The Great Martian War 1913 - 1917 (2013 TV Movie) User Reviews

A interesting way to view alternate realities

[firstconsul · 7/10 · 3 August 2014]

I watched this BBC production "The Great Martian War" and found it a hoot to watch, especially for those that have spent the last several years watching History, History International, PBS and/or BBC productions sealing with historical events such as WWII, the Depression, Rise of Hitler, etc.

Yes, as the previous viewer says, they re-use the same "historical" film clips from the War (1913-1918) over and over and over. Because that is EXACTLY what they do in the shows they are making a parody of!! Plus, think about it-- how many bits of film do you suppose you'd SEE from the Martian War? Watch a documentary on WWI and see how many times you see the same clips. If I had a beef with technique, it would not be the low budget graphics (which, again, lends itself to being a "documentary", not a sci-fi movie) but the fact that the past interviews seen in the film, although they go for the quality of film or video for the time still seem a bit out of sync. The 1990s interviews, for instance are still a bit too clear for video transfer. The 1970s look more like 1980s videotape, for instance.

Of some interest is how they splice the history of WWI into an alternate history of the Great Martian War. The rise of underwater sea war and power (for instance), the general use of new technology for warfare, the sinking of the "Aquitania" that begins to drive the Americans to enter the War, etc. Even the end-- with the spread of the "Martian Flu", parallels the spread of Spanish Flu after WWI. All and all, I'd say a "documentary" to be seen by those fans of the History Channel (back when it played history shows) and historical documentaries in general. If you are looking for "The Avengers" science fiction, go look somewhere else.

Fun. Interesting idea. Made like a documentary on WWI

[spotter-2 · 7/10 · 3 August 2014]

I thought this is a well executed program. At first I thought I was going to hate it due to the recycled footage. Then I remembered that WWI documentaries are stuck with the same problem. Movie cameras were bulky, finicky and needed the right light, etc.

Th interviews were pretty good. I like the use of lighting techniques to make the interviews look "old". Good performances all. I did like the two buddies from the American Frontiersmen.

As a long time alternate history buff, I liked it. Though I did see what I believe are flaws. Such as, where are the Russians? I don't think Tsar Nicky II would sit idly by while France is invaded and most of Germany destroyed. The late entry of the U.S.? An alien invasion has taken place, even Wilson would see there is no time to lose. The American Frontiersman was a nice touch. Though I think Teddie Roosevelt would have led it, health conditions not withstanding.

A good effort.

Scared My Grandma

[sarahmedeiros-96197 · 7/10 · 8 September 2018]

I have to commend the filmmakers here, as this movie completely fooled my grandmother. She watched this by herself on the History Channel and called my father in a complete panic due to the fear that the "cockroach headed and spider armed" aliens would return to earth.

This was accomplished due to the use of the CGI aliens being incorporated into actual WW1 footage. Also, the use of actors pretending to be former soldiers were convincing enough to her to prove that this story was real. Apparently, she was shaking and claimed that she couldn't go to sleep until the family was prepared to deal with the looming threat of alien invasion.

So I don't know if this review helps anyone, but if anything it shows how convincing this mockumentary can be and serves as a reminder to not necessarily believe everything you see on TV. Or the History Network.

Ambitious Adaption of H.G. Wells

[kmfrye2001 · 6/10 · 30 May 2019]

Clever and well written premise, with good CGI and stock footage. The interview actors and documentary tone carried the program.

This would have been a 7-star review, except for the ending, where the writers went for the overdone, Hollywood-nonsense "knockout blow". Not to mention relying on the over-complicated, one-chance-in-a-million trope. Far more believable to deliver the Secret Weapon via artillery shell, as was done with gas and anthrax.

The twist at the ending was a particularly nice touch.

Worth a watch, but not necessarily worth a re-watch, unless you're a War of the Worlds fan.

Very enjoyable!

[chrisnjoe-357-270990 · 9/10 · 3 August 2014]

I completely disagree with the first reviewer (JoeB131). This was an original idea done well. The historical footage was well modified, and the story mostly hung together. I enjoyed it a great deal.

The quality of the CG was, I believe, deliberate. It would have looked out of place to have high quality CG in the middle of historical footage.

The interviews were fascinating. They did liberally borrow from any part of the world they wanted to and from any time period.

The story did not follow the original tale, but that is to be expected in this kind of adaptation. Over all, well done.

Not H. G. Wells, but close.

[jfthomas · 9/10 · 5 May 2018]

Very imaginative and well executed, plays like a genuine History Channel documentary. This "mockumentary" is not for laughs, but a fascinating vehicle for science fiction. I have long wished that someone would make a movie based on "War of the Worlds," and keep the setting in H. G. Wells' era when the concept of alien technology would be beyond the imagination of the people of those times. While this is not that story, this film comes closest to fulfilling my wish.

Well, this was dreadful

[JoeB131 · 1/10 · 2 August 2014]

Wow, wouldn't it be cool if they did a documentary on H.G. Wells The War of the Worlds like that was a real thing? Well, maybe. and maybe, someday that movie will be made.

What they did here was take some stock footage from World War I, and then interpose bad CGI versions of Martian War Machines. And obviously, they thought that aping the History Channel's style would be interesting, but it really wasn't.

I think in the first ten minutes, they used the same shots four or five times.

So the plot is that Martians have landed in Germany, and instead of WWI being fought against Germany, it is fought against the Martians. And they put in a bunch of fake interviews with old people and fake scholars.

And I promise, we are going to make these same recycled shots interesting.

I love alternative History

[jocajosh · 9/10 · 5 February 2022]

Like the film Fatherland, alternative history can be a really good way to view what actually happened as well as suspending belief. The footage was excellent, the cast convincing and the premise intriguing. To the nay sayers, chill. Upteen docos on the real history of The Great War have been made. So we do know the real history already so allow a little imagination to prevail from time to time.

GARBAGE

[jamieedgecycles · 1/10 · 16 February 2018]

How could anybody use WWI footage and make a mockery of it with Alians. It s very disrespectful

Brilliant alternate history project.

[Marcwolf-2 · 9/10 · 22 February 2017]

We all have to suspend belief when alternate history is the subject, and it's often a fun intellectual curiosity. Like what would America be like of JFK did not die. Or that Hitler has not been born. Or the great library of Alexandria survived. These are all key crossroads in our history that forever altered the future. In this case it is current day historians looking back at The Great Martian War. The Martians have landed in Germany in 1913 and the world mobilizes to fight them. Archival footage of that time is used and CGI seamlessly spliced in to give it an authenticated look and feel of that time. Various experts talk and show their displays - all with the reverence that real artifacts of that time deserve. Even veteran's of that time tell of their experiences. Various viewpoints are offered on different arguments, and prospects for the future. All in all what one would expect from a detailed and well crafted documentary. Except. It never happened :)

Absolutly brilliant, i love this show

[belahanjiwayd · 10/10 · 15 February 2022]

An interesting take on war of the worlds. The idea is really cool too, usually alien in movies invades in the modren 21st century or near future earth, but in this film alien invades early 20th century era.

I'm also love the newspapers, rumor about The Kaiser's super-weapon, Germany and France fall to the martian forces, attack on US ship by the martian, etc. As the war continues, humanity starts using captured martian technology, martian energy weapon is also started to use on biplane. The allies also conduct secret experiment and analizeing martians dna. Eventually humanty makes a bio-weapon to counter martians. Slowly the invaders pushed back and humanity victorious.

There's still some minor issue tho, like footage transission maybe a bit too obvious, between the ww1 stock footage and the cgi effect is really noticable, but i don't really care about that. Overall this film is awesome 10/10. I watched it like dozen times already.