One ugly Martian

Check out the great concept art on Jeff Wayne's War Of The Worlds site for a Martian from his proposed CGI movie.

Dark Horse comics War Of The Worlds continues

Well worth a visit to the Dark Horse comics site to see their War Of The Worlds material including an on-going free re-telling of the original novel.

Amazing concept art

The CG Channel website has an interview with War Of The Worlds (Spielberg/Cruise version) graphic designer Ryan Church. The story has some simply fantastic pre-production art from the movie.

Ice lake snapped on Mars

An amazing photograph of a lake of ice has been snapped by the European Mars Express spacecraft. Make sure to click on the "image" link for a fantastic larger image here at space.com

Jeff Wayne article in Soundonsound magazine

I've not seen this yet, but the August issue of SoundOnSound magazine (UK magazine) has a 9 page article on Jeff Waynes War Of The Worlds. This looks to be a "proffesional" magazine on the music sound industry, so expect a pretty heavy article.

War Of The Worlds model kits

Comet Miniatures have released three very nice looking War Of The Worlds model kits, one from the Jeff Wayne version, one from the George Pal version and one that has a "victorian" look. Very neat.

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter launch date set

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter which will study the planet in unheard of detail has been set a launch window beginning August 10th.

House approves Mars Plans

The House Of Representatives has passed approval on plans to return American astronauts to the Moon and Mars. The bill passed 383-15 but NASA still has to compete with other agencies for a slice of the budget pie.

Mars not warm enough for life

A report published in the science journal Nature suggests that the planet never warmed up enough for life to have a chance. Scientists studied meteors ejected from the surface of Mars which then crashed to earth. Details here.

Pengragon War Of The Worlds reviewed

My thoughts on the Pendragon War Of The Worlds movie are now available.

First WOTW dvd news

Aint It Cool News is reporting some news from a panel at the huge comic-con convention that featured behind the scenes material on the making of Speilbergs War Of The Worlds and word that the DVD will include a 3 minute sequence of Tripods in action that was dropped from the cinema release.

Big Mars Decisions

Nasa Administrator Michael Griffin is due to report his proposals to get man to Mars but is facing considerable opposition from those who believe NASA and space exploration would be best served with unmanned missions. More here at the ft.

What are the Radio Mechanics?

Good question. The answer is a rather great looking short movie (just 19 minutes) that tells of a late night talk radio host confronted by the possibility that his broadcast is going to trigger the end of the world. You can download a trailer from the official site and buy the DVD which I hope to be reviewing in full at a later date.

War Of The Worlds TV Series

Not a spielberg series I have to say, but something is in development (which means the chances are really slim it will ever happen) based on the Best Sellers illustrated comic. The series will take the series idea of a group of new yorkers fighting back against the Martians.

Russia shooting for Mars

The Times is carrying a report that Russia is looking for volunteers to spend many long months locked in an isolation chamber in preperation for their planned mission to Mars. Reading this article, you have to wonder if its really a plot for an especially nasty reality TV show.

War Of The Worlds get political

British film censors are coming under fire from a conservative member of Parliment for giving War Of The Worlds a 12a certification. This means that any age can see the movie, just that 12 years and under need to be accompanied by an adult. As I have already commented in my review, I certainly would not consider bringing my 7 year old daughter anywhere near this very disturbing (but quite brilliant) film. Conservative MP Mike Penning is asking the culture secretary to reveal the names of the censors involved in the decision. Loathe though I am to lend my support to a conservative politician, I have to admit I think this was a bad decision.

Fantastic new War Of The Worlds book

I love this concept. Set in the same period of the book, it follows the adventures of a soldier trying to get home to his wife. The artist has used computer graphics to create some stunning authentic looking photographs of the attack. Get a look at the fantastic images here.

New Mars SF series

Interesting news of a science fiction series in the works from the pen of Stephen Gallagher. Set on a Mars where a colonisation program has come to an abrupt end and is left unfinished, with a few scattered people left on the red planet. More here.

War of the Worlds tops $21m on opening day

Not the greatest opening in history for sure, but certainly impressive. This makes it Cruise's personal best opening. The film made about 35 million globally.