War of the Worlds

[milly143]

Why is the War of the Worlds film set in America? It was set in London for heavens sake. Stupid Americans have to take over everything!

[secretsquiz]

i think you've answered your own question!

because a film set in america, starring americans and presumably having americans save the day at the end is much more marketable in america than a film set in (god forbid) another country!

[Shipstabber]

Are there any other countries?

[Rumford]

I also think that this film is seen as a remake of the 1956(?) George Pal film which was set in America, rather than a film of the original book.

It is true, nevertheless, that American settings/characters sell to Americans. You have only got to consider all the popular war films, e.g. Private Ryan, that only focus on American activity or even rewrite history to get an audience.

[tonymclark]

You only have to look at the few British films that are made these days, to realise they too have an American actor or two in the cast, to help sell it to the Yanks.

The new War of the Worlds film isn't exactly faithful to the book anyway, just "based on".

[jno]

As far as I know the book is out of copyright, which means the British could make it themselves if they wanted to and set it in Surrey where it was set. When Brits complain that British stories (war ones, for instance) have been made by Hollywood and mutilated, Americans' usual response is 'Well, why didn't you make it yourself then?' They do have a point.

[milly143]

yeah that is a good point but its not like I own a film studio or have a few million quid lying around.

[OBonio]

I heard the infamous opening words on the trailer the other week. They've even changed this to my horror. It's been dumbed down to suit the American market (like replacing 'immeasurably superior' to 'very much more' or something like that). Makes me sick. Why can't the yanks up their intellect to match the rest of the world?

[Mattk]

this film should still rock but i was very disappointed after i learnt it wasnt a film of the book.

why alter it ? the book would make for an excellent film.victorian man's struggle against immensely superior firepower

[LeMarchand]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Film-and-TV/Question119257.html for info on one that is allegedly "true to the novel" (but looks awful). Re Americans/actors: has anybody noticed that in "Batman Begins", a large proportion of the main cast are Brits/Irish playing Yanks?

[mystress]

Well, I have only two points to make,to show how the US messes things up in it's movies.

1.The movie?(recent) where an American Submarine retrieves the Enigma machine,whereas in reality it was a British sub.It seems(not surprising really) that many,many yanks now believe they really DID get the machine!

2.If you watch the (ghastly American) Miss Marple mysteries,starring Helen Hayes;you see the murder(and murderer) at the start;even though at the end Miss Marple explains whodunnit!Obviously the yanks just cannot follow that complicated a plot!

Enough said.(But I am sure you can all think of more to add to them?)

[magicbeatle]

I did hear somewhere that the Americans want to make a film about how they won the 'Battle of Britain'. I heard it would star Tom Cruise.

[jno]

I didn't mean you personally had to make it milly - but there are British studios and indy filmakers, there are actors and crew as good as any in the world... and they make Sex Lives of the Potatomen.

[jasoncrocker]

think about it milly143 it wouldnt be a good film if it was filmed in londen because there is nothing much you can smash around but in america it is a big coutry and lots of things that can be destroyed and it is a lot more scary quality xx

[OBonio]

Nothing to smash around in London? On what planet do you live?