War of the Worlds (2005) One-sheet poster
Date
Credits
- John Alvin 6 Designer
- BLT Communications Producer
Format
- Poster 1707
Type of Work
- Archive 200
Media
- paper 1354
The one-sheet poster for the 2005 adaptation of War of The Worlds was designed by John Alvin and produced through BLT Communications. BLT has been creating movie posters and advertisements since 1992 and has become 100% employee owned as of 2022. BLT has also made posters and advertisements for films such as Scream, Rocketman, Spiderman: Far from home, and many more. John Alvin himself has created countless iconic movie posters such as The Lion King, Aladdin, Blade Runner, and many more.
The movie War of the Worlds was based on the science fiction novel The War of the Worlds written by H.G. Wells, and was originally published in 1898. The original novel depicts the story and experience of an unidentified narrator during an alien invasion. It follows him as he tries to inform his friend who is an astronomer that he thinks that there is life on mars due to flashes from the closer than usual planet of mars. After the initial invasion, the narrator begins to tell the story of his brother who was a medical student. It then depicts how the invasion went in London, its slow spread and the eventual overtaking.
The book takes place during the astronomical opposition of 1894. The astronomical opposition refers to when in 1894, mars was slightly shifted and we had a different view of it from earth. Because of our new view, we could see canals on the planet’s surface. Many speculated at the time that the canals were created by an intelligent life form that could be inhabiting Mars.
The 2005 War of the Worlds was not the first film adaptation of the original story created by H.G. Wells. There was also a version produced in 1953, this version of the film followed two scientists who are the first to arrive at the site of a recent meteorite crash. Where the film differs from the book is that the story begins as soon as the Martians make contact with earth.
Similarly, the 2005 adaptation takes place at the very start of the invasion. There is no preface that explains the cause of the invasion. This adaptation follows a dockworker and his family during the invasion.
Interestingly, both film adaptations drop the unidentified narrator.
Movie Posters do a lot for a movie’s success in box office. It sets the tone for the movie, and lets the audience know what they're in store for with just a glance. It’s most people’s first awareness of a movie when it comes out.
More posters that are similar conceptually are Knowing, Red Planet, and Alien.
This piece is important to Graphic design history because it shows influences from movie posters prior to and before its release. You can see stylistic choices from the poster for Alien. The style of a starkly dark background with an ominous glowing object. It shows that styles and compositions can be used to convey a certain tone. Both these posters convey an uneasy and otherworldly feeling to the viewer, which fits the tone of the movies. This style is repeated even today when advertising for sci-fi movies. This poster further solidified the art style many associate with the sci-fi genre.
Sources:
War of the Worlds Movie Poster (#4 of 6) - IMP Awards
BLT Communications | Home (bltomato.com)
The War of the Worlds (novel by H.G. Wells) | Summary, Analysis, Characters, & Facts | Britannica
