Tomorrow When The War Began

[Targan]

The novel Tomorrow When The War Began (and its many sequels) by Australian author John Marsden has finally been made into a film (trailer link = http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_128628&feature=iv&v=9D6gi29P_vE ) and will be released in September. It seems a bit cheesy from the trailer but I'm still going to go and see it. It looks like being an Aussie version of Red Dawn. In the novels it is pretty obvious that the invaders are Indonesian. Not sure if it will be so obvious in the film. Might ruffle afew feathers :D.

[pmulcahy11b]

I haven't looked at the clip yet, but I hope that if it takes place in Australia, they use Australian actors -- most American actors don't do foreign accents well.

[Targan]

I haven't looked at the clip yet, but I hope that if it takes place in Australia, they use Australian actors -- most American actors don't do foreign accents well.

Oh its all very Australian - I doubt it will get a theatrical release in the USA.

[pmulcahy11b]

Oh its all very Australian - I doubt it will get a theatrical release in the USA.

Ahh, sucks! Maybe it will get on cable.

[Raellus]

It looks like being an Aussie version of Red Dawn.

Totally.

From what I could see, the baddies wear black SWAT-style gear, carry new-model AKs, and fly Mirage 2000s. They looked vaguely asian, but it was hard to tell with all the crap they were wearing on their heads. Sound like anybody we know?

I bet they take the easy way out and never specifically identify the invaders. Or, they make up a name for their country of origin. I can only hope the creators show some b*lls and call out a specific antagonists.

[Ramjam]

That's looks a pretty good film.

But as already said I very much doubt it will be released outside of Australia. Which is such a pity cause it would be added to my film collection for sure.

I wonder if I can find a torrent for it after it's released.............:p

[Dog 6]

hmmm looks good.

[pmulcahy11b]

Give it some time, and it might show up on Amazon.

[jester]

Or maybe finding it online too. I have found alot of obscure forgien movies online.

[mikeo80]

Looks good to me. I hope this makes it to USA. Thanks, Targan. Now I need to find the books.

Mike

[HorseSoldier]

Does look like a winner, and probably more interesting than the US remake of Red Dawn that may or may not make it to theaters some day. I'm not sure how viable an invasion of Australia really is, though it seems to be a meaningful trope in Australian culture. Hopefully it will turn up in the US in some sort of legally available format (as I'm sure it will be illegally downloadable worldwide within 47 seconds of release).

[StainlessSteelCynic]

There's about five books if I remember right and they were written for a teen audience so they aren't very sophisticated compared to the writers we would typically read. In the books the invaders are never identified, one of the main themes being that the group never actually knows who the invaders are. For good or for bad, it appears the movie will stay true to that part of the novels.

[kcdusk]

7 books i reckon are in the series. I've read the first 3 or 4. Definately aimed at older teens. But i enjoyed the read. Great story. Reminded me more of a "famous 5" episode.

[Adm.Lee]

Belle and Blade are dealers in a lot of foreign (to the US) war movies, I'd bet they get it sooner or later. http://www.warshows.com/StoreFront.bok

[pmulcahy11b]

Thanks for the link! I noticed something there I might buy -- 84 Charlie MoPic, an excellent but relatively unknown movie.

[HorseSoldier]

Hells yes. I've been looking for a copy of that one for a while. Amazon has one in US viewable format, but the Chinese writing all over the photo of the box has me a bit worried it's pirated and/or a poorly done transfer.

[Matt Wiser]

Guys, this movie's now on The Movie Channel here in the states. Invaders vaguely Asian, but with the new-model AKs, but the jets may be J-10s, though...Not quite the Red Dawn we all know and love, but it looks good anyway. If there's a sequel, have a lot more action.

[Raellus]

Guys, this movie's now on The Movie Channel here in the states. Invaders vaguely Asian, but with the new-model AKs, but the jets may be J-10s, though...Not quite the Red Dawn we all know and love, but it looks good anyway. If there's a sequel, have a lot more action.

Weird! I JUST started watching it and decided to check the forum & my game site one last time before shutting down the computer. I DVR'ed it last night and I believe it's on again tonight as well. Talk about synchronicity! Well, back to the movie. I'll weigh in with my review tomorrow. 'Night!

[Targan]

I was pretty disappointed with it but I admit that my demographic clearly wasn't the target audience. One thing I can say for certain though, that barring being shot or blown up, if I'd been in my late teens in the scenario depicted I would've performed a damn sight better than the characters did.

Truly pathetic skills displayed by what were basically country teenagers (most country teenagers I've met in Australia have been tough kids with quite respectable survival skills). On many occasions little or no attempt to loot useful gear from bodies. Feeble crying moments. Not enough anger against the invaders. Amazingly stupid decisions made.

So after viewing the film I immediately dubbed it "Tomorrow When the Stupid Began". I look forward to any sequels being made just on the off chance that I can see those loser kids get killed or maimed (preferably maimed then killed).

[Raellus]

I couldn't hold off until the morning. If you haven't seen it, you'd better stop reading now. If you saw it and liked it, you'd also better stop reading now. It's not going to be pretty...

SPOILER ALERT:

I'll try and be kind. It was bad. Will I see the sequel? Probably- as long as it's free. Let me explain.

It was your typical PC adolescent war fantasy. There was next to nothing original about it. The action scenes were literally ridiculous. The main characters were cliche'd teen stereotype cutouts (the hoodlum with a heart of gold, the insecure hot chick, the good natured stoner, the mousy churchgirl who, when the chips are down, transforms into an AK-wielding badass, etc.). The story was a rip-off of the first half of Red Dawn (lite). The entire film seemed like a set up for the inevitable sequel. The acting was average, the script thin, and the special effects a tad on the cheesy side. That's the bad.

The good? The characters, although, as Targan mentioned, a bit thick, were sweet enough that I actually kept watching in order to see what happened to them. Yes, I kinda cared a bit. That's about it for the good. I mean, if I really hate a movie, I'll just cut my losses and stop it. This, I watched all the way through. Like I said, if I spot the sequel on the telly schedule, I'll record it and, when nothing more compelling is on, I'll check it out. I'm kind of curious. So I guess, in the end, the movie won.

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Pity it came out now rather than in the 70s or 80s during the beginning of Australian New Wave cinema. I wonder what it would have been like in the hands of a Peter Weir or George Miller.

[Targan]

I wonder what it would have been like in the hands of a Peter Weir or George Miller.

IMO? Probably much better.

[Matt Wiser]

Red Dawn (very) lite is what I got from watching it. Somewhat disappointed, oh well.....Like I said, if they make a sequel, do it better-and more action.

[pmulcahy11b]

Guys, this movie's now on The Movie Channel here in the states. Invaders vaguely Asian, but with the new-model AKs, but the jets may be J-10s, though...Not quite the Red Dawn we all know and love, but it looks good anyway. If there's a sequel, have a lot more action.

Jeez, I skipped signing up for the proper movie package!

[LAW0306]

Nothing says aussie like romper stomper!

[Targan]

Nothing says aussie like romper stomper!

Hell yeah. That movie was vicious. I can also recommend Once Were Warriors and its sequel What Becomes of the Broken Hearted if you want to see some New Zealand Maori gang brutality.