The War of the Worlds (1953)

The War of the Worlds

• Hold the presses here. You’re telling me that this was made in 1953? A film this high in quality and production? Ladies and gentlemen, please tip your hats to the cast and crew. I think that opening sums up what I have to say about this. I’m just amazed. First off, I haven’t read the novel by H.G. Wells, so I’m rating the film, not the way it’s adapted. Just under 90 minutes in length, I think it’s the most perfect runtime for this kind of film, especially in the time it was made. You have just enough time to learn the characters and get a sense of the surrounding, and then boom, everything starts to happen. You don’t have to wait for the Martians to show up, it just happens, and from there forward, it’s a (mostly) quick paced story that turns into a full blown horror film. It almost feels like a long, Technicolor episode of ‘The Twilight Zone’. It starts very lighthearted and colorful, and as it goes forward, it becomes more dystopian and almost apocalyptic. Especially the third act, it’s almost horrifying, and I soaked up every second. The acting helps keep it strong, with two great performances from Gene Barry and Ann Robinson, and a good supporting role from Les Tremayne. The highlight of the film was the special effects, which were among the best I’ve ever seen for a film of its time. Again, 1953. Early days of special effects, and they turned out FANTASTIC. They won the Oscar for Visual Effects before that Oscar was even invented, that’s how impressive they were. The designs of the Martians and the ships were flawless, fun, and feel straight out of a comic book. Absolutely iconic. Lastly, the score fit the tone beautifully, and provided some nice moments while still being very action-y. Overall, this film is near perfect, and one of the best sci-fi’s I’ve seen in my life. It’s fun, entertaining, and feels like a comic come to life. I would recommend it to everyone. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go watch it now!