Rating: 
Summary: Germ of an idea
Review: NASA had the sense to quarantine it's astronauts after the first moon landing and that was space travel in it's infancy. Are you seriously trying to tell me an advanced technological alien culture wouldn't have taken germs into consideration, especially in the light of their anaemia?What would the military do without Professor Forrester? "You'll need reinforcements", "we can't hold them, you'd better tell Washington!" Gosh, thanks, oh Professor of stating the bleedin' obvious. Next time you're wondering where the bread goes in the toaster, you'll know who to call for advice.
Rating: 
Summary: THE MOVIE? Woohoo! THE DVD? Uhm....well.....
Review: Wow! One would think, given the fact that this is a bonofide classic movie, that the people at Paramount would've given this DVD release just a little bit more attention than they did. How ironic that the 50's technology that brought this cool film to the screen far outshines the present day technology used to put it on a DVD. I sometimes hafta wonder if some of those who are in charge of actually putting these things together don't have a clue as to what place certain flicks hold in cinema history and just lets this stuff slide. Someone was definitely asleep at the wheel with this DVD release.
I'd picked this up hoping to be treated to a near to a total archival print of this film but what was contained on this disc was very reminiscent of what you'd see on the television at 3am, just minus the commercials. The print is fairly scratchy and lacking clarity in parts, that if you don't hold high quality expectations or want to just casually view it, then you might be satisfied with this purchase, as it is definitely watchable on that level. However, if you're expecting a wonderfully clean film print with bright, vivid 50's Technicolor, you will be sorely dissappointed when you stop to think that so much more could've been had given the DVD medium (insert tears & violin strings here--;-). And anyone who's seen this film can tell you, it's a wildly colorful flick that needs to be seen in all of its glory for the full effect. I'd hafta say that the slickest that you'll see this as far as this DVD is concerned is via the box art. The art looks pretty cool despite not having that 50's flair for drama & hype that's indicative of the period.
The poor product presentation aside, what else needs to be said about this classic sci-fi romp? Definitely fun escapism that just captures the 50's Atomic drama via an H.G. Wells update/adaption perfectly. The design of the war machines is still cool even today, and I remembered how fascinated I was by the look and the now classic sound effects as a kid and how I'd never missed a showing at the theater or convention. It's a definite nostalgia trip if you're an old school sci-fi geek like I. Even the occasionally showing SPFX strings that supported the war machines were then and still is a welcome sight. Digital FX nowadays are cool, and I love them, but there's just a little sumthin' about the limited SPFX of that time period (and actually, back then, this *was* state of the art as mentioned by other reviewers). And Anne Robinson's role of coffee server to the men 'in control' during a time of crisis was an ...uh....interesting, almost funny insight into society back then for sure ( I mean really, *THAT* was the best they could come up for her to do while the world was being annihilated? lol!) My how times have changed!
This is another favorite flick of mine. It stands up as entertainment through repeated viewings since not only is the story itself a classic, but here, the Martians land at the beginning of the film, so it literally starts off with a bang....or crash that is, and the ride starts from there. I hafta knock of a ratings point simply because of the lacking film transfer since casual AND serious viewers need to know what they're gonna get before putting down their hard earned cash for this. The film itself,on the other, hand gets FIVE STARS!
Rating:
Summary: Very Shabby DVD of the 1953 Sci-Fi Classic
Review: If you have a VHS version with which you are satisfied, hang on to it: the DVD release of 1953's WAR OF THE WORLDS is a slipshod and very shabby affair. Loosely based on the classic H.G. Wells novel, WAR OF THE WORLDS moves the original story from late 19th Century England to 1950s California, where a group of scientists confront an invasion from Mars. Arriving in meteor-like projectiles and sweeping across the landscape in strange, birdlike machines armed with death-rays, the Martians prove invincible to human attack. How can mankind survive? The great attraction of the film is its special effects, which is early 1950s state-of-the-art in its combination of rear-screen projections, miniatures, and truly imaginative design. But the film also has an additional interest, for it is very much of its time, presenting us with some of the most relentlessly stereotypical characters to ever reach the screen. This is particularly true in terms of gender roles, for seldom has any film before or after created such a hysteria-prone and clinging leading lady as Sylvia Van Buren, played here by the hapless Ann Robinson. Not only would the special effects and story prove tremendously influential, so too would the film's gender stereotyping. While the slightly earlier THE THING offered a strong female lead, THE WAR OF THE WORLDS would generally set the tone for every sci-fi leading lady well into the 1960s. But all of this is analytical criticism. We may hoot a bit at the incredibly broad performances, the frequently silly dialogue, and the truly ludicrous gender roles, but WAR OF THE WORLDS is a tremendous amount of fun to watch. It makes you want to break out a bag of popcorn and curl up with friends and family in true Saturday matinee fashion. And it is a great pity that the DVD release is so... well... dire. The DVD was transferred from a poor-condition print riddled with artifacts. In an effort to compensate for this, the technicians have toyed with the contrast, and as a result the picture quality varies from foggy to grainy--and in the process quite often reveals the wires used to manipulate the famous Martian machines. Adding insult to injury, the technicians have also fiddled with the color balance, often reducing the film's brilliant colors to a grayish hues. There are also problems with the sound; when I watched the DVD I found that the sound levels of several scenes were so faint I had to turn up the volume... and then, quite naturally, when the soundtrack returned to normal the blast almost blew me through the wall. It seems almost beside the point to note that there are no bonus features beyond the original movie trailer--which, sadly, is in better visual condition than the film itself. I purchased this DVD with the idea of replacing my VHS copy, but it was money wasted. Get the VHS and hope that someday someone will give this film the DVD release it deserves. --GFT (Amazon.com Reviewer)--
Rating: 
Summary: Classic science fiction (or not?)
Review: This was one of the truely great science-fiction films of our time. Still covented by DVD collectors, it takes us from the war of our land to unite us to a common foe. Brillantly acted and directed it managed to instill fear within us with only a glace of the enemy. Then at the end there is a moral significance as noted that the things that killed the enemy are the thing God put on the planet at creation. A must have for all collectors, buyers and sellers alike.
Rating:
Summary: In every way a movie for all time
Review: Enough has been said about the quality of the movie and the DVD transfer. They are excellent without reservation. And it is kind of fun to see the black threads used to hold up the martian ship models. Another element not visible in the VHS is the rays holding the ships up. If you recall the original novel, these machines moved on legs. They were not technically "flying" machines. Also, don't forget the story was originally an English one and the movie simply resets it to America. Therein is one of the problems in some of the other reviews. The Americans in this movie do not save the day. We are totally overwhelmed by the alien forces and have nothing to stop them. They are well on their way to conquest of the earth in spite of everything. Along the way the Americans are portrayed as looters, thieves, and people with no control over themselves in the face of catastrophe. Not a pretty picture. Ultimately, of course, the invaders are defeated by bugs. Americans and the rest of humanity (don't forget the novel and the movie have these machines landing all over the world) are saved by little microbes that we live with but never see. In some ways this is a story of the failure of human systems and second chances through an act of nature we have no control over. Its unspoken question is simply, "What will you make of this second chance?"
Rating:
Summary: Americans can loot too!
Review: Whoever was delighted by dirty war in Iraq are welcome to watch this movie. War between martians and brave americans is a reminder of war between americans and iraqis-kind of fight between Mohammad Ali and Mr. Rogers. Americans really should be proud that they won this war with devastated third world country and liberated looters and psychiatric patients. Congratulations!
I wish american invaders could die so easily and quickly as martians did in this movie!
Looters on the streets of New York, Common can americans do that?
I thought they were superior civilization in all respects.
For people who can think and enjoy sci-fi this movie is highly recommended.
Brain washed and brain dead should watch independence day!
Rating:
Summary: Dated special effects, but, still a classic!
Review: "War of the Worlds", (1953), is one of the first science-fiction films that had a really decent budget, and it is still enjoyable today. H. G. Wells book was set in the early 1900's England, and Orson Wells 1939 radio broadcast was set in present day New Jersey. This version is set in California, with Los Angeles playing a major setting. Although Orson Wells wanted to make a film version of the book, unfortunaly he has nothing to do with George Pal's movie. The film has special effects that are very good for it's day, as is to be expected from George Pal. The Martians Do look a little like "E.T.", although "E.T." was more rounded than these leaner looking aliens. Also, "E.T." had two eyes, and the Martians have a one eye with 3 parts, like a camera lens. The film starts with a narration by Sir Cedric Harwicke that says Mars is a dying planet and the Martians have to attack Earth in order to survive. He metions all of the other planets, execpt Venus. Venus is on the other side of the Earth, but, the omission of Venus must have raised some questions at the time of the movie's release. NOW we know that Venus is too hot to support any kind of life. The movie deals with the idea that humans have a tendecy to think of themselves as being superior to everything around them, but every now and then, people have to learn there place in the universe, and how GOD is really the Supreme Being. The film features a Northrop XB-49 jet-powered flying wing that was cancelled in favor of the Boeing B-52, but, later led to the Northrop B-2 "Spirit" flying wing. For the record, the propellor-driver flying disc; the Chance Vought XF5U-1 was cancelled, because jet aircraft made them obsolete. I wonder what would happen if anyone tried to build a jet-powered version of the XF5U-1? It's interesting to see the role bacteria play in the book, and movie, since we have learned there may be life on Mars, (and Europa), in the form of bacteria, and I hope a round trip from Earth to Mars, (or Europa), doesn't do to us, what happens in the film. "War of the Worlds" is a great, 1950's science-fiction that had elements of it used in "Independence Day" and "Mars Attacks" and other more recent movies, but, none of them are anywhere near as good as this one is. Although somewhat violent, there is nothing really objectionable to anyone, except the youngest of children.
Rating:
Summary: Great film for its time
Review: This Film is great and I love It.The specail effects are great and the action is nonstop. You dont have to be a SCifi person to love this movie. I recomend this movie.If you buy it you wont be despontied in the Film.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best Sci-Fi movies ever...
Review: Oscar winner of the Best Speical effects, this 1952 film adaptation of Wells' novel delivers lots of thrills, battle scenes, a atomic bomb attack and Ann Robinson screaming her head off. The tripods from the book have been replaced with swan-shaped warmachines with invisible legs and protective force fields.
I just wish that the film was longer, as it is only 85 minutes long, and that they had tried to update the story, giving it a better ending.
The DVD has few extras. Buy the video if you don't need to see the movie in French.
Rating:
Summary: Why Paramount?
Review: I recently saw this movie for the first time on VHS and was surprised at the many similarities I found associated with the blockbuster Independence Day. Still the story is pure fun in its own right, the special effects are quite special given the 1953 release date and the technicolor will blow you away - I couldn't wait to add this movie to my collection. Imagine my surprise when I found the VHS to be a 'better' transfer than the DVD. This transfer leaves much to be desired (dust) which is a pitty given the quality of the film and the effects that went into it. A let down from a studio that yields no extras and large price tags -PARAMOUNT in cost NOT quality.
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