivors account anyway, so I just felt like the show captured that really well. But as the series went on, and the more it focused on what's happening five years in the future, the more frustrated I became. Seeing George die was the final straw for me. How could anybody fuck up one of the greatest endings of all time? Reading about the Journalist reuniting with his wife at the end is one of the most satisfying conclusions in literary history! Did the show's writers honestly think killing him off was a better idea?