by Holly Golightly

Created on: June 17, 2008

I have to say that I am not a great Sci Fi movie addict, but I was visually impressed with the remake of the 2005 Steven Spielberg's version with Tom Cruise and the wonderful young actress "Dakota Fanning" who plays Tom Cruises very distressed daughter in the remake.

The 1953 version starring Gene Barry and Ann Robinson (and not I dare say Anne Robinson from the Weakest Link fame) seems very tame compared to the version of 2005. More probably to do with the wonderful hi tech effects which we now have to aid a films performance.

Did you know that there was actually a War of the Worlds special played over the airwaves in 1938 by CBS Radio

This was directed and narrated by the late and very great, Orson Welles and to make things a bit more interesting and actually had listeners believing there was an actual martial invasion, the first half of the 60 minutes was presented as a series of news bulletins.

During the recording of Orson Welles journalistic monologue, some people actually fled their homes whilst others were just merely petrified by the whole thing.

Whilst this recording was actually depicted as cruelly deceptive by newspapers and public figures, the actual recording helped to launch Orson Welles career and at the same time making the recording the most well know dramatic production in history.

In 1976 another version of the War of the Worlds, this time done on CD, with "Richard Burton" playing the journalist and opening with the lines "no one would have believed, in the last years of the 19th Century, that human affairs were being watched...". The music to this particular recording was Forever Autumn by Justin Hayward, but other such artistes such as The Moody Blues, Phil Lynott from the group Thin Lizzy and Julie Covington, go to make this CD a must have in your collection.

Getting back to the comparing the original War of the Worlds with the 2005 remake, it has to be sped with the progress of time, the 2005 remake is obviously outstanding with its visual effects and bringing you up to date with the daily lives of people.

Both films carry their own weight with great magnificence with powerful performances by all actors and actresses in both versions.

The fact that the story by HG Wells himself is such a wonderfully written book goes to help make the film an even more stunning film.

To listen to the War of the Worlds on the radio though is definitely worth the effort. It had me thinking were we being attacked?

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