The War of the Worlds

Starring:Gene Barry, Ann Robinson, Les Tremayne, Robert Cornthwaite, Sandro Giglio, Lewis Martin, Houseley Stevenson Jr., Paul Frees, William Phipps, Vernon Rich, Henry Brandon, Jack Kruschen, Cedric Hardwicke, Jimmie Dundee, Hazel Boyne, Ivan Lebedeff, Paul Birch, Alex Frazer, Edward Colmans, Robert Rockwell, George Pal
Director: Byron Haskin
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

Description

H.G. Wells' chilling novel of a Martian invasion of Earth becomes even more frightening in this 1952 film adaptation that's widely regarded as one of the greatest sci-fi movies of all time. An Oscar. winner for Best Special Effects, The War of the Worlds delivers eye-popping thrills, laser-hot action and unrelenting, edge-of-your-seat suspense. No one who has seen the film's depiction of the swan-shaped Martian machines-ticking and hissing menacingly as they cut their path of destruction-will ever forget their ominous impact.

Amazon.com essential video

After the success of 1950's Destination Moon and 1951's When Worlds Collide, visionary producer George Pal brought the classic H.G. Wells story of a Martian invasion to the big screen, and it instantly became a science fiction classic and winner of the 1953 Academy Award for Best Special Effects. It's a work of frightening imagination, with its manta-ray spaceships armed with cobra-like probes that shoot a white-hot disintegration ray. As formations of alien ships continue to wreak destruction around the globe, the military is helpless to stop this enemy while scientists race to find an effective weapon. Gene Barry and Ann Robinson play the hero and heroine roles that were de rigueur for movies like this in the '50s, and their encounter with one of the Martians is as creepy today as it was in '53. It finally takes an unseen threat--simple Earth bacteria--to conquer the alien invaders, but not before War of the Worlds has provided a dazzling display of impressive special effects. As memorable for its sound effects as for its spectacular visions of destruction, this is a movie for the ages--the kind of spectacular that inspired little kids such as Steven Spielberg (not to mention Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin, whose Independence Day cribs liberally from the plot) and still packs a punch. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

The War of the Worlds (1953).......2007-06-27

Based on the H.G Wells classic, "War" helped feed the public's lurid fascination with the possibility of world annihilation, with a Martian invasion standing in for nuclear attack. "Worlds" is capably directed, the cast clicks, Technicolor adds vibrancy to the picture. And George Pal's Oscar-winning special effects still work their destructive magic. Even today, this sci-fi classic remains harrowing and unforgettable, though it's a smaller, humbler version of Spielberg's behemoth remake.

Paramount Does A Crap Job On Another DVD Release.......2007-06-23

I own this title on Laserdisc and I made my own DVD and remixed the audio tracks in 5.1 Surround Sound and had a professional video mixer make a anamorphic widescreen version, and it is fantastic. Paramount could have done all this too, but alas they never will I give **** stars for the movie and nothing for the DVD you have to watch

The War of the Worlds.......2007-06-22

This is the best version, the newer makes have better special effects, however, they are over the top and take the real magic away.

The War of the Worlds; a movie that should - nay - MUST be owned!.......2007-06-21

"The War of the Worlds." Five simple words that describes a massive motion picture made in the heart of the Atomic Age. The film plays upon the Cold War fears of a Soviet Invasion and the overthrow of the United States as well as providing us with spectacular visual effects that still send shivers down my spine. The film was released in 1953 and went on to become a science fiction classic. "The War of the Worlds" is not only a excellent movie and one of the best science fiction movies ever made, but it is also one of my favorite movies of all time and holds a special place in my heart.

I first saw "The War of the Worlds" when I was three years old on Christmas Morning. It was a Christmas Present given to the family by my Uncle. It was probably the second movie I ever saw on VHS (the first being Star Wars). Needless to say, it blew my three year old noggin' straight into Earth's orbit and came rocketing down like one of those Martian cylinders. I didn't fully grasp the plot and magnitude of the Martians' but the sounds, colors, and the designs of the war machines delighted my imagination and made a lasting impact on me.

We all grow out of certain movies from our childhood. I grew out of some movies but I grew up with "The War of the Worlds." After that Christmas, I watched it everyday until I was eight years old. No matter how many times I watched it, it never got old. I couldn't get enough of the catastrophic Martian invasion, the rhythm of the dialog between Gene Barry and Anne Robinson along with the intensity when they're trapped in the house. I love the art direction, production design, and special effects. The hissing sound of the heat ray and the pulsating rhythm before it unleashes its fiery wrath onto unsuspecting Californians. The Martian War Machines are still a marvel. They're cold, sleek, deadly, and all together Evil. You don't get that nowadays.

But enough of my emotional attachment to the film. "How is the DVD and should I buy it?" Well mysterious stranger, I'll tell you. You see, the edition has only one disc but they managed to jam pack the DVD with so much cool features that will keep you up till odd hours of the night. You get two documentaries; one on H.G. Wells, the other on the making of the movie. You get two separate commentary tracks with Director Joe Dante and veteran actor and actress Gene Barry and Anne Robinson. You also get a trailer for the movie and the original Mercury Theater Broadcast of "The War of the Worlds" staged by Orson Wells. Plenty of goodies to slake any cinema geek's appetite.

"The War of the Worlds" is probably my third favorite movie of all time and is a prised possession of mine. It's a worthy purchase and a must have for any film geek or science fiction nerd. The effects still holds up and never fails to thrill its audience. I love this film and strongly recommend it to all those who haven't seen it before and to all those who failed to buy the DVD. I strongly suggest that you go out and buy it immediately, you will not regret it. I guarantee.

Far better than the Tom Cruise crap.......2007-06-13

Witty, Interesting, and lovable.

All things that were not the Tom cruise movie.

The story is different. The aliens land in California, invade US and world and cannot be destroyed even by A-bombs.

The begining and end match the original book.

Good for about 3-watches.

Average customer rating:

Relive the terror of 9/11 again and again!
Well balanced film
Good, but doesn't come close to the 50's version...
War of the Worlds
Great Movie

War of the Worlds (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Tom Cruise , Dakota Fanning , Miranda Otto , Justin Chatwin , and Tim Robbins
Director: Steven Spielberg
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi Action | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Alien Invasion | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Aliens | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00005JNTI
Release Date: 2005-11-22

Amazon.com

Despite super effects, a huge budget, and the cinematic pedigree of alien-happy Steven Spielberg, this take on H.G. Wells's novel is basically a horror film packaged as a sci-fi thrill ride. Instead of a mad slasher, however, Spielberg (along with writers Josh Friedman & David Koepp) utilizes aliens hell-bent on quickly destroying humanity, and the terrifying results that prey upon adult fears, especially in the post-9/11 world. The realistic results could be a new genre, the grim popcorn thriller; often you feel like you're watching Schindler's List more than Spielberg's other thrill-machine movies (Jaws, Jurassic Park). The film centers on Ray Ferrier, a divorced father (Tom Cruise, oh so comfortable) who witnesses one giant craft destroy his New Jersey town and soon is on the road with his teen son (Justin Chatwin) and preteen daughter (Dakota Fanning) in tow, trying to keep ahead of the invasion. The film is, of course, impeccably designed and produced by Spielberg's usual crew of A-class talent. The aliens are genuinely scary, even when the film--like the novel--spends a good chunk of time in a basement. Readers of the book (or viewers of the deft 1953 adaptation) will note the variation of whom and how the aliens come to Earth, which poses some logistical problems. The film opens and closes with narration from the novel read by Morgan Freeman, but Spielberg could have adapted Orson Welles's words from the famous Halloween Eve 1938 radio broadcast: "We couldn't soap all your windows and steal all your garden gates by tomorrow night, so we did the best next thing: we annihilated the world." --Doug Thomas

War of the Worlds at Amazon.com

The Soundtrack
The War of the Worlds (1953)
War of the Worlds - The Complete First Season (TV series)

Classic Sci-Fi Movies and Their Remakes
Aliens Invade on DVD
The Prog-rock Opera (no kidding)

Customer Reviews:

Relive the terror of 9/11 again and again!.......2007-06-12

I think this movie is ABOUT September 11th. It isn't just drawing on the imagery or providing a parallel to the political situation [as you might find in Episode III or Batman Begins], I think this movie is a full-on processing of 9/11, in the only way you can currently make a movie about 9/11: using metaphor and indirection.

Certain elements are directly parallel: from visuals of buildings collapsing, airplanes fallen from the sky, walls lined with "missing" posters, and especially the snowfall of ash and clothes that occurs during several scenes, to thematic elements, such as the question of whether it is preferable to seek revenge although it would mean more deaths, or simply to attempt to survive in the aftermath. There is talk about how an "occupation never works," and Tom's son is doing a paper on the French occupation of Algeria. Later in the film, Tom has to try to convince his son not to join the Army, as it would be throwing his life away in a pointless war. Yep, you got 9/11, and it's right there on your movie screen.

I happened to be on vacation the week of 9/11, returning five days after the attack, while the rubble was still burning. I didn't see the attack in person, but I saw the walls of "missing" posters, precisely as depicted in this film. You could literally feel the psychic tension increase the closer you came to downtown. Me and several of my friends reported suddenly bouts of crying happening at least once an hour. I worked in a building nearby that summer, and saw the pile of rubble from the towers that looked just like a big dump--until I saw a tiny person at the base of that pile, and realized that that pile of rubble was at least 10 stories high. I watched the attacks on television as they happened. The amazing thing was that they looked SO MUCH like special effects. I had no idea that the special effects I had been watching were so realistic! I had to turn off the TV after a very short time, because the more I watched it, the less real it became. One of the few moments that seemed real was when the second tower was collapsing, but the news commentator, possibly because of some technological delay, wasn't commenting on it yet.

As I watched War of the Worlds, I kept thinking "Why would someone, especially anyone who was in New York around 9/11, want to watch this?" I think the answer comes in the form of one of Hitchcock's cardinal rules for creating suspense: that the audience should identify with the main characters--but not too much. He believed that it is crucial that the audience remain aware, on some level, that they are sitting safely in an auditorium watching a movie. The incredibly intense experience of watching imagery so familiar from the 9/11 while safely eating popcorn in an air-conditioned movie theater is powerfully cathartic. It allows us New Yorkers a way to process the terror and confusion we felt--from a safe distance.

When I was a video clerk at a Borders Books and Music store, I remember looking at a video that included the famous footage of the Kennedy assassination. The copy on the back of the box said something to the effect of: "Relive the horror of that terrible tragedy again and again!"

I thought this movie was incredible. The sheer precision of the direction was amazing. As I was watching it, it occurred to me that Spielberg truly is heir to Hitchcock in terms of his skill at telling a story by purely visual means, the economy and efficiency of his shots and editing, and how he is able to make a story exciting almost entirely through technique. That this story involves the inclusion of several very complex effects only makes his technical achievement that much greater.

Spielberg very cannily keeps his special effects--and these are the very best special effects money can buy--in the periphery of most shots, which very effectively ups their realism and the sense of their integration with the characters. For example, one shot shows Cruise looking up, while we see the approaching alien ship reflected in the windshield of the car next to him. Contrast this to something like The Day After Tomorrow, in which you have the special effects shots and the character reaction shots, which are usually two very separate things.

Many reviewers have picked out the mysterious fact that the one car Tom picks out magically works, when all of the others don't. Upon seeing this movie again, I see that there is an explanation for this. That is the car that Tom suggested a way to fix to the mechanic, and presumably the mechanic fixed it while the first tripod was appearing. This also explains why Tom knew to go right to that particular car. It's almost charming that Spielberg thinks that most people will be paying attention to this, particularly when distracted by mass scale destruction! Nevertheless, this doesn't explain the miraculous way the car survives without a scratch when a jet airliner crashes and destroys and entire neighborhood.

One of the sequences I have seen derided as being lugubrious or somewhat pointless is the scenes in which Tom and Dakota hole up in the basement with Tim Robbins. Sure, Tim may be getting a little comfortable in his nutso basement dweller routine, but I think that this section contains THE most critical content of the movie, and that is its critique of the way politics have played out in the post-9/11 world. Outraged that the aliens should DARE to attack humans [it's just not right!], Tim, with his single shotgun, is under the delusion that the humans can rise up and show these aliens a thing or two. He has no plan except for the righteousness of his desire to stand up. Tom has to stop him, as he knows that if Tim makes a sound, he [and Tom and his daughter] will be instantly killed. Not to mention that it wouldn't accomplish anything. I think this creates a fairly compelling parallel with the 9/11 attacks and the Iraq war... How many of us, if we could go back, wish we could choose not to pursue a course of senseless retaliation that has done nothing but destroy a country and kill more than 1,500 of our troops? At least the Tim character, in the movie, wants to retaliate against someone who actually attacked him.

Many of my favorite critics have lauded the technique of this film, but ultimately decided that it is minor Spielberg. I disagree. I think this is major Spielberg in virtually every sense. If you buy into my 9/11 interpretation, it is an important film. It is certainly an emotionally powerful film and a technically masterful film. It has been quite a while since I have been so completely overwhelmed by a movie. In allowing viewers to reprocess the terror and confusion of 9/11 from the safety of their seats, and placing it within a context that can be thought about without the crazed emotional outbursts that prevent the real issues that arise from the attacks from being discussed, it's almost as though he has delivered us a nationwide therapy session.

Well balanced film.......2007-06-08

Despite being a tom cruise movie with Mr. Spielberg at the helm this is a good movie.

I've read the book and always loved an 'alien invasion' story but I was afraid that this would become a 'how long until the next explosion' kind of film.

This is not the case and even tough the film ends in a too abrupt way I still recommed it.

Good, but doesn't come close to the 50's version..........2007-05-23

I remember awhile back, when I first heard that Steven Spielberg was going to do a remake (or new version) of one of my favorite books and movie versions of all time. While I can hardly remember reading the book and its details and differences, I do remember it firing my imagination as a youth. In that youth, I also remember the brilliant, though campy at times, special effects, adventure, and genuine excellence of the 1953 version, and the latter has always been one of my all time favorite sci-fi films, long past, or near future.

I wondered long before this hit theaters, let alone DVD, why exactly Steven Spielberg was trying to make a better, let alone updated movie version when the 50's one is near about perfect? Why remake, in any form, or however different, an almost flawless previous version? Could Steven pull it off, if anyone? Could over 50 years passing advances in CGI and special effects, possibly be better than the original movie? The answers, for the most part, are no.

Spielberg hasn't made a decent sci-fi/fantasy picture since "Jurassic Park, " in my view, and the things I did not like about his "AI" and "Minority Report" efforts, are all over this, and make the film more of a glimpse into what special effects (and great music by John Williams as always) can come up with, than a compelling film experience. Or any type of validation of Steven as one capable of making a decent sci-fi/fantasy anymore, without super budgets which, for all the eye candy this version offers at times, is hollow and very slow at times. And which, in the final analysis, pales in comparison to the 50's movie.

In the 1953 version, the story and characters were all rather simplified compared to the book, but it was all told in a purely linear and easily understandable way. It immediately started and continued without any of the unnecessary fanfare and pretty much useless character development seen in this version. The original was years/decades ahead of its time. This version seems contrived and confusing in many parts and seems to lay an uncomfortable, temporal "post 9-11" paranoia upon the whole, which detracts from what made the book so memorable, and takes a lot of the pure "fun" out of the first and only truly great movie version.

In the 50's flick, we are well into the story very quickly. In Spielberg's version, extreme concentration is first put into getting to know divorced, blue-collar Tom Cruise's life and quirks, as well as that of introducing us to his situation in life and his relationship with his ex-wife (and boyfriend), his kids (who he just so happens to have custody over "for the weekend" when the aliens decide to arise and attack), and it really just drags and isn't believable. Cruise's character from the start just seems so carefree and irresponsible, that it makes one almost not really care whether he's victorious in the end or not. And his kids at the very beginning seem unlikely to recognize his authority, let alone his capability to lead them through an alien invasion nightmare. In short, before ANY special effects of note appear, the movie has already dragged and we wind up impatient for the expensive CGI.

While some of the computer generated imagery is indeed outstanding, it lacks imagination, and a lot of it seems to be shot in black and white or faded color, unlike the original, which if nothing else was and remains one the most colorful and beautiful films ever. Spielberg has used this "technique" before, especially in "AI" and "Minority Report" as well as "Schindler's List," but it just doesn't work here. One wonders by the end whether this was intentional or not, but with all the reported money spent on this, I would've loved to see a FULL-COLOR version. This is drab in comparison to the original movie version, and I really don't understand this "technique" when so overdone. Any film technique as such, witness Spielberg's over-indulgence with the shaky, cinema-verite in "Saving Private Ryan," shouldn't occur throughout a movie, because it eventually grows tiresome to the viewer, and is unnecessary.

I guess it's just impossible for someone like me who enjoyed the 50's version so much, to approach this with anything less than disappointment. This is much more like the Mel Gibson film, "Signs" than it is anything else, and sacrifices possibly awe-inspiring direction and special effects for just too much character development for characters in this which we really never care about. It more resembles a "horror" film than anything truly sci-fi, and every time we really want to SEE the alien ships and the aliens themselves, we are left with B&W or faded color, dark and very slow-paced scenes concentrating on an uninteresting side-story to what the whole world is going through.

A lot of the effects are first-rate, and you can see where a lot of the money went in creating this, but again, why not just go for broke and utilize COLOR film? Why the constantly annoying, needless dull images which begin to take the characteristics of gimmicky filmmaking, than anything approaching artistic license? Why concentrate so much of the movie to the purely personal experiences of one person, and his bratty son and (constantly screaming) daughter, when this is "WAR OF THE WORLDS?!"

Some of the greater, global effects of the alien invasion are dealt with later, but the film's major flaw is setting up most of the movie as more about Tom Cruise's character and kids, as rather isolated examples, even though we see countless others vaporized by the ET. And Cruise's character is never really all that believable, let alone one which we can truly root for in the end. In the 50's version, we actually see "the planet" trying to take on these nasty folks from outer space, in various scenes involving infantry, guns, tanks, and jets, and eventually the dropping of "the bomb." Here, almost none of that is shown, except on the side, and Cruise eventually seems to succeed with a simple hand grenade in liberating his daughter from abduction/captivity. What happened to the BOMB? None of this is mentioned, even though if this is supposed to take place in more modern times, the world has a 1000 times more firepower.

This is a half-decent movie over all, but is too inconsistent and focuses on the wrong people, places, and things throughout. While I have seen the great original 50's version dozens of times (and I suggest y'all buy THAT instead of this), this just isn't interesting enough for that type of loyalty and repeated, often repeated viewings. There are some really good parts in this movie, but overall, it never rises anywhere close to the quality and originality and execution of the 1953 version. And even the good parts of Spielberg's version make one wonder really, where did all the budget go to anyway?

Ah yes, the director's pockets most likely. Disappointly seeming more of a vanity project from a multi-multi millionaire who has seeming lost his ability to really challenge and enchant (see Close Encounters, ET, or the already mentioned Jurassic Park), like with "AI" and "Minority Report," this is another Spielberg sci-fi/fantasy flick gone bad. Not that it's all that bad. It has its moments. But while the original threw us right into the action and adventure from the beginning to the end, this version should've been re-written and re-filmed into something a lot more compelling, especially considering the 50 plus year gap between the classic and this misfire.

Unless you haven't seen the original (also available on DVD and a much wiser buy), or are a Spielberg fanatic or collector, this is a rental at best. If you love it and are blown away, go ahead and dole out the cash, but I can hardly imagine anyone loving this in the first place, as it is contrived and uninvolving mostly throughout. And the special effects are more "disaster" movie kind and dark and faded, when they needn't have been. This DVD version also has virtually no extras, when they could've easily included a LOT.

Guess all that was saved for some "special collectors edition" or something, where Steven could pocket a few more bucks, but the movie itself should be the star of any DVD, and the film just doesn't add up to something one would want to watch repeatedly. Let alone shell out money for desperately needed, almost non-existent extras, deleted scenes, etc.

Another curious sci-fi/fantasy misfire for the most part, from a director who seems to have lost his touch in the genre, for a long time. The music and a few scattered special effects save this in the end from just being really bad, but it could've been a lot better with a bit more forethought as to story, characters, and filmic techniques. And the 50's version was and remains the definitive and by far the best rendering of the novel, this a distant and for the most part unenjoyable remake.

War of the Worlds.......2007-05-15

I don't care for science fiction movies, but this one is really good. I have watched it over ten times. I recommend this to anyone over the age of 15, because it could scare smaller children.

Great Movie.......2007-05-13

My family loved it. I highly recommend seeing on a widescreen if you missed it at the theater.

Average customer rating:

Voices of a Distant Star Rules!
up to Miyazaki's standerd? no. good on its own? definetly.
Short and sweet
A touching reminder of just how good anime can be
Poignent Voices, - A Love Story

Voices of a Distant Star
Starring: Donna Burke , Adam Conlon , Cynthia Martinez (II) , Sumi Mutoh , and Mika Shinohara
Director: Steven Foster
Manufacturer: Adv Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

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The Place Promised in Our Early Days
Millennium Actress
Tokyo Godfathers
Now and Then, Here and There (Complete Collector's Boxed Set)
Perfect Blue

ASIN: B00008G8QC
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Amazon.com

Although it looks like a studio work, Voices of a Distant Star is a personal film, made almost entirely by a single artist, Makoto Shinkai. Mikako and Noboru are separated at the beginning of high school in 2046. She's accepted into the training program for mecha pilots to fight the aliens who attacked human settlements on Mars. As she moves across the miles and, ultimately, light years, she sends messages that the forlorn Noboru patiently awaits. The animation is largely restricted to camera moves over still artwork and CG objects, but Shinkai is a skillful enough director to tell this melancholy sci-fi romance through the strong music and vocal tracks. Voices of a Distant Star packs more of an emotional punch than many elaborate studio films. (Rated 13 and older, but suitable for viewers 2 years younger: minor violence) --Charles Solomon

Description

When a mysterious alien force begins their annihilation of the human race, a young pilot feels called to join the resistance. But the danger of an interstellar battle is not Mikako's greatest concern. For she has left behind the one young man she loves. And as Mikako flies further into deep space, her only way to connect with Noboru is by cell-phone text messages. While Mikako risks her life to save mankind, Noboru waits. At first days, then months, then years for each new message that will let him know whether Mikako is still alive. And while she barely grows older in the timelessness of space, Noboru ages.

How can the love of two young people, torn apart by war, survive?

To what distance would you go...for your one, true love?

Customer Reviews:

Voices of a Distant Star Rules!.......2007-05-28

This Anime amazed me! I was shocked when I watched the interview with the director and he said that he did it all by himself over the course of seven months!

This was before ADV Films recorded the English Dub of course!

Cudos to the Director!

What an awesome film!

up to Miyazaki's standerd? no. good on its own? definetly........2007-05-05

Okay, first I would like to put to rest the lie that this movie is of the same standard as Miyazaki's films. It is not. It's a start for an upcoming director, but still not up to Miyazaki's greatness. This is not Miyazaki, so don't expect a Miyazaki type film.

The film itself is great. A young female joins the UN army to help fight off an alien race that has attacked a colony on mars, leaving behind her childhood friend and love. As her fleet moves farther and farther away from earth the time it takes for her messages to get to him take longer and lounger. First its six months, then a year, and then eight. Can their friendship and love survive as he gets older but she remains 15? Will she survive? Will they see each other again?

This isn't so much of a movie than one long dialoged with both characters reminiscing on how they miss each other and how they miss each other. They are they only two characters in this whole movie, a movie that is only 23 minutes long, and their dialogue is mostly them thinking to themselves. This isn't much of a problem however because the movie is so short and doesn't need secondary characters to help the flow of the story.

THE GOOD: first of all the artwork is really, REALLY good. For a guy that made this movie on his Mac, by himself, in his basement, this looks amazing. Whatever you have to say about this anime, good or bad, you have to admit that the animation is top notch. Another great part of the story is the fact that the characters are so well done. Even my none anime sister felt very sorry for the main characters in this film. They might not be as good as some characters in other amines I've seen, but I blame that on the fact that this movie is only 23 minutes long. Also the music is great. I love the music for Miyazaki's movies and I have to say that this music is almost as good.

THE BAD: well let's start with the obvious. It's too short. 23 minutes is not nearly enough time to make a great movie. If only it were lounger this could have been a truly great film, as is it's just a really good short. That's really the only complaint I have, everything else is top notch.

One bit of advice though. watch this movie in English and then watch the original Japanese version with subtitles. The reason for this is that the subtitles go so fast that it's hard to read them and watch the screen at the same time. if you watch it in English than you will know what the story is and then read the differences in the Japanese version. I think its better in Japanese, the dialog is more real and the text messages make the two characters seem more like long time friends, but i had a devil of a time keeping up and kept missing parts.

Overall this is a very good film that deserves to be watched but not up to Miyazaki's greatness. Maybe his nest film, The Place Promised in our Early Days will be a five star movie, but not this one.

Short and sweet.......2007-04-08

This anime has top notch animation and a great story. I found it to be really moving, in a Romeo and Juliet kind of way as one other reviewer put it. My sole complaint is the abrupt ending. It was like listening to a beautiful song, only to have the ending cut off.

A touching reminder of just how good anime can be.......2007-03-04

This short film is astounding, it touches you deeply and makes you really care about the characters' struggles and feelings. A must see for any anime fan, and even for those who don't like anime, this may just be the title to capture your interest.

Poignent Voices, - A Love Story.......2007-02-26

I have the English / Japanese version.. Hoshi no Koe (Voices of a Distant Star). I first rented this from a video shop, I watched it rather bemused the first time, but I was interested. I let it rest a day or two and watched it again, following the story easier the second time, also had the subtitles on and they helped "fill in the gaps".

I came to appreciate it was not a fun or action movie, more of a study in love and relationships, and on a concept that cant yet exist, but in the future could. Love over time and space and the paradoxs this could bring.
Its only a half hour movie and that is all it needs as a short story.

They a young couple, but space war sees them separated, they communicate via text messages.
He Noboru, on earth, time moves normally,
She Mikako, a mecha pilot, travels into space, first a few minutes separate their messages. Then she space warps away and comunications take a month, The she again space warps - 8 light years away and of course messages take 8 years to travel one way!.
By the time Noboru gets the last message he is 25 years old.. Things have happened in space.. Things have happened on earth, They have one final message to each other transending space and time..

An interesting movie.. a movie to move the heart. I did not feel it was depressing as one reviewer put it, more a Romeo & Juliet type compassion and sadness for this couple. Some could shed a tear...
The animation and music are fine, but not all that important, its the story that get you, its really a dialog between two people, the sole characters are the couple, and thats it! no one else!

Probably not for every one, so try it before you buy it.. but dont be suprised however if you actualy do go and buy it! Its like that.

Average customer rating:

Relive the terror of 9/11 again and again!
Well balanced film
Good, but doesn't come close to the 50's version...
War of the Worlds
Great Movie

War of the Worlds (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Tom Cruise , Dakota Fanning , Miranda Otto , Justin Chatwin , and Tim Robbins
Director: Steven Spielberg
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BCDV6C
Release Date: 2005-11-22

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Relive the terror of 9/11 again and again!.......2007-06-12

Well balanced film.......2007-06-08

Good, but doesn't come close to the 50's version..........2007-05-23

War of the Worlds.......2007-05-15

I don't care for science fiction movies, but this one is really good. I have watched it over ten times. I recommend this to anyone over the age of 15, because it could scare smaller children.

Great Movie.......2007-05-13

My family loved it. I highly recommend seeing on a widescreen if you missed it at the theater.

War of the Worlds - The Complete First Season

Average customer rating:

Less Tom Baker WHO than '50s SPACE CADETS
Aliens like Pinky and the Brain
Fairly typical TV conversion of a classic SF film.
Interesting for WOTW Fans and Unintentionally Funny for All
You either love it or hate it

War of the Worlds - The Complete First Season
Starring: David Calderisi
Director: William Fruet , Timothy Bond , Francis Delia , Otta Hanus , and Jorge Montesi
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Space Above and Beyond - The Complete Series
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The War of the Worlds (Special Collector's Edition)
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War of the Worlds (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000AOEMX2
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Amazon.com

Tom Cruise and Gene Barry aren't the only ones to save Earth from a Martian invasion--from 1988 to 1990, an intrepid band of scientists and soldiers battled the Red Planet menace on the small screen in the action-packed syndicated television series War of the Worlds. The show operated on an intriguing premise that paid homage to George Pal's classic 1953 film version--the Martians, presumed dead at the end of the movie, are actually in a state of hibernation, and 30 years later, they have not only revived, but begun to inhabit human bodies in a second attempt to conquer our planet. Now, a team of scientists (led by dependable character actor Jared Martin) and soldiers (under the command of actor-playwright Richard Chaves) must convince humanity to fight against an alien onslaught. It's unfortunate that War of the Worlds caught on with only a small but loyal audience (the series lasted just two seasons), since its episodes delivered an entertaining mix of science fiction, action, and suspense; highlights from the first season include "Thy Kingdom Come," which introduces a supporting turn by Ann Robinson, who recreates her role from the 1953 film; "Eye for an Eye," which wryly revisits the famous 1938 radio broadcast of War of the Worlds by Orson Welles that spread real panic over much of the Eastern seaboard; and the disturbing "Unto Us a Child Is Born," in which the human team and the aliens search for a half-Earthling, half-Martian baby. All 22 episodes of the debut season are included on this six-disc set; unfortunately for diehard fans, no supplemental features are included. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews:

Less Tom Baker WHO than '50s SPACE CADETS.......2007-03-18

Perhaps because I'm a fan of Canadian TV productions, I was especially disappointed in this TV series.

The fx barely compete with the original '60s STAR TREK series of a generation before it (and are nowhere close to V, BABYLON FIVE, GALLACTICA, etc.), which is not a serious criterion or problem for me. (The clips from the old Gene Barry film are fun.)

But the snail-paced pilot script is fraught with cliche situations. Lotsa jolly drunks above the USA border apparently, as well as humorless aliens with a penchant for English (and Canadian French?) who are lightyears less dimensional than those on ALIEN NATION or even THE SIMPSONS.

The stale dialogue also echoes from Saturday morning cartoon adventures of earlier decades--perhaps those space adventures with frozen faces and superimposed moving mouths, or the series that actually featured marionettes as "actors" except the marionettes were less wooden. Banter aspires to quips at the A-TEAM/ CHARLIE'S ANGELS riposte level, and never succeeds (especially when uttered by the self-delighted computer geek or the Professor from GILLIGAN'S ISLAND).

Most grating, however, is the tedious gestalt cast of protagonists:
* the usual Black computer geek (Majel's version was far more engaging when aliens again invaded Earth several years later) this time in a gimmicky wheel chair, no less, to parallel NEXT GENERATION's blind Black counterpart;
* an annoyingly faux nag of a girlfriend (perhaps a clone of the equally shrill ex-wife on HILL STREET BLUES--was the actress here also a series producer's talentless wife?);
* a heroine with no dimension for the actress to plumb (rather than a scientist's brainy daughter, this one's a military bigwig's brainy niece);
* a brooding Indian (this is Canadian, afer all; what, no Pierre?) who's not too awful and could probably share a pleasant campfire on VOYAGER's holodeck;
* and worst of all the smug swaggering "macho professor" hero, complete with Indiana Jones's fedora and Ford's actual first name! It's this pompous, bland lead that does in the series.

Watching the pilot episode seemed like a wormhole eternity.

Aliens like Pinky and the Brain .......2006-11-27

I remember the series from when I was a kid and would watch anything sci-fi. I recently purchased season one and have had a lot of fun watching the horrible story lines and bad acting. One thing I have noticed again and again in season one is how like Pinky and the Brain the aliens are. They come up with elaborate plots to take over the world and the whole episode is about getting one element of the plot that fails in the end. Like robbing armored cars to buy rubies to power lasers!! Breaking into a power plant to steel a generator to power a devise to knock out the phone company thereby causing confusion in the public and allowing the aliens to take over!! Watch the show in the same mind set as you would Pinky and the Brain and you might enjoy it. I did.

Fairly typical TV conversion of a classic SF film........2006-11-02

As a cost-cutting measure, the TV series dumped everything except the name and a few props from the 1953 George Pal movie. The aliens could "jump into" humans and take over their bodies. This saved on rubber suits and puppets, I guess. It became more of a pale imitation of "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers". They made a big deal that the host-bodies were indistinguishable from normal bodies. Did no one think of WEIGHING them? A 150# alien jumps into a 120# woman's body, it's kind of odd she'd tip the scales at 270#, isn't it?

That being said the series had its moments. The dialogue was at times witty and intelligent, the actors did their best with the material, and there were some genuinely suspenseful moments. The aliens were played intelligently and in some cases with humor.

I'm talking about the 1st season. Season 2 was a confused mess. Suddenly the 1st set of aliens vanished and a whole new alien menace appeared. I wouldn't give that 1 star. If you liked John Carpenter's "The Thing" or either of the "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" movies, Season One is a worthy effort. If you're looking for Tom Cruise in WoTW, this ain't it.

Interesting for WOTW Fans and Unintentionally Funny for All.......2006-10-13

I had not even heard that such a TV series existed until around the time the 2005 remake came out. First things first: The only reason this first season even made it out onto DVD was to ride the coattails of the 2005 remake release on DVD. Indeed, this first season DVD set was released on the same day as the 2005 remake on DVD. The only reason I bought this first season set was because a retailer had the entire set on the release date for only $14.99. I'm not much for blind buys, but I bit. And I'd say it's worth the $15, and maybe a bit more. Maybe.

Fans of the original film will find some interest in the TV series' attempts (sometimes successful) to link this TV series to the original film (and even the radio broadcast!). The best parts of the entire series are the relatively few sequences when we see the original spaceships from the '53 film. Unfortunately, the writers of the series didn't make much effort to explain the fact that in this 1988-89 world in which the events of the '53 film have taken place, nobody knows that it happened. This is never explained, and it is puzzling that not even a half-attempt was made to explain this. Mass amnesia apparently.

The pacing and writing of the show is really odd. At certain points, the show drags and drags and doesn't seem to move forward at all, with way too much exposition or too much footage of things that could be edited down. The opening of many episodes are like this. On the other hand, there are other times when events or endings are confusing. Not confusing in a sense that the show is too complicated, but rather confusing in that it sometimes seems like entire sets of lines or scenes are missing that should explain what is going on and what the implications of a given event are. (A bit of a spoiler coming here:) One episode in particular, in which Blackwood begins to date a woman who is being abducted by aliens, ends totally abruptly. The format of the series up to this point led me to believe that this episode was the first of two parts. But no, this was the ending as it was meant. Completely unresolved, without any explanation. Strange.

Now, I am by no means a snooty film fan, or even a snooty sci-fi fan. I can handle some pretty mediocre acting, writing, production, etc. When actors are bad enough that I can tell, then they're pretty bad. The set of actors on this season are shockingly and in fact hilariously poor actors. I think some of them might actually be decent actors, so I have to be fair and point out that the writing was probably the main culprit in the laughable nature of many scenes.

This DVD set presents the show in so-so video quality. The bitrate seems to fine on the DVD's, so I think the iffy quality has to do with the source material, not the mastering of the DVD's themselves. The quality is more than watchable, it just isn't as good as most late 80's TV shows shot on film. This show, like other shows such as "Star Trek: The Next Generation", was shot on film but then edited in the videotape realm, where the special effects were also added. So the resulting masters used to make this DVD set are not film, but video masters. This results in quality that is lesser than one you would find from a direct film transfer from the late 80's, and also results in the rather wonky special effects that don't seem to match up with the film at all in terms of look or quality. I've heard some complaints stating that old off-air VHS copies look as good or better than this set. I have nothing to do compare it to.

But for fans of WOTW and campy, quirky sci-fi, this set is not bad if you can find it for a decent price. Be prepared to occasionally be left hanging or disappointed with episode endings and plot development.

You either love it or hate it.......2006-09-24

Seems you either despise this show or love it. I myself was enamoured with it is a young kid(I'm 25, but don't have an Amazon profile). This show, along with Werewolf, Freddy's Nightmares and Friday the 13th the Series made for some serious boundary-pushing tv in the late 80's and early 90's. WOTW owes more to V than it does George Pal's film, and some elements not too different from the later X-Files appear.

Turns out those nasty war-mongering aliens weren't actually martians, they were natives of the jungle planet Mor-Tax. Unlike the Visitors of V, their plot to take over earth is an underground operation, with a group of three high-ranking officers called the Advocacy leading the charge. Countering their efforts are the Blackwood Project, a top secret government group dedicated to bringing the one-eyed bastards down for good.

Is the acting good? No, a bunch of forgettable Canadian actors. Are the effects good? Occasionally, with the R-rated gore scenes fairly shocking. Is it an entertaining show? Yes, its got a good overall plot and engaging twists and turns. The Mor-Taxians actually have legitimate reasons for hating humans, primarily because of our wasteful treatment of our planet. Some episodes are truly disturbing. The second season was bizarre though. Grittier and more urban, with a different alien race and incoherent plot changes. I prefer this one, shame it didn't continue as it should have.

Average customer rating:

Prepare to set sail....
Easy, watchable overview of the Vikings in the West

Vikings: Journey to New Worlds
Director: Marc Fafard
Manufacturer: Vista Point Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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NOVA - The Vikings
Ancient Mysteries: Vikings in North America
The Story of Civilization - The Viking Age
The Viking Sagas
Greece - Secrets of the Past (IMAX)

ASIN: B000HXDWGY
Release Date: 2006-10-31

Customer Reviews:

Prepare to set sail...........2007-04-27

Despite the short running time, this is a very
enjoyable journey with the Vikings. The colorful
modern reenactments are done well and gives one a
good sense of what it felt like to live among the
Viking people.

The Vikings were a conquering sort and pillaged many
lands and slayed many people, especially Christians.
This film goes into detail about their pagan gods,
beliefs, politcal assembly, and their notable architecture
on ships, mainly the longship(aka Drakkar) which
became a symbol of terror.

This film also describes the life of the hotheaded
Viking 'Eric the Red', whom was exiled from Iceland
due to a fued, and soon thereafter, discovered
Greenland and created its first colony.

This isn't a shoddily made documentary, but rather
a pleasant viewing experience that could have been
better elaborated on.

Easy, watchable overview of the Vikings in the West.......2006-12-19

I saw this film originally in the omnimax format, then purchased it when it became available this October. This is a great, watchable overview of the vikings in their journeys to North America. Lots of reinactments - the ususal omnimax scenic photography. The film does NOT go into detail of the vikings influence in the east - if you are interested in that, I'd recommend the NOVA viking video.

Also - the NOVA film (2 hours) goes into greater detail on all their topics -but it is a dryer more 'academic' film.

Overall - great intro film if you find yourself intrigued by the Vikings :)

War of the Worlds (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Relive the terror of 9/11 again and again!
Well balanced film
Good, but doesn't come close to the 50's version...
War of the Worlds
Great Movie

War of the Worlds (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Tom Cruise , Dakota Fanning , Miranda Otto , Justin Chatwin , and Tim Robbins
Director: Steven Spielberg
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi Action | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Alien Invasion | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Aliens | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)
Mr. & Mrs. Smith - Unrated (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Fantastic Four (Widescreen Edition)
Batman Begins [HD DVD]
King Kong - Extended Cut (Three-Disc Deluxe Edition)

ASIN: B000BD88YQ
Release Date: 2005-11-22

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Relive the terror of 9/11 again and again!.......2007-06-12

Well balanced film.......2007-06-08

Good, but doesn't come close to the 50's version..........2007-05-23

The Soundtrack	The War of the Worlds (1953)	War of the Worlds - The Complete First Season (TV series)
Classic Sci-Fi Movies and Their Remakes	Aliens Invade on DVD	The Prog-rock Opera (no kidding)