Tag Archives: alien invasion

Exploring the Depths of Invasion and Humanity: A Review of H.G. Wells’ Timeless Classic The War of the Worlds

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“The War of the Worlds” by H.G. Wells is a seminal work in the science fiction genre, masterfully blending imaginative storytelling with a haunting vision of a Martian invasion. Written in 1898, Wells’ novel was groundbreaking, not only for its innovative concept but also for its commentary on British imperialism and human vulnerability.

The narrative unfolds in Victorian England, thrust into chaos by the sudden arrival of technologically advanced Martians. Wells expertly crafts a tense and gripping story, narrated by an unnamed protagonist who witnesses the horrifying might and indifference of the invaders. The Martians, with their iconic tripod fighting machines and devastating heat-rays, embody a terror that is both fantastical and eerily plausible.

Character development in “The War of the Worlds” is subtle yet effective. The protagonist, a keen observer, offers insights into the varying reactions of people faced with unimaginable crisis – from paralyzing fear to selfless bravery. This focus on human responses rather than heroic exploits gives the novel a psychological depth, making it more than just an action-packed adventure.

Thematically, Wells delves into the human psyche, exploring themes of survival, the fragility of civilization, and the arrogance of humanity in the face of a superior force. His portrayal of the Martians as unstoppable conquerors serves as a stark critique of colonial attitudes prevalent in his time, making the novel profoundly thought-provoking.

Ratings:

  1. Originality: 5/5 – Wells’ vision of an alien invasion was innovative for its time, setting the foundation for much of modern science fiction.
  2. Thoughtfulness: 4.5/5 – The novel’s exploration of human nature and societal critique gives it a depth that transcends its genre.
  3. Entertainment: 4/5 – Its compelling narrative and suspenseful action make it a thoroughly engaging read.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

“The War of the Worlds” remains a timeless classic, its themes as relevant today as they were over a century ago. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in the origins of science fiction and a poignant reminder of the resilience and fallibility of humankind.

(Note: For those interested in this classic tale, consider using this Amazon affiliate link to purchase the book and support further book reviews.)

Falling Skies Season 3 Episode 3 Badlands

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The resistance is drowning in suspicion and fear in the third episode in the new season of TNT’s post apocalyptic tv show Falling Skies. With the constant threat of alien attack and possible traitors in their midst, the new city of Charleston is struggling to maintain some type of hope and order. The human survivors are facing a bleak situation for certain, but they’ve seen worse. If nothing else humans are tough and innovative, especially when backed into a corner. It’s just this sense of human perseverance that is brilliantly captured in Falling Skies that keeps me coming back for more episodes. Perhaps a redeeming quality for humankind: stubbornness, an absolute refusal to give up against all odds. Watch this episode through the TNT website here or on Amazon instant video here .

 

 

 

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Falling Skies Season 3 Premiere TNTs Alien Apocalypse

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The new season of TNT’s post apocalyptic tv series Falling Skies starts off at the resistance base in Charleston, North Carolina where a fairly large and bustling human community has been established in the remnants of America following a full scale alien invasion. The human resistance has found some unlikely allies in another alien species that has been similarly persecuted by the so called “overlords”. This new alien ally has given the resistance some advanced weapons and technology that will certainly help in the fight against the superior invading forces. The season premiere is divided into two episodes. Episode 1 is called On Thin Ice and you can watch it for free through Amazon instant video here. You can watch the second episode, titled Collateral Damage through the TNT website here or stream it through Amazon instant video here. These were good episodes. A nice little alien invasion apocalypse to balance out all of the zombie action as of late. 

Man of Steel

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You might be surprised to see a posting on the new Superman movie on a site dedicated to apocalyptic fiction but I felt compelled to make a short post about Man of Steel. Actually, you could argue that Man of Steel has an apocalyptic theme as General Zod and his crew make some legitimate attempts to destroy the world as we know it, but that’s really beside the point. What it boils down to is that this is a good movie and you should check it out! 

I’ve always been a Superman fan but up until now I’ve found the movies to be slightly corny and cliché. Man of Steel is clearly a reinvention of Superman. We are talking a major reinvention on par with and exceeding Batman’s transformation in the Dark Knight movies. On top of a “grittier” and more realistic Superman character we get a lot more detail on the destruction of Krypton and the events that lead up to the creation of the superhero. The action and special effects are monumental. You get the sense that the technology has caught up with the story. In other words, the special effects that were available in the previous Superman movies weren’t good enough to be convincing. This is evident in the fight scenes which are simply mind-blowing. If you’ve seen The Avengers, think of the scenes when The Hulk smashes his enemies into the ground and you will get a sense of how awesome the fight scenes are in Man of Steel. Of course, the movie isn’t perfect. Some of the relationships are superficial, including the relationship between Lois Lane and Superman but I’m willing to overlook that type of thing and think it is to be expected in a two-hour blockbuster movie. Do yourself a favor this summer and make some time to go to see Man of Steel.

Battleship

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The world is under a threat from a superior alien force in Battleship, an apocalyptic action movie now available on DVD. A display of modern naval prowess in a joint multi-nation warfare exercise happens to coincide with the landing of an alien invasion force. Without a doubt, Battleship follows a “Top Gun” format, featuring some big attitudes, competitive rivalries and a typical blockbuster romance. That being said, Battleship is a really enjoyable apocalyptic action movie. You aren’t going to find award-winning acting or a strong plot but you will find some good special effects and a lot of destruction. Sometimes it’s ok to just have fun – that’s just what this movie provides!

The Falling Skies Season 2 Finale

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In the Season 2 Finale of TNT’s alien invasion series Falling Skies, A More Perfect Union, the human resistance has an opportunity to strike at the heart of the alien leadership and to disrupt their operations on the post apocalyptic Earth. The ending is a real cliffhanger with the brief introduction to a new alien species…are they friend or foe? Watch the Falling Skies Season 2 finale on TNT’s website by clicking here or on Amazon instant video through the link below:

 

Falling Skies Episode 17 Molon Labe

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The unpredictability of human actions turns out to be an advantage when dealing with purely logical aliens. The human emotional wildcard always seems to spoil wicked plans, at least that is the case in the latest episode of Falling Skies, Molon Labe. The human resistance against the alien invasion is able to capture one of the so-called “masters” that seem to be at the top of the alien hierarchy. Unfortunately, the aliens have some new tricks up their sleeves as they are willing to go to great lengths to save their leader. This is the best episode yet. They scaled back on the drama and went full throttle with the action. In fact, the action/battle scenes are very well done and are nearly as good as scenes from a blockbuster movie. Watch this episode through TNT’s website here or you can get on Amazon through the link below:

Molon Labe

 Additionally, TNT is having a Falling Skies Marathon this Sunday 7/29/12 if you want to catch up on the entire season. Check your local listings.

Falling Skies Season 2 Episode 15

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In TNT’s post apocalyptic, alien invasion series Falling Skies episode 15 Love and Other Acts of Courage, the human resistance finds an unlikely ally when they discover some of the alien invaders are willing to join them in their fight against their “overlords”. This is a good episode that captured my interest. Falling Skies is turning out to be a successful blend of post apocalyptic action/survival and alien science fiction. You could argue that the drama between some of the characters is a little “sappy” or “soap opera” like, but in order for a show like this to be successful, the writers need to appeal to a fairly diverse audience. (read: it can’t be all shooting, killing, blowing stuff up and down and dirty post apocalyptic survival or it would get cancelled) I’m willing to suffer through some “sappy” love story moments in order to get my post apocalyptic kicks in a show with a decent plot line that has a good budget. Watch the full episode on TNT’s website for free through the link below:

Falling Skies Episode 15 Love and Other Acts of Courage

Find out more about the alien invasion at http://www.fallingskies.com

 

 

Falling Skies

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Hostile aliens now control the planet as Falling Skies enters its second season. TNT has created an enjoyable apocalyptic tv show that follows a large group of refugee survivors as they struggle against their alien invaders. While their intentions are not perfectly clear yet, the aliens of Falling Skies have killed almost all of the adult human population and have made the children into their slaves using some type of parasitic lizard. One of the interesting aspects to this series is that the alien invaders do not consist of one particular type of alien. It seems that there is some type of hierarchy of alien beings that are led by creatures that are similar in appearance to “the greys” that have become the typical portrayal of aliens in our modern civilization. Tom Mason (Noah Wyle), is a former college history professor who lost his wife in the invasion and struggles to raise his 3 children alone in the post apocalyptic landscape while providing some historical perspective and guiding the survivors in their struggle. Falling Skies has plenty of action and while some of the acting is a little overly dramatic, it is your best bet for alien invasion apocalypse and science fiction television this summer.

If you need to catch up on the series, The complete first season is available on DVD through the link below:

The Darkest Hour

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A business trip to Moscow goes from bad to worse for two friends that get caught in the middle of an alien invasion. First, all of the electronic devices are disabled by a massive microwave pulse from space. Then the aliens start floating down to Earth, at times they glow orange, but they are mostly invisible to the human eye. These aliens are not interested in communication, they simply want to eliminate humans from the planet so that they can harvest the Earth’s resources. This is a decent adventure story. Some of the special effects are interesting, for example, when we get to see the alien’s perspective. It has a decent amount of action. Due to its larger budget, it is slightly better than a SyFy prime time apocalypse movie, but the acting and plot is mediocre at best. Don’t expect The Darkest Hour to blow your mind, but it will serve as entertainment if you have a couple of hours to kill and nothing good is on tv.