''The War of The Worlds'' (2005)

By Crusader1307

HG Wells' 1898 ''Classic'' Novel ''The War of The Worlds'' - has since it's inception, sparked the imagination (and fears) of countless generations. The Tale, written by Wells with an almost ''Furturist'' insight - tells the tale of an Alien Invasion of Earth by ''Forces'' from The Planet Mars. Earth is nearly wiped out by the hyper advanced weaponry brought to Earth by The Martians. The ''invader'' is defeated by the most simplistic of Earth's eco-systems - a Virus (one by which Mankind had long since developed thru evolution a defense against, but one in which The Alien Martians had none). Since it's inception, The Novel has been ''made into'' countless films, television series et al. One of the most ''remembered'' being the 1953 Version with it's Classic (and Campy) Special Effects by George Pal.

In 1938 (October 31st of that year - no less), with most (then) unfamiliar with Wells or His Novel, American Radio and Screen Actor Orson Welles gather His Radio Performers and began to act a erformance for National Radio. But as the ''Show'' was broadcast on The East Coast of The Country (time delayed), coupled with the fact most Listeners tuned in late (and did did not hear the ''warning announcent'' of the Show being a ''drama) caused uncounted thousands (perhaps millions) to tune in thinking that The United State was ACTUALLY under physical attack by ''Alien Invaders''. The resulting ''psychosis'' so so tangible, that Weles was even summoned before The US Congress to ''explain Himself''. The resulting ''hype'' was (perhaps) one on the earliest examples of ''UFO Hyping'' known to Modern Times.

American Director Steven Spielburg in 2005 decided to make ''His'' version of the Classic Sci-Fi Thriller. A massive special effects piece, this version of ''War of The Worlds'' was actually somewhat ''quasi faithful'' to the source book, but posed a more plausible scenario for The Alien Invasion. As such, the 2005 version is often cited as ''excellent'' in that regard. Some argue the screen presence of American Action Star Tom Cruise as being distracting, but all in all ''War of The Worlds'' is an enjoyable if not believable take on the Classic ''Martian Invasion'' genre, which began around the beginning of The UFO Craze of The 1950s.