Customer Reviews:
NOT Leonard Nimoy.......2006-12-03
This dvd lists Leonard Nimoy on the credits but in fact he does not appear at all.
Fans have been badly misled by this error.
The Day That Panicked America.......2006-03-09
VERY DISSAPPOINTED!! I was looking for the movie with the same name, not the documentary on Orson Welles or highlights of what occurred from an announcer, BUT THE MOVIE!! The movie was an excellent movie and had a very strong impact on me.
Anyone know where I can get THE MOVIE VERSION? Email me at: italiangwmjcnj@yahoo.com THANKYOU
The Day that panicked America.......2005-11-14
Amazon provided a poor representation of this product.
It leads you to believe that the movie is also included
but its not.
A waste of my time and money. Last time I will by
from Amazon
Disappointing.......2005-09-29
After watching this documentary on cable TV, I was so impressed I had the DVD ordered to show to the university communications class I teach, as part of our unit on radio.
What a disappointment! All of the interviews with experts and witnesses which made the TV version so informative about radio and its place as a medium in 1930s American society are gone. I assume they must not have been able to secure the rights from the participants. Even the narrator is different. It's not Nimoy.
To make up for the time lost from the deletion of the interviews, they've padded it with useless digressions into things like the history of Flash Gordon, yet another rehash of the supposed UFO crash in Roswell, N.M., and other elements which bear little or no relevance to the "War of the Worlds" broadcast.
Worse, the box description reflects the better TV version, not what is actually on the disc.
It comes with a second CD of the actual broadcast. So what? You can hear that for free online.
My suggestion is, avoid this purchase and tape it when it comes on TV again.
An essential DVD/CD set for the Orson Welles aficionado.......2005-08-30
This is a very good and inexpensive DVD/CD combination, one essential for the Orson Welles (1915-1985) fan. The DVD rogram is very well done and is essentially a minibiography of Welles, with emphasis, of course, on the circumstances surrounding the 30 October 1938 Halloween radio broadcast of Welles's adaptation of H.G. Wells's (1866-1946) novelette, The War of the Worlds (1897). The DVD is copyright 2005 and was newly written, directed, and narrated by John Ross, who also did the music--facts not noted on the packaging (this information is from the credits).
The DVD runs for 75 minutes, not the claimed 70 and is a mix of B&W and color; format is 4:3, and sound is in Dolby digital stereo. There are 8 scenes:
1) Sign of the times [5:13]
2) Orson Welles [6:08]
3) The Mercury Theater [10:58]
4) Grover's Mill, New Jersey [6:37]
5) 1930's sci-fi [7:31]
6) Are we alone? [13:27]
7) Panic on the streets [6:53]
8) The aftermath [18:24]
The actual program has lots of biographical and historical ackground, including extensive clips from Welles's two early films, Hearts of Age (1934) done when he was only 19, and We Work Again (1937), done for the WPA (Works Projects Administration). Scene 5 on "1930's sci-fi" is interesting,but the overlong scene 6, "Are we alone?," on alien phenomena, including the 1947 Roswell affair, is rather tedious. Scene 8 includes clips from Welles's The Trial (1963) as well as his interview remarks on War of the world.
The CD is of the complete 30 October 1938 radio broadcast of the hour-long Mercury Theater show (the CD runs 58 minutes, 7 seconds). The quality is very good. The scratchiness in the beginning part adds to the atmosphere. The CD is not subdivided. Thus don't lose your place or you will have to fast forward from the beginning to resume listening.
What's missing? There is no inner paper insert. It would have been classy to list the characters and actors of the radio broadcast and perhaps reproduce the 31 October 1938 article in The New York Times about the controversy. However, this information is readily available from the Internet. I printed it out to insert into the DVD case.
Amazon.com
H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds is a quirky if well-meaning, labor-of-love adaptation of Wells' seminal 1898 science fiction novel. A website for the film's production company, Pendragon Pictures, explains that this version of Wells's thinly disguised prediction of World War I actually began as a modern-day variation on the story. Terrorist attacks in America on September 11, 2001, however, convinced co-writer and director Timothy Hines to set the project instead in the late 19th century period Wells imagined.
By coincidence, Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise's contemporary take on War of the Worlds began production shortly after Hines's adjustment. While hardly a competitive threat to Spielberg's movie, Pendragon's War might have made an interesting complement to it. Unfortunately, Hines and company seriously blew their opportunity. While there is some money and impressive special-effects wizardry on the screen, this embarrassing, seemingly endless feature is doomed by a crazy effort to marry the look and texture of Silent Era epics to Computer Age manipulation. Not that War is a silent picture, mind you. But much of it is tinted in expressive rainbow hues that were common in films a century ago; the cast of unknowns' performances are mannered and exaggerated in a silly impression of pre-optical soundtrack acting; and primitive effects (e.g., printing a scene backwards for an ethereal feel) are unflattering. As if that's not bad enough, no one involved with this movie appears to know basic editing principles for compressing time and action. On the plus side, the extraterrestrial killers and their awesome machines of destruction are startling to behold. The image of Big Ben's clock tower blown apart over a flaming London is persuasive indeed. --Tom Keogh
Description
In the year 1898, critically acclaimed author H.G. Wells conceived of a tale so terrifying that it has captured the imagination of millions of readers for more than 100 years. Now for the first time ever, the true adaptation of the classic novel hits the screen with devastating effect! During a time of growth and prosperity for mankind, came the ultimate threat to our very existence. The events that were to take place at the turn of the 20th century would shake the foundations of life as we know it. The future of the human race was at stake as man's greatest fear was realized...Suddenly we are no longer alone in this universe and to preserve our species, we must be victorious in The War of The Worlds.]
Customer Reviews:
Our Gang does H. G. Wells.......2007-08-08
Remember how the gang in the "Little Rascals" shorts would "put on a show" to earn some money and the show would be staged with cheap home-made props and laughably terrible performances? Well that "let's put on a show" spirit survives in the Pendragon version of WotW. Unfortunatly the home made props and bad performances also survived.
I really wanted to like this DVD because the idea of doing WotW in the appropriate time period is an admirable endeavor. However, after seemingly neverending shots of men walking (or running) along an unpaved road and hundreds of reaction shots of actors(?) reacting to something other than what was being shown on the screen, my patience wore a little thin. By the time I got to the incredibly bad Thunderchild sequence, I was sure I had been transported to the satellite of love but Mike or Joel and the robots were nowhere to be found.
I guess good intentions don't always make for good entertainment and this isn't good entertainment!
Waste of effort.......2007-06-15
This is heartbreakingly awful. Done by amateurs with amateurish results. From someone who really wanted this to be worthwhile I can only express my total disappointment. This should be used in film school as a textbook account of how not to make a film.
REREAD the novel instead... seriously........2007-05-29
Yes, I truly wanted THIS version to be worthy of praise (Wells and his book surely deserve a great rendering) but, it is not. Do not waste your time trying to pick out a few positives amidst this hopeless mess of amateurish film making. Earnest efforts and good intentions cannot replace the skills that are required to cause one to suspend disbelief and become immersed in a story.
A Massive Achievement.......2007-01-05
What is left to say about this remarkable film ? Make no mistake, Director Tim Hines is a very special talent. I should imagine Spielberg himself has probably praised this film to his friends in private. I should also think that the Master H.G Wells would have been very happy with this accurate portrayal of his classic novel. The FX department at Pendragon deserve a mention for the terrifying martians. The martian machines ''rolling motion'' that Wells describes is accurately reproduced throughout the film. I was shocked to the root of my soul when the martians first appeared from the cylinder. But I knew without even seeing the invaders that that they were going to be shocking by the expressions on the faces of the talented cast, they looked utterly disgusted when standing on the edge of the pit. Throughout the film the tension continues at a very steady pace which was enough to keep me on the edge of my seat. The wonderful finale where our hero, Anthony Piana, seems almost crazed with joy at the strange death of the martians must surely reflect the relief at the massive effort that he put into his triumphant role. I watched the movie with my grandfather who sadly past away a few days after. It's comforting to know that the last film he saw was this.
I have to go with an A for Effort........2006-12-02
I've had this movie since it was first released and yes I laughed at various parts of the movie when the CGI just was so painfully obvious bad. And yes I could rip the movie apart just like you can rip any big budget Hollywood production apart, but here was a movie that did their best to stay true to Well's story. If you are a lover of the Book then I believe this is a must see movie, now if you can get over the movies flaws and enjoy it's content.... that I leave to you and I relly hope you can cuase they get an A for Effort from me.
Customer Reviews:
Not the Worst Version of WotW.......2007-08-08
This is not the worst version of WotW that I have seen. In fact (due to lower expectations) it's not even the most disappointing version. But it is still a long way from being anywhere near as good as the George Pal movie of the early fifties.
In my opinion two things could have helped this presentation tremendously. 1) Do away with the Jake Busey character. This stereotypical, over-the-top, megalomaniac military officer added nothing to the movie except a cringe factor. The money spent for Busey's salary could have been better utilized to accomplish the second factor. 2) Give the movie a climax showing the the war machines crashing while destroying Washington. The anticlimax provided gives the impression that one day the accountant walked onto the set and "Wrap it up. We're out of money." And so they did.
Even if these two things were accomplished, I'm still not sure this movie would be worth the rather steep asking price it's selling(?) for new. My advice is to buy it used. I got mine for less than four bucks including S&H.
Eh.......2007-04-28
To be honest, I saw the DVD cover and was expecting a bad (meaning good and cheesy) sci-fi flick. Unfortunately, it didn't even deliver the fun cheese. Sometimes things are so bad they are good. This was just plain bad. While the plotline kinda-sorta followed the book, the script was poorly written, the special effects were not very special, and the acting was fairly embarassing. This wasn't even a good, schlocky B-movie.
Don't bother with this one.
Deluxe treatment of a movie that doesn't deserve it.......2007-02-18
OK, first let's get the movie out of the way. It stinks. A handful of B-list actors are put in forced servitude of a script that goes nowhere. When your opening credits proudly (and oh-so-inaccurately) boast "H.G. Wells' World of the Worlds" and your opening scene is a gratutious shot of your lead actress topless. . .well, you know this isn't going to be a classic. Then, because anyone with an iMac can produce affordable CGI effects these days, the producers seem to have found someone with an iMac to produce affordable CGI effects. You're not likely to see less convincing effects in this lifetime, believe me. I'm sparing you the plot details, because I'm currently trying to forget I ever watched this movie.
Far more entertaining is the documentary (one of the MANY bonus features inexplicably afforded this turkey). Watch in awe as the director recalls reading the original novel (a dubious claim in itself) "when I was a kid in school, back in the 1800's." Sit dumbfounded as the producer talks of rushing to complete this film to beat the Speilberg version, and proudly proclaiming, "They've got Tom Cruise, but WE'VE got Tommy Howell!"
There are even TWO audio commentaries, but I frankly couldn't sit through them. And there are outtakes and deleted scenes (97 minutes of which seemed to have made into the final film...heh heh).
I've seen this one in the bargain bin for like 4 bucks. And it might be worth that, just for a good laugh. But fans of the original George Pal The War of the Worlds (Special Collector's Edition), or even the flawed but admittedly more exciting Speilberg film, would do well to steer clear of this one.
Don't let this happen to you............2006-05-01
When the Spielberg version of "War of the Worlds" hit theaters, viewers started submitting their reviews to Amazon. To read them, one would think, "This must be the worst movie ever made". I myself gave it less than 5 stars, mainly because of A) Tom Cruise's incredible invincibility in that film, and B) Dakota Fanning's irritating screeching. I can still hear her screaming in my mind.
So, to all those who sent in their movie/DVD reviews slamming that movie, I suggest a cure: see THIS version. The acting is good enough, but basically it's 93 minutes of NOTHING. Color lenses are overused to great detriment, the pastor agonizes over his shaky faith ad nauseum, and the few action scenes in it are done in "splatter mentality" for that truly cheesy feel. The aliens spit some kind of flesh-dissolving goo, reminiscent of the "poison-spitter" from Jurassic Park. Yecchh.
Once you've "experienced" this one, you may feel like giving the Spielberg version 5 stars or even more! (Or then again, maybe not....)
So watch this on TV, and if you can't do that, rent it. But whatever you do, don't BUY it! I did, and lost my money. Save YOURS.
Too Many War of the Worlds.........2006-02-12
I think this version was an ok version of War of the Worlds. I am still a bigger fan of the Original War of the Worlds(1953). I also thought that Speilburgs version could of been a lot better, i was hoping that he'd focus more on the War then the family that kept running. I think the special effects in this one are a little dated, yet it is the best one ive seen since the Original 1953 version.
Description
H.G. Wells and The War of the Worlds - A Documentary DVD
An invading alien race bent on conquering humanity. The fear of the unknown. Intelligent insects, apocalyptic musings, time travel, mutant half-breeds, invisibility formulas, and mad scientists—such is the rich fantasy world imagined by H.G. Wells. With this exciting DVD, explore the motivations, the societal pressures, and the inspirations behind some of Wells' most popular works, including The War of the Worlds. Learn more about the man whose political and sexual views were every bit as revolutionary as his fiction.
When H.G. Wells began his literary career he both shocked and thrilled the world by exposing the flaws and hypocrisy of Victorian society with his futuristic thinking and alternate views. The Time Machine was his first major work, a tale that modern readers would consign to the genre of Science Fiction, and it was a phenomenal success. Rapidly followed by The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Invisible Man, and his most popular work of all—The War of the Worlds—H.G. Wells opened a door into the future that took his readers on a unique adventure far away from the social constraints of 19th Century England.
This program offers a remarkable insight into the life and work of H.G. Wells, a man who proves to be as fascinating as his far-reach-ing imagination. It will also give the viewer plenty of opportunities to experience The War of the Worlds and explore the impact this truly exceptional piece of writing has made on every new genera-tion to turn its pages.
APPROX. 90 MIN. COLOR
EXCLUSIVELY PRODUCED BY DELTA ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
This fascinating documentary offers a remarkable insight into the life and work of H.G. Wells, a man who proves to be as fascinating as his far-reaching imagination!
Customer Reviews:
lacklustre, but generally informative.......2006-12-23
Version reviewed: 2005 Region 1 dvd entitled "H.G. Wells and the War of the Worlds: A Documentary" 87 min., narrated by Liam Dale.
Language: no language, subtitle, or closed captioning options.
This is a low-budget biography of the life, times and places associated with novelist H. G. Wells. I recommend this to Wells readers who want an overview of his life.
I found the writing to be trite at times, but generally interesting. Sometimes I had the feeling that we were just getting time-fillers and barely on-topic asides. The most annoying was the ongoing reference to Hallowe'en customs.
Despite the title, this video biography is not about the War of the Worlds, and one will find little more about that book than about any other Wells title. I suspect the title was chosen to market the dvd in 2005 and to coincide with the release of Spielberg's version of WotW.
This was a lacklustre biography, with no expert interviews. Visually, the film used panning video of old still photography mixed with contemporary footage of locales associated with Wells' life.
This is worth buying if you want a bio of H. G. Wells in your collection, and if you can get it at a bargain price. I am satisfied with my purchase, but had hoped for a better-quality production.
davidglincman.......2005-08-27
this is a great documentary on the life and times of hg Wells which inspired orson wells and george pal ln giving us the 1953 classic the war of the worlds lf you would like to know the secrets about the man watch the documentary
Can we have a proper review of this DVD please??.......2005-07-15
I've just ordered this.
I don't know who Lynda is but she clearly comes from a different planet!!! ;-) Anyway, she needs to look for "The Night That Panicked America"...
You are perfectly entitled to make more than one documentary about a subject! (Doh!). And it doesn't need to have anything to do with the p*ss poor and inaccurate Orson Welles radio play either - I presume this disc chronicles the great HG Wells story and discusses all its adaptations and effects on the development of science fiction. If not, then I'm sending my copy back!
Average customer rating:
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H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds
Starring:
Jake Busey ,
Peter Greene ,
C. Thomas Howell , and
Andrew Lauer
Director:
David Michael Latt
Manufacturer: Edi Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
 General
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Mystery
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Busey, Jake
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Greene, Peter
| ( G )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Howell, C Thomas
| ( H )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Lauer, Andrew
| ( L )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Latt, David Michael
| ( L )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DVDs Under $7.49
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
( W )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
ASIN: B000MV8A9A
Release Date: 2007-06-19 |
Average customer rating:
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War of the Worlds Special 2 Disc Collector's Edition
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Special Editions
| Fully Loaded DVDs
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Product Features:
- Original Radio Broadcast of War of the Worlds
- The Making of War of the Worlds
- Audio Commentaries & Original Theatrical Trailer
- War of the Worlds: The Unfinished 1970 TV Pilot
- Special Effects Outtakes & Photo Gallery
ASIN: B000GB4DUG |
Product Description
DISC 1:WAR OF THE WORLDS ORIGINAL UNEDITED VERSION(1953)-H.G. Well's classic novel is brought to life is this tale of alien invasion. The resisdents of a small town are excited when a flaming meteor lands in the hills. Their joy is tempered somewhat when they discover it has passengers who are not very friendly.
DISC 2:WAR OF THE WORLDS A VIDEO SCRAPBOOK-This exciting collection of film clips and images is a must for any fan of WOTW and George Pal's work. An excellent companion piece for your video shelf.
DVD:
- The Dirty Harry Collection (Dirty Harry/Magnum Force/The Enforcer/Sudden Impact/The Dead Pool)
- The Great Commandment (1939) DVD [Remastered Edition]
- The Guns of Navarone (Special Edition)
- The James Bond Collection, Vol. 1 (Special Edition)
- The John Wayne Century Collection (Big Jake, Donovan's Reef, El Dorado, Hatari!, Hondo, In Harm's Way, Island in the Sky, McLintock!, Rio Lobo, The High and the Mighty, etc.)
- The Longest Day
- The Lord of the Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition)
- The Lord of the Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition)
- The Lord of the Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition)
- The Lord of the Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition)
DVD
DVD
H.G. Wells and The War of the Worlds - A Documentary
War of the Worlds Collectors Edition
War of the Worlds (Documentary)
H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds
The War of the Worlds (Special Collector's Edition)
