FALLINGSTAR
Been Here a while!
Zippy, George, Geoff and Bungle....Hey everyone...it's RAINBOW!
Posts: 222
|
Post by FALLINGSTAR on May 31, 2009 22:56:53 GMT 1
My first artistic license would be to avoid the brother all together, whilst it works well in the book, it's extremely difficult to throw into a film wiithout confusing or boring the audience. Jeff Wayne pulled it off with no question's asked and pretty well I thought. I would avoid narrative all together, and simply focus on the characters visual and emotional reaction. I would certainly try to bring more character, even names to the characters These are the first ideas springing to mind I'd have to think about the brother but whilst you obviously couldn't have narrative all the way through I don't think it should ALL be abandoned. As for bringing more character - possibly but I don't think it would be a good idea to fall into the Hollywood trap of naming and revealing everything. |
|
|
|
Post by MGMFilms on May 31, 2009 23:46:02 GMT 1
It's a fine line between the intelligence of the fans and the assumption of the audience
|
|
stevesudz
Trainee
The grandson of Col. Strakers hairdresser.
Posts: 97
|
Post by stevesudz on Jun 1, 2009 15:04:51 GMT 1
I dont think you need to abandon the brother at all. In fact I think there are two things that can be done without rewriting the story. First, you have to set up a strong emotional link with the two brothers so the audience feel for him too and want to know what happens to him all the while the journalist is unaware. Secondly if you run the two stories side by side, episodically and use the books inherent cliffhangers to switch from one to other (like many films do ), as long as it is directed in a clever way, you'll have a perfectly good movie. In fact, I think the book is so short, there is room for you to flesh out the characters as you say and make them more approachable. One just needs to move the story from the Telegraph and times style reporting into a charcters personal diary so the characters become "Family" and you've cracked it. maybe?
|
|
FALLINGSTAR
Been Here a while!
Zippy, George, Geoff and Bungle....Hey everyone...it's RAINBOW!
Posts: 222
|
Post by FALLINGSTAR on Jun 1, 2009 20:37:55 GMT 1
I dont think you need to abandon the brother at all. In fact I think there are two things that can be done without rewriting the story. First, you have to set up a strong emotional link with the two brothers so the audience feel for him too and want to know what happens to him all the while the journalist is unaware. Secondly if you run the two stories side by side, episodically and use the books inherent cliffhangers to switch from one to other (like many films do ), as long as it is directed in a clever way, you'll have a perfectly good movie. In fact, I think the book is so short, there is room for you to flesh out the characters as you say and make them more approachable. One just needs to move the story from the Telegraph and times style reporting into a charcters personal diary so the characters become "Family" and you've cracked it. maybe? Good points! The book flows perfectly well and just because some clown without a clue made a movie that dragged and pretended to be faithful to the book - but wasn't in many ways doesn't mean that following the book very closely can't be done. I think the book is very cinematic in style and the story and situations don't need to be altered. MGM what steve says is perfectly feasible. |
|
|
|
Post by MGMFilms on Jun 2, 2009 1:32:30 GMT 1
Hmm, I figuere then an encounter between the brothers in London sometime before the first cylinder, I think there were several months before the first one hit Horsell Common Okay guys now's the time to earn your fandom wings, describe to me the perfect encounter for the two characters, and I may not only include it in the movie but pay you (though until I have a budget I cant say what) as a part of the creative team  |
|
|
|
Post by Lonesome Crow on Jun 3, 2009 20:52:06 GMT 1
You could start the scene with the brothers as they part, it could even be an acrimonious parting (things said that they wish they could take back).
If I remember rightly the brother is a medical student, so it could be an argument over money matters.
|
|
|
|
Post by Notumyoaliketroftdonhere on Jun 4, 2009 7:54:35 GMT 1
War of the worlds is a horror story.a human tragedy.Capturing the 'creepiness' of the story i think is a must.Victorian england also.This is a story that should make your flesh crawl.Difficult book to translate on to film some say.Dont mind slight re-writes as Jeff Wayne did it well.Its a special effects bonanza which im sure is the big cost.Ive always thought that War of the worlds should want to make the viewer turn away,specially certain scenes.The book is truly shocking in parts and a film should capture this.Creeping......nauseating........Horrific.
|
|
FALLINGSTAR
Been Here a while!
Zippy, George, Geoff and Bungle....Hey everyone...it's RAINBOW!
Posts: 222
|
Post by FALLINGSTAR on Jun 4, 2009 22:49:03 GMT 1
War of the worlds is a horror story.a human tragedy.Capturing the 'creepiness' of the story i think is a must.Victorian england also.This is a story that should make your flesh crawl.Difficult book to translate on to film some say.Dont mind slight re-writes as Jeff Wayne did it well.Its a special effects bonanza which im sure is the big cost.Ive always thought that War of the worlds should want to make the viewer turn away,specially certain scenes.The book is truly shocking in parts and a film should capture this.Creeping......nauseating........Horrific. That's what I've always said. There should be no skimping on the horror aspect of it [ though obviously it shouldn't be just a gorefest ] and the only way to do it is to have for instance the battle scenes be very hard hitting [ in a Saving Private Ryan sort of way - but obviously not WW2 ha! ]. People being heat rayed, choking on the black smoke [ those bits should be really sinister ]. |
|
FALLINGSTAR
Been Here a while!
Zippy, George, Geoff and Bungle....Hey everyone...it's RAINBOW!
Posts: 222
|
Post by FALLINGSTAR on Jun 4, 2009 23:21:09 GMT 1
If the encounter takes place a while before it could be something like the brother turns up at the narrators house one evening specifically to tell the narrator that he's been accepted to University/college to take a medical degree, they have a drink, chat and toast to what will hopefully become a successful career. I personally wouldn't make any encounter too eventful as that could be a bit too contrived and Hollywoodized, and the book is full of eventful bits anyway.
|
|
|
|
Post by silverlocusts on Jun 5, 2009 10:55:24 GMT 1
Just a thought building on the previous suggestion.
The brother could witness the eruptions on Mars with the narrator at Ogilvys observatory prior to returning to London and resuming his medical studies. After observing the eruptions there can take place a debate between the parties of existence of life on the planet with the brother using his medical knowledge to back up Ogilvys views that nothing human could survive on Mars. This exchange could be used to establish the relationship between the 2 at an early stage as well as using the one location to save on costs.
Personally I would wish for a different introduction or narrative as Wells opening passage has been used on nearly every version to date. Possibly reflecting on the might and scale of the British Empire and complacency of Victorian society, the exploitation of the colonies before the invasion and "the great dissillusionment"
Just my humble tuppence worth if its any help.
Can I take this opportunity to wish you the best of luck as you are a brave one taking this on as it will either end in plaudits or pitchforks.
|
|
|
|
Post by Commandingtripod on Jun 6, 2009 7:07:52 GMT 1
I had a thought to, perhaps at the start of the film we see a bunch of photographs of the narrator and the brother? Some of them as children, another at the Brothers graduation, etc.
|
|
|
|
Post by Notumyoaliketroftdonhere on Jun 7, 2009 14:02:02 GMT 1
Maybe its possible not to do it as a narrative but in 'first person',if you know what i mean.Following the book but more personal involvement with the main characters.War of the worlds fans are intelligent enough to read between the lines
|
|
|
|
Post by Lonesome Crow on Jun 7, 2009 16:05:50 GMT 1
War of the worlds is a horror story.a human tragedy.Capturing the 'creepiness' of the story i think is a must.Victorian England also.This is a story that should make your flesh crawl.Difficult book to translate on to film some say.Don't mind slight re-writes as Jeff Wayne did it well.Its a special effects bonanza which i'm sure is the big cost.Ive always thought that War of the worlds should want to make the viewer turn away,specially certain scenes.The book is truly shocking in parts and a film should capture this.Creeping......nauseating........Horrific. That is one of the problems with Spielberg's version, he kept the horror and violence down so it would get a 12 certificate, If the Victorians could take a bit of horror and gore I think we should be able to stand a bit as well. P.S. Welcome aboard 'theCurate' nice to have you with us again.  |
|
|
|
Post by Notumyoaliketroftdonhere on Jun 7, 2009 19:33:24 GMT 1
Many thanks Lonesome.I will endeavour to keep to the mad ramblings of a clergyman trapped in a ruined house.I clocked that Loz from Liverpool is on here...Hi Loz  |
|
|
|
Post by coutelier on Jun 12, 2009 16:34:55 GMT 1
The Future is Wild was an awesome show... I've got it. Although I questions some things about it, like how mammals became extinct. But anyway: The major flaw in the Spielberg version for me was the complete lack of suspense... aliens coming down in lightning etc. In the novel, the Martians take their time and it only slowly dawns on the humans that they're facing an invasion. At first its just a meteorite, then there are men trapped inside, then a grotesgue and quite aggressive blob, but its okay because the blob can't really go anywhere. Then the hammering from the pit and finally the true horror of the Martian machines unveiled during the storm... awesome, awesome stuff. Budget is still a concern for me. You wouldn't want it turning into something resembling another one of Terry Gilliams fiascos... there's a director who I'm afraid just doesn't understand anything about costs |
|
