User Reviews

Poor effects for BBC, lousy script, and confusing time jumps makes this a disappointing adaptation of a classic novel. Pity, i was looking forward to this. It's a very loose adaptation of the novel, even though they said it was going to be faithful to the source material. Characters are paper thin, even Robert Carlyle is dire as Ogilvy the astronomer. Basic plot is George and Amy move to Woking to avoid scandal as they are unweded and hes having an affair with her. His brother pushes him away and doesn't want know him unless he gives up his affair and goes back to his unloving marriage. Meanwhile...big meteor hits Horsel Common and crowds gather to see the object that's crashed into the lush English countryside. It goes downhill from here I'm afraid, as it detracts from the novel in stupid nonsensical ways. The cylinder that gave so much mystery and suspense, is replaced by a big black sphere!?!, these rise into the air and spin and vaporise anyone near, then they explode into pieces and that's the last you see of them! Next thing you know, Woking is being attacked by a massive tripod that came from nowhere, and 5 mins later they are attacking London!!! The reveal for these fighting machines that are not called fighting machines or even tripods, but are called creatures!!, is very underwhelming, as the first one you see rises up behind a church, and just looks bad really. The effects budget is not much, and looks more like one of those mockbusters produced by The Asylum. The heat rays are really poor, and are such a let down, as they are meant to be terrifying. Sets are bad, one example is when George is trapped under rubble from a blown up building, you can see all around that the buildings are totally intact, and theres a small set where they buried Him under polystyrene bricks and planks that he struggles out of lol. The time jumps are really confusing, as it keeps jumping from the start of the war, to long after it. I've not seen 2nd episode, but if its anything like episode 1, I'll not be watching.

I'm not sure what the producers - script writer and Director were thinking of when they made this - but clearly not of HG Wells' novel.

There's a dull turgid romance and pointless visits to the future which tell you what's going to happen thereby wiping out any and surprise and tension.

The CGI is ok in parts but the hapless Director has done his best to make it yawn inducing. It simply doesn't involve you.

Whenever there is a hint of any action - yep that's right - we're either transported back to future events or have to put up with yet more of the romance.

So we're up to episode two and we still haven't seen the aliens yet except for one leg followed by a Dr Who type Next Week trailer.

Laugh I nearly paid my licence fee

Well, in common with many other reviewers, I'm finding this "adaptation" less and less recognisable as the fondly remembered sci-fi classic of my schooldays. Even the Martian war machines are unrecognisable. They are too organic. They should be more steampunk in appearance. It was good to see the Army and Navy fighting back. Although what happened was no more than a nod in the direction of the original text. I did like the panorama of the beach scene. But the evacuation was straight out of Titanic. I knew we wouldn't get to see HMS Thunderchild, but the accurate shellfire of the battleships dealt with a couple of the invaders very satisfactorily. One irritating repetition, which may now have ceased, is the exaggerated pomposity of the representatives of the British Government. It is unbelievable that the War Minister would continue to think there was nothing to be worried about up to the point where his own offices are demolished! And even then, when running for his life, he gabbles on about getting hold of one of the machines in order to expand the boundaries of The Empire into outer space! Must Brits be continually mocked? I mean, we've given most of the Empire back to its rightful owners! Anyway, there's still too much aimless staring into space and musing with people walking in slow-motion in the background. Not forgetting the annoying circular tracking camera shot used to suggest panic or bewilderment. Oh, and am I picking up a plug for Extinction Rebellion's environmental concerns with the flash-forwards?

I'm sitting here trying to understand the point of hiring Gabriel Byrne other than to say he's in the show, because his parallel story line is both pointless, nonsensical and boring. He and his - I assume - ex wife have these little dramatic etudes amidst total death and destruction as if they don't have better things to talk about. Then there's the female scientist who's always fumbling around, tripping over things, disobeying direct orders during an apocalypse, and generally, playing the stereotypical hysterical female who's suppose to be a scientist. Then there's the shootout from the top of the grocery story where several military men are killed or wounded, and the shooters are anyone's guess. All this while some mechanical dog wanders around collecting bodies. I mean seriously, this couldn't be any worse.