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War Of The Worlds: Fact verses Fiction
A new Alien invasion is coming courtesy of a legitimate sci-fi master. Steven
Spielberg is about to unleash an Alien assault on Earth in his latest film, “War
of the Worlds.” Because Spielberg is not known for sequels or remakes, this film
is going to be very unique and may just set the stage for a whole new generation
of sci-fi entertainment. The first thing I like about it is that it takes the
moviegoer inside the story. This is a Spielberg trademark.
When the shark attacked in Jaws, we were on the boat. While E.T. stayed at
Elliot’s house, we were there too. When the Aliens moved their ship above Roy
Neary’s electric truck and gave him that famous sunburn in Close Encounters of
the Third Kind, we were in the truck as well. However, this film takes things a
step further. War of the Worlds takes place in our world, not some unfamiliar
past or vague future. The film makes you feel like a contestant on Survivor.
The television reality show feel of this film is what makes it something new. In
this case, new is good, very good! The Sci-Fi film genre has been languishing
over the past few years from an overdose of special effects combined with
mediocre story lines that have left moviegoers uninspired. ‘War of the Worlds’
has the same potential to inject some life into sci-fi entertainment that ‘The
Matrix’ did when the first installment hit the screens a few years ago.
There is little doubt that this movie will generate some major box office
numbers, however, what effect will it have on the way the public views the top
of Aliens? We celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the famous Orson Welles
1938 dramatized radio broadcast of ‘War of the Worlds’ in 1988. A number of UFO
conferences were held throughout the world that year to recognize the
anniversary. Many in the UFO research community felt and still feel this was a
mistake. Their concern, and it’s a legitimate one, is that the line between UFO
fact and fantasy becomes blurred anytime the entertainment world covers a
paranormal topic. They feel such ventures should be ignored or even discouraged.
I disagree.
When ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ appeared on movie screens in the late
1970’s, much of the film was based on real events. Noted UFO researcher,
scientist and Project Bluebook detractor, Dr. J.Allen Hynek, was a consultant to
the project. That Steven Spielberg film had a very positive effect on UFO
research. People who had simply dismissed UFOs out of hand took the time to take
a second look. Many who had believed the never ending stream of negative UFO
propaganda from a majority of the scientific community were now willing to
consider the possibility that Aliens may be visiting our Earth.
Most objective researchers involved with studying UFOs have no problem with
fictional entertainment projects based on information they present as fact. It’s
when Hollywood takes a factual UFO case or specific subject within the field and
distorts the truth that we get upset.
When ‘Intruders’ became a TV mini-series split into three episodes in 1992, most
UFO researchers were extremely optimistic about the project. Based on the
non-fiction book by UFO Abductions researcher and noted Artist, Budd Hopkins,
the mini-series had a deep well from which to draw from when it came to
fascinating material. Unfortunately, the film turned out to be a drab melodrama
that largely mocked the UFO Abductions Investigator character based on Budd and
tried to create some sort of conspiratorial theme that just didn’t exist in the
book.
One can understand the treatment that ‘Intruders’ received because it was
directed by Dan Curtis. Famous for his ‘Dark Shadows’ vampire soap opera of the
1960’s and 1970’s, Curtis is a legitimate force to be reckoned with when it
comes to covering horror and fantasy on film. Sadly, he lacked the Spielberg
touch of being able to marry fact and fiction without distorting most of the
fact. It was when Spielberg dropped the ball with a UFO fact-based series that I
got upset.
I have always believed that real facts about UFOs, the paranormal and the
unexplained are far more interesting then any fictional stories I have ever come
across. That’s exactly why Hollywood has borrowed from actual events involving
these topics to create some of the most exciting and profitable fictional film
and television projects of all time. It’s when filmmakers try to create a hybrid
of reality mixed with fantasy and sell it as fact that things go bad and the
public is misled.
Steven Spielberg was the executive producer of the 2002 mini-series entitled
’Taken.’ The ten episode project was based on the fascinating theme of
multi-generational UFO abductions and possible government involvement or
intervention with them. The problem I have with this series is that it
over-stepped and blurred the line between fact and fiction. The promotions for
the series and the episodes themselves left viewers with the impression that
what was being presented was factual in nature. In reality, the series was based
more on the various theories surrounding the subject of UFO Abduction and the
government cover-up of that activity then the facts themselves.
According to the ratings, ‘Taken’ was not the success that I believe those who
created it had hoped for. Given the fact that a fascinating subject was
distorted and left to drown in a sea of pessimistic drama, that is no wonder.
It’s one thing to take amazing facts and build a fascinating story around them,
but quite another to alter those facts to create something that doesn’t even
begin to resemble the truth and sell it as fact.
‘War of the Worlds’ keeps it simple. The film takes the concept of Aliens
visiting the Earth and examines what would happen if they have hostile
intentions and decide to take the Conquistador approach. It creates an all out
invasion scenario similar to the theme that ‘Independence Day’ was based on. As
far as truth goes, I’m afraid that any real hostile Aliens from an advanced
civilization that might desire to control our world would gain the upper hand
through subtle and far more sinister processes unimaginable to us.
I recommend ‘War of the Worlds.’ As sci-fi entertainment, it’s a stand-out film
that will take you away from drab reality for a few hours and propel you into an
exciting story you will want to experience more then once. As a sci-fi film
based on the subject of Aliens, it does no harm to the factual study of Aliens
and reminds us all that we are not alone.
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Title: War Of The Worlds: Fact verses Fiction
Topic: Entertainment News
Author: Bill Knell
Author's Email: billknell@cox.net
Author's Website: http://www.billknell.com
Author's Phone: 480-632-7909
Word count : 1127
Terms To Use Article: Permission is granted to use this article for free online
or in print. Please add a link to or print my website address: http://www.billknell.com
- Born in NYC in 1956; lived in NY, Florida and Arizona- Began reading about the
Paranormal in 1965 at age 9- Participated in his first UFO investigation at age
11- Personally investigated thousands of unexplained events- Presented first
seminar at 15; presented over 1500 to date- Seen on hundreds of television
programs worldwide- Heard on over 1000 top rated radio programs worldwide-
Featured in hundreds of influencial publications worldwide- Written and produced
over forty Paranormal documantaries- Author of hundreds of articles about the
Unexplained- Experienced two UFO sightings in 1988 & 1991 (in NY)- Former MUFON
New York State Assistant Director- Founder of Island Skywatch and The New York
UFO Report- Consultant to 'The X Files' and major Hollywood films
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