Comments on: War of the Worlds http://www.dragonpage.com/2005/07/27/war-of-the-worlds/ Conversations with the Creators of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Thrillers! Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:12:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Andrew http://www.dragonpage.com/2005/07/27/war-of-the-worlds/comment-page-1/#comment-732 Andrew Sat, 17 Sep 2005 04:58:14 +0000 http://www.dragonpage.com/?p=1273#comment-732 It's tricky because no matter what you do with a remake you are going to displease someone. I think in general a remake needs to keep some of the core ideas in the story, otherwise you are just taking the name to increase sales when your product has no resemblance to the original. I think you then need to take 1 of 2 routes, you either stay as close to the original as you can (Lord of the Rings), or you just keep the core ideas and adapt them to the story you want to tell (I, Robot). In the case of 'War of the Worlds' I feel they needed to keep the ending even though it didn't quite work for me. As you mentioned, the science might make the ending unlikely, but considering we are talking about aliens invading from Mars, it's hardly the most unbelievable thing in the movie. It would have been nice to see an ending where the aliens win, just to surprise people though. It’s tricky because no matter what you do with a remake you are going to displease someone.

I think in general a remake needs to keep some of the core ideas in the story, otherwise you are just taking the name to increase sales when your product has no resemblance to the original. I think you then need to take 1 of 2 routes, you either stay as close to the original as you can (Lord of the Rings), or you just keep the core ideas and adapt them to the story you want to tell (I, Robot).

In the case of ‘War of the Worlds’ I feel they needed to keep the ending even though it didn’t quite work for me. As you mentioned, the science might make the ending unlikely, but considering we are talking about aliens invading from Mars, it’s hardly the most unbelievable thing in the movie.

It would have been nice to see an ending where the aliens win, just to surprise people though.

]]> By: J.R. Murdock http://www.dragonpage.com/2005/07/27/war-of-the-worlds/comment-page-1/#comment-731 J.R. Murdock Thu, 28 Jul 2005 08:49:15 +0000 http://www.dragonpage.com/?p=1273#comment-731 Well, I liked I, Robot even though it was only loosely based on the book. Why does a movie need to be a remake of an old movie, can't they base it loosely on the novel? I think they can. WOuldn't bother me as long as it doesn't stray TOO far and get too hokey. Well, I liked I, Robot even though it was only loosely based on the book. Why does a movie need to be a remake of an old movie, can’t they base it loosely on the novel? I think they can. WOuldn’t bother me as long as it doesn’t stray TOO far and get too hokey.

]]> By: Magess http://www.dragonpage.com/2005/07/27/war-of-the-worlds/comment-page-1/#comment-730 Magess Thu, 28 Jul 2005 06:01:54 +0000 http://www.dragonpage.com/?p=1273#comment-730 I rather think you can do both. It's the difference between a remake and an inspired-by or based-on. If you're doing a remake, if we're supposed to believe that you're doing the same story, then the essential plot points should be the same. Because the dialog is probably going to change. The setting is probably going to change. And if you aren't at least having the same actions happen, precisely what are you remaking? Independence Day. Inspired by Wells' War of the Worlds. Whereas for a WotW remake, you can accept that the microbes killed the beasts because that's the way the story goes, somehow being an inspired-by story open up ID to critcisms. They didn't have to hold true to anything if they didn't want. They actually chose *a computer virus* as the method for destroying the aliens. They had the chance to make a scientifically founded choice and didn't. And I laugh. How's that? I rather think you can do both. It’s the difference between a remake and an inspired-by or based-on. If you’re doing a remake, if we’re supposed to believe that you’re doing the same story, then the essential plot points should be the same. Because the dialog is probably going to change. The setting is probably going to change. And if you aren’t at least having the same actions happen, precisely what are you remaking?

Independence Day. Inspired by Wells’ War of the Worlds. Whereas for a WotW remake, you can accept that the microbes killed the beasts because that’s the way the story goes, somehow being an inspired-by story open up ID to critcisms. They didn’t have to hold true to anything if they didn’t want. They actually chose *a computer virus* as the method for destroying the aliens. They had the chance to make a scientifically founded choice and didn’t. And I laugh.

How’s that?

]]> By: Speed Racer http://www.dragonpage.com/2005/07/27/war-of-the-worlds/comment-page-1/#comment-729 Speed Racer Thu, 28 Jul 2005 03:58:48 +0000 http://www.dragonpage.com/?p=1273#comment-729 Haven't seen the movie, but I know the book and radio dramatization. It's OK to stick to the original material. It's also OK not to stick to the original material and make a new piece of art, in which case it might be misleading to use the same title as the original. With all genre stories, you figure out the rules that operate in the world created by the story and judge whether it sticks to them. There is usually some suspension of disbelief involved. Haven’t seen the movie, but I know the book and radio dramatization.

It’s OK to stick to the original material. It’s also OK not to stick to the original material and make a new piece of art, in which case it might be misleading to use the same title as the original.

With all genre stories, you figure out the rules that operate in the world created by the story and judge whether it sticks to them. There is usually some suspension of disbelief involved.

]]>