The Great Martian War 1913–1917

The Great Martian War
1913–1917

Promotional poster
Genre Alternate History
Science Fiction
Based on The War of the Worlds 
by H. G. Wells
Written by Steve Maher
Stephen Sarossy
Directed by Mike Slee
Starring Jock McLeod
Joan Gregson
Ian Downie
Thomas Gough
Narrated by Mark Strong
Country of origin Canada, United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
Production
Producer(s) Michael Kot
Steve Maher
Mike Slee
Cinematography Christopher Romeike
Running time 120 minutes
Release
Original network History (European TV channel)
Original release 8 December 2013
External links
Website

The Great Martian War 1913–1917 is a 2013 Canadian/UK made-for-television science fiction film docudrama, produced by Michael Kot, Steve Maher, and Mike Slee, and also directed by Mike Slee, that unfolds in the style of an episode from the History TV Channel. The film is, as presented, an alternate history of World War I in which Europe and its allies, including America, fight Martian invaders instead of Germany and its allies. The film is based on the 1897 science fiction novel The War of the Worlds, by English author H. G. Wells, and includes both new and digitally altered film footage shot during the War to End All Wars to establish the scope of the interplanetary conflict. The film's original UK broadcast on 8 December 2013 happened during the first year of the World War I centennial; the film's 2014 US cable TV broadcast during the second year followed almost nine months later.

Plot

Combining period archive materials with state-of-the-art special effects, The Great Martian War 1913–1917 features interviews with now aging war veterans while looking back at the entire sweep of the interplanetary conflict. The war begins in the depths of Germany's Bohemian Forest, following a massive explosion and shock wave that is felt by the rest of Europe. The German army is sent to investigate and is wiped out. The German government then makes a panicked appeal for military assistance in fighting what turns out to be a powerful, non-human invading force from Mars.

As the conflict unfolds, the film showcases the devastation of Western Europe, where a rag-tag human alliance digs in against monstrous Martian fighting machines, unaware that deep flaws exist in their military leadership's central battle strategy. Across the Atlantic, the film shows the political battle for the White House as president Woodrow Wilson struggles to maintain U. S. neutrality, all the while sending aid to the beleaguered European alliance. From the skies over central London, where bi-planes battle a towering alien tripod, to the war’s catastrophic final act, the Allies, now standing on the brink of total defeat by the alien invaders, must decide if launching an untested and potentially devastating secret weapon is worth risking the lives of millions and causing a global pandemic.

Exploring the war's events are two modern historians with opposing views about the conflict's many controversies. They most especially disagree on an incendiary new discovery centered around the notorious and uncrackable "Martian Code", a vast century old cache of alien documents seized after the conclusion of the war. These documents now appear to contain the direst of warnings that the war is only paused and far from over.

Main cast

The film is narrated by Mark Strong.

Reception

One film reviewer found the film gripping and "not only fascinating to watch, but very realistic right to the very end."[1] Another reviewer commented that the film may be "best described as an interesting curiosity."[2] According to a reviewer for Postmedia News, the film is "a novelty, but an inventive and surprisingly engaging novelty."[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Woodham, Karen (3 August 2014). "Great Martian War 1913–1917 [Review]". BlazingMinds. Retrieved 5 December 2014. External link in |work= (help)
  2. ↑ Bowling, Dave (15 December 2013). "TV Review: FTN reviews The Great Martian War 1913–1917". FollowingTheNerd. Retrieved 5 December 2014. External link in |work= (help)
  3. ↑ Strachan, Alex (5 December 2013). "TV Thursday: The Great Martian War a deft trip back in time". Postmedia News. Retrieved 6 December 2014.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, August 13, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.