War of the worlds

[Loosehead]

Saw the latest attempt at this the other day, can anyone explain what the red weed was all about? I haven't read the book, perhaps there is more detail there.

[LeMarchand]

I was under the impression that the invaders were using it as part of a terraforming plan - to shape the Earth into something that resembled their planet, and would be more compatible with their needs.

The movie gives the impression that human blood was a component in the weed (not sure if this is the case in the novel). Strange how they knew enough about Earth biology to do that, but not enough to know about bacteria...

[Shipstabber]

I thought it more strange that, despite their advanced technology and superior intellect, the only form of surveillance equipment they had was a camera on the end of a tube.

[jno]

wonder why they didn't take over the planet thousands of years ago, when they first sent the ships here.

Wonder why Tom Cruise's buttered bread sticks to the window on the unbuttered side.

[seal!]

I wonder how the "Tri-pods" weren't discoverd before, do people not dig holes?

[kags]

The book doesn't give much more information about the red weed really - I always thought it was a bit of an analogy for the take over of humankind by the martians - the weed they brought with them was taking over the plant-life of the earth at the same time. The blood element was invented by Spielberg I think. I saw the film with a group of people, and only a couple of us had read the book - the ones who hadn't didn't really understand the film. I think that Spielberg has probably not done a very good job if the film doesn't stand up on its own, but it was very spectacular. I am still not sure how Tom Cruise's car survived when the plane landed on the house and flattened everything except the car on the drive!

[HAnn521]

and....what about the obviously un-thought-out aspect of the film where the mother, brother (son) and grand-parents all seem to be completely fine when Cruise arrives at their home, like nothing ever happend there! ha

[seal!]

Too right HAnn521, also, where the first Tri-pod comes up from the ground, the police man says something like, "there arn't any water pipes around here", then when it comes up, it stands on a fire hydrant and water goes everywhere.

[Alf]

I thought it was because the martians were from Mars (obviously), the Red Planet and HG Wells had to think of something that would give Mars its red look - hence the weed. 

[SurferChick1]

couldn't understand how, when the tripods first appeared, it was caught on camcorder...no cars, lights, watches, (pacemakers?) televisions, toasters or radios worked.....must have been magic.....

[jno]

funny thing is Alf nobody mentions Mars in the movie or explains where they've come from. Mustn't offend innocent Martians. This is political correctness gone mad!

[Backdrifter]

Looking at this thread reminds me that there are some truly pathetic nitpicking pedants out there when it comes to films. And if you are going to nitpick, do it accurately. The bread doesn't stick by its unbuttered side.