This is the 1953 original, by the way. I think I'll just put the year in brackets after the movie name of it's a remake. I'm still not sure what I'll do for two movies with the same name, but I expect I'll just leave them, or clarify it in the review - or maybe just the review of the one I like less, so that I don't have to pretend it exists when I write about my favoured one (cough 'The Host' cough).
It's fast paced for the 50s, though it takes some time to start. I totally forgive it that, though, as alien invasion movies always need to set up for a while before the actiony payoff. As far as I'm concerned, it's the opposite problem from what many comedies suffer from (interesting intro but a dissapointing conclusion). For the limited budget and the effects of the time, the action sequences really are compelling, despite some of the narrative being told via voice over as we see old WW2 footage with Martian sounds added.
All the shots are great, though. Such low angles, showing off the Martian's size and power, coupled with some great sound effects as they shoot their death rays. The bright colours associated with the martians (especially their tri-coloured eyes and bright skin) contrasts wonderfully with the toned down dirty humans. Many scenes are black and white (often because of the use of stock footage), which works nicely.
Like the book, the movie ended quite abruptly. That's sort of the point, but it was only briefly explained too, and felt awkward enough to draw my attention. It's clearly the American version of the story, as it takes place in California (I think) rather than England, and has really weirdly strong, awkward, religious tones at the end. Surely that the aliens were killed off by Earth diseases was a miracle of evolution (an eventuality, even) rather than a miracle pooped out by a god. At one point they even drop a nuke on the aliens (they use their magic shields though so it doesn't work out) which is a favoured catchphrase of theirs.
It's a true classic, and while it has many differences from the book (which I'd say was better - sorry), it's one of the best invasion movies I've ever seen.
The War of the Worlds: 70.4