A real Martian invasion

The Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) has advised NASA to beware of the risks of going to Mars. MEPAG reported that, "The most significant risk identified is that associated with the possibility of transporting a replicating life form to Earth, where it is found to have a negative effect on some aspect of the Earth's ecosystem." A beautifully worded way of saying the entire human race may end up dying in terrible agony of some horrible Martian microbe.

Dark Horse comics War Of The Worlds online

A great looking comic book adaptation of The War Of The Worlds is been published online in regular weekly instalments at the Dark Horse Comics site. This freely available production is in support of several intriguing sounding sequels to The War Of The Worlds, the latest of which is due to be published soon. Scarlet Traces and The Great Game speculate what might have happened after the Martian invasion and how Victorian England might have reverse engineered the captured Martian technology left behind after their defeat. Check out the comic here.

Not looking good for Hines War Of The Worlds

The version of The War Of The Worlds directed by Timothy Hines is not doing too well in regard to reviews. I've yet to see it myself, but Amazon and other reviews sources are pretty uniformly negative, citing everything from poor effects to bad acting.

Video from UK premiere including Cruise soaking

You can watch footage of Cruise at the UK premiere here at National Nine News in Australia. I don't mind the rich and famous getting wrong footed in the pursuit of humour when the joke is a good and sophisticated one, but this was pretty purile stuff and does nothing for the UK's reputation. Pretty sad really.

Clues at London premiere

There is a very intriguing photograph at the BBC website. Is this one of the alien invaders?

4 arrested at Cruise premiere

In what appears to be a joke perpertrated by members of a television comedy show, Tom Cruise was skirted with water from a fake microphone at the London premiere of War Of The Worlds. Four men were arrested for the alledged assault.

Tom Cruise given a soaking at premiere

It appears Tom Cruise was fired on by a water pistol waving person at his London Premiere. Nothing to be seen of it here, but there are pictures from the premiere up at the BBC site.

First look at concept art for War Of The Worlds

MSN has an amazing looking piece of concept art up for Spielberg's War Of The Worlds. Click here to see the scene where the Tripods attack the ship, much featured in the trailers but this may give us a clear indication of how cool this scene may be.

New War Of The Worlds trailer

An internet exclusive trailer is available to view at Yahoo Movies. In keeping with the campaign to date, the trailer gives away a few more tantalising glimpses of the alien tripods.

2nd Mars Express Boom deployed

New Scientist magazine is reporting that the 2nd of two booms on the european Mars Express spacecraft has been deployed. Both booms (the first was deployed some time ago) have been a problem for mission managers because of worries that they might not deploy fully. If sucessful, the Mars orbiting craft may be able to start prospecting for signs of water within the next week.

First War Of The Worlds review

Aint It Cool News has a first review of War Of The Worlds from the German premiere. This is pretty safe to read as it is not so much a review as a general impression, so you won't be getting any spoilers to speak of. (Paramount are not terribly keen on any reviews appearing prior to the release at the end of this month). As reviews go, this is a very positive one.

German War Of The Worlds Premiere

Spielberg's War Of The Worlds had it's German premiere last night. The German title is Krieg der Welten which is essentially War Of The Worlds. The German site Prosieben has a mass of material including video and photos from the premiere.

Tit-bits of plot from Japan

This "review" which is dignifying the term does lets slip a few very minor points. Read it here at Yomiuri.

Rivers on Mars

21 new rivers have been identified on Mars by the Mars Odyssey probe. More details can be found here.

War Of The Worlds running time set

The official running time for War of the Worlds is 117 Minutes (1 Hour and 57 Minutes).

Spielbergs War premieres in Japan

War Of The Worlds has had it's world premiere in Japan. The director and his stars were on hand for the event, at which Spielberg revealed "the first tripod is killed in Osaka." Here is a round up of links to pictures from the premiere.
rediff.com
News 24
BBC
And a great selection here at eve of the war.

New Japanese TV Spots

You can view two new Japanese Television spots for the Spielberg War Of The Worlds movie here.

Aurora spotted on the Red Planet

Europe's Mars Express spacecraft has spotted an Aurora on Mars. BBC news has more here.

New TV Spot for Spielberg War Of The Worlds

Another TV spot has airred featured some tantilising new glimpses of the Martians and the Red Weed. Check it out here at the Moviebox.

International Premiere Dates Announced

Spielbergs War Of The Worlds will premiere in the following cities and dates.
Japan – June 13th in Tokyo
Germany – June 14th in Berlin
France – June 17th in Marseilles
United Kingdom – June 19th in London
Spain – June 21st in Madrid
USA – June 23rd in New York

Phoenix Mars Mission approved

NASA has approved a new mission to Mars for 2007. Unlike recent missions, The Phoenix lander is a stationary device intended to land on the northern plains and conduct extensive investigations into the Martian soil with a long robotic arm. More info can be found here.

Hitachi War Of The Worlds site

Hitachi has launched a War Of The Worlds site as part of their global tie-in with Spielberg's War Of The Worlds movie. Some interesting promotional material to be found on the site.

War Of The Worlds rated PG13

Spielberg's War of the Worlds has received a rating of PG-13 for “Frightening Sequences of Sci-Fi Violence and Disturbing Images."

Japan premiere confirmed

Paramount have released a statement clearing up the confusion at the reported cancellation of the Japansese premiere.

Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds starring Tom Cruise will be having its world premiere in Tokyo, Japan on Monday 13 June, Stewart Till, Chairman and CEO of UIP confirmed today in London.

The cancellation mistakenly reported today was simply a change of venue. UIP Japan had originally planned the world premiere at the Budokhan however then decided sometime ago to relocate to the Virgin Roppongi given its more central and convenient location.

Paul Takaki, President of UIP Japan said today that he is extremely proud to be hosting the world premiere and looks forward greatly to welcoming Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning to Japan for this spectacular event on 13 June.

Tom Cruise will continue the promotion of War of the Worlds through Europe with premieres in Berlin, Marseille, London and Madrid. War of the Worlds opens worldwide on June 29.

NASA's Opportunity breaks free

After spending several months trapped in a crater, the Opportunity rover has inched it's way free of a dust filled crater. Controllers will spend several days accessing the rovers position before continuing the incredible trek across the Martian surface.

Japan Premiere still on for War Of The Worlds

The Spielberg/Cruise War Of The Worlds movie was reported by ABC News to have been cancelled due to security considerations. Some 7000 people apparently won the right to see the movie several weeks ahead of it's western premiere. However, Paramount via their webmaster program for the movie are denying the cancellation and promise an update on the situation soon.

New Pendragon War Of The Worlds trailer

The final Pendragon trailer is out now on the How Stuff Works site. I can't say it fills me full of hope. The effects are extremely variable, and the acting has a desperately amateur feeling to it. Lets hope its just a bad trailer. They are really trying for period authenticity and perhaps disjointed scenes in isolation do not do it justice, but judge for yourself here.

Steve fought the law and Steve won

Steven Spielberg has banned a British judge from a private advance screening of The War Of The Worlds. The Judge bought the opportunity at a charity aution for several thousand dollars, only to recieve a cease and desist order from UIP, who had given away the prize only to have it vetoed by Spielberg.