The Great Martian War 1913 -1917.
- Thread starter Guy Gardener
- Start date
The premise seems similar to that used for All Quiet on the Martian Front, an upcoming tabletop wargame that was successfully Kickstarter-ed last year.
I may give this one a try, though the reported lack of any Eastern Front coverage doesn't sound too promising.
I may give this one a try, though the reported lack of any Eastern Front coverage doesn't sound too promising.
The Germans actually went around the Martians to join the western front rather than attacking from the rear.
I just finished watching it on the history.ca website, and it was quite interesting. (I still wish there was a mention of the fate of Eastern Europe, but perhaps the Martians were simply more interested in the Western Front for whatever reason.)
I wonder...
I wonder...
If the suggestion at the end is true, perhaps the first human exploration of Mars will find the ruins of the "native" civilization, brought to its own destruction as a result of its long-term exposure to vivicite?
Thanks to Guy Gardener for bringing this to my attention, and to Warped9 for the Canadian site link. I watched this today, and was very impressed; it was really well done, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
OT: Before viewing this, I never actually realized that "Nerys" was a real name (of Welsh origin, according to here). I guess whatever writer/producer came up with Kira Nerys's name just strung two human given names together!
OT: Before viewing this, I never actually realized that "Nerys" was a real name (of Welsh origin, according to here). I guess whatever writer/producer came up with Kira Nerys's name just strung two human given names together!
Watched this for a second time this evening, only I watched it with a friend on his 50in. TV and without ads.
It was even better the second time around, particularly the audio. This really is a great concept for what is essentially alternate history sci-fi done, well, cheap. Little known and totally unknown actors in "eye witness" speaking parts, WWI archival footage with the Martian war machines (4 types) and alien cgi'd into the footage in a mostly seamless manner within a documentary style framing structure. I'd be surpised if this cost even five hundred grand to do this.
With a minor bit of tweaking this brainstorm could have been done theatrically and made it's money back---never mind an opening weekend---but in one day.
My friend even thought this idea could work as a compelling limited run series on something like HBO. I think he's right. It would have been cool. Although that version would tell the story as a period piece where you see it unfolding as it happens.
This is thinking outside the box science fiction. It's the kind of SF you really don't see that often in television and film. And on History Television no less.
It was even better the second time around, particularly the audio. This really is a great concept for what is essentially alternate history sci-fi done, well, cheap. Little known and totally unknown actors in "eye witness" speaking parts, WWI archival footage with the Martian war machines (4 types) and alien cgi'd into the footage in a mostly seamless manner within a documentary style framing structure. I'd be surpised if this cost even five hundred grand to do this.
With a minor bit of tweaking this brainstorm could have been done theatrically and made it's money back---never mind an opening weekend---but in one day.
My friend even thought this idea could work as a compelling limited run series on something like HBO. I think he's right. It would have been cool. Although that version would tell the story as a period piece where you see it unfolding as it happens.
This is thinking outside the box science fiction. It's the kind of SF you really don't see that often in television and film. And on History Television no less.
If it gets enough buzz, it will probably make some decent money once it's released on DVD. I sure plan to buy it.
Definitely.
On some level it is a far out idea. But the way it's presented you can easily get caught up into it. The only minor drawback is, like some other period documentaries, some of the footage is repeated. Now that could have been a result of limited resources. A bit more time and money would allow for more varied footage.
Re: a limited series idea I mentioned earlier. No question that would cost more because like other period set series (such as Boardwalk Empire and Game Of Thrones) there would be the costs of period set and prop construction and costuming. Then there'd also be more extensive cgi those things too impractical to build like the Martian war machines.
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It can even be argued that the reason why it works so well is because it's a far out idea. It doesn't even blink. It just takes the idea and runs with it and tells us a fascinating story.
Time travel. Yes I know the word "video" has broader definitions that covers today's media, but it still feels like you're asking someone to put this on vhs tape for you.
Watching this feature and remembering having watch the original '50's film and the more recent remake has prompted me to read the original H.G. Wells book. I'm a bit more than a quarter of the way through and it's interesting/ Mind you the predominatly omniscient narrative as well as the dated use of language is a bit of an adjustment. But I am finding it interesting and surprisingly modern in some respects.
So far the book seems to have more in common with the Tom Cruise remake (in tems of viewpoint and events) than it does with the '50s' era film.
So far the book seems to have more in common with the Tom Cruise remake (in tems of viewpoint and events) than it does with the '50s' era film.
Aw, crap, don't tell me I'm gonna have to check out a Tom Cruise movie. 
What do you mean it was closer in spirit? And was it as good or better than the 1953 version?
What do you mean it was closer in spirit? And was it as good or better than the 1953 version?
It's been a while since I've read or seen these movies, guessing, but the Tom Cruise was about a guy who was completely fucked running in terror, meanwhile the 50s movies was about a bright scientist using advanced 50s tech to almost win the war befor cocking up and waiting to die. A DVD of the Stage show of Jeff Waynes War of the Worlds was released a year or two ago, if you want to see yet another impression... League of Extraordinary Gentlemen II (The Comic, no sign of the movie as yet.) had Mr Hyde pulling legs off Martian tripods, and the rest trying to save the day.
The two films are different perspectives of an alien invasion. The 2005 film does make some changes to update the story, but its heart is the original novel. The main character of the book is a civilian shmuck just trying to stay alive and the 2005 film does the same thing only updating the character to someone more recognizably contemporary.Aw, crap, don't tell me I'm gonna have to check out a Tom Cruise movie.
In my opinion the two films each work in their own way. And there is a nice cameo at the end of the 2005 version. I wouldn't call either one better, but just different and I enjoy them both and have both in my video library.
But the 2005 film is much more like the book than the 1953 version.
Mister Fandango
Fleet Captain
I actually liked how the documentary handled them being called Martians.
Although not explained in any great detail there are some pretty advanced ideas in the original novel. Indeed the way the Martians were envisioned in The Great Martian War seems quite like they are in the novel.
In fairness I haven't seen that many films with Tom Cruise so I don't really have a bias against him so I thought he was fine in the 2005 film. I also recently saw Oblivion and I thought he was okay in that too.
In the 2005 film they never mention Martians, but then they pretty well had to avoid that because of what we now know. Martians invading only works in a period setting. I also thought the film captured what H.G. Wells tried to convey in the book, that mass panic, hopelessness and breakdown of society.
I certainly think the 2005 War Of The Worlds remake makes the Keannu Reeves' remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still totally shameful. Now THAT film stunk.
In fairness I haven't seen that many films with Tom Cruise so I don't really have a bias against him so I thought he was fine in the 2005 film. I also recently saw Oblivion and I thought he was okay in that too.
In the 2005 film they never mention Martians, but then they pretty well had to avoid that because of what we now know. Martians invading only works in a period setting. I also thought the film captured what H.G. Wells tried to convey in the book, that mass panic, hopelessness and breakdown of society.
I certainly think the 2005 War Of The Worlds remake makes the Keannu Reeves' remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still totally shameful. Now THAT film stunk.