Talk:Tripod (The War of the Worlds)

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If Half-Life 2 is to be included then I would suggest a section on John Christopher's Tripods be included, since they are even closer to those described by Wells.

We need more info and good pics!

Dunno...someone could throw in this picture I found. Thunderbrand 05:24, July 20, 2005 (UTC)

I know where the sound of the horns from the tripods in Spielberg's film can be heard (as a link or uploaded). Could that be something that useful to the article? By the way, the article makes mention of an illustration that Wells vehemently hated. But does anyone have this image available for us to see for ourselves? --Bacteria 15:38, 21 July 2005 (UTC)

I think the tripod horn sound could be linked in the article. I can't find a drawing of the Warwick Goble tripods on the internet, but I'll keep looking. I've only seen his drawings in a book I've been reading called The Complete War of the Worlds. Thunderbrand 16:35, July 21, 2005 (UTC)
I did find this drawing. Also, I think the article name sould be changed to Tripod (War of the Worlds) instead of Martian Tripod. Since the ones in the new movie aren't from Mars, its kind of sending a mixed signal. Thunderbrand 17:16, July 21, 2005 (UTC)

Here is the direct link to the tripod horn[1]. I'm not familiar enough to be trusted with the uploading process. I also agree that the article title should be changed because not every version of the story uses Martians. By the way, I was thinking that with all of these War of the Worlds related articles springing up, couldn't there be a War of the Worlds category? I ask because it's another one of those things that I haven't learned how to do yet (although I bet it's embarassingly simple). --Bacteria 14:22, 22 July 2005 (UTC)

I went ahead and moved the article and created a [[Category:The War of the Worlds]] . Also, I think the sound file has to be an .ogg file to upload. I have no idea how to do that, so maybe just link it under an ==External links== section. Thunderbrand 15:14, July 22, 2005 (UTC)

In the book, the tripod only had one Martian as a pilot, while the movie tripods apparently require a crew of 26.

It wasn't explicitly specified in the 2005 movie that a tripod only had one pilot, although there was only one Martian shown travelling down a lightning. However, it was mentioned that there were 26 lightning strikes in each spot (possibly hinting that each lightning transported one Martian?) --RicoStaCruz 07:36, 27 July 2005 (UTC)

I've added the link that the above user Bacteria gave to the article. It is located in the section about the 2005 film. Scorpionman 19:56, 27 January 2006 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Crysis Exo-suit?

Needs to be removed, it as zero to do with tripods. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.152.62.14 (talk) 18:04, 17 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] bad picture

I think, like Wells, that the first picture on this page stinks. I can't even make it out! There needs to be a better tripod picture in place of this one. Scorpionman 01:18, 1 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Picture

I think we need a new picture of the 2005 tripods. I do like that image (it gives a feeling that the tripods are there and you can't do anything), but you can barely see them.- JustPhil 20:46, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Reference to the original novel

The article is missing the most pertinent reference of all: to Wells' original novel. I suggest the inclusion of quotes from the narrator about the tripods from Wells' War of the Worlds. For example, as the narrator first sees a tripod, on Maybury Hill:

"And this Thing I saw! How can I describe it? A monstrous tripod, higher than many houses, striding over the young pine trees and smashing them aside in its career— a walking engine of glittering metal, striding now across the heather, articulate ropes of steel dangling from it, and the clattering tumult of its passage mingling with the riot of the thunder." [45, WOTW, Modern Library, Random House, 2002]

Also perhaps a note on the reason Wells gave for the unusual method of walking transport:

"And of their appliances, perhaps nothing is more wonderful to Man than the curious fact that what is the dominant feature of almost all human devices in mechanism is absent— the wheel is absent; among all the things they brought to earth there is no trace or suggestion of their use of wheels. One would have at least have expected it in locomotion. And in this connection it is curious to remark that even on this earth Nature has never hit upon the wheel, or has preferred other expedients to its innovation." [129, WOTW, Modern Library, Random House, 2002]

The tripods in the novel are, in fact, an ingenious metaphorical shorthand for the intellectual remoteness of the Martians from man. It is ironic therefore that the demands of an ill-thought out contemporary 'realism' has debarred the tripods from appearing in science fiction adaptations of Wells' book-- until Spielberg's movie. The alien tripods have been considered too alien, and at the same time too uncannily naturalistic, to be employed by filmmakers as a fantastic method of transport for contemporary film audiences.

--Gareth Griffiths, 1st March 2006

Wikiquote is for quotes, not Wikipedia. Thunderbrand 20:08, 1 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Alteration of title; and reflection on use of quotes

Searching Wikipedia I find that the search 'tripods' does not immediately bring up this reference; we are instead directed to the John Christopher section. This seems strange, given that Wells' tripods precede and inspire Christopher's own; I suggest that the title for this entry be changed to 'Tripods (War of the Worlds)'? Or at the very least a link be placed on that entry to this one.

As for Wikiquote being for quotes, it seems plain wrong that in an article about Wells' tripods there is no reference to the original text, where, after all, the tripods were first dreamt up. But there we are; if it's a rule, it's a rule. But if it is a rule, then it seems to me that the quote from Wells in the article about Goble's illustrations should be removed too: which would be a great shame, in fact, because it's one of the most interesting aspects of the piece. Some direction here would be welcome.

Can I ask for a reference for that quote from the article author? It's fascinating. I could discuss a (very minor) mistake of fact in an overall interesting piece too, and suggest some information that might be usefully added, too.

[edit] Humans: Not just fertilizer anymore!

I may be mistaken, but at one point in the movie, "War of the Worlds", I observed that the tripode appeared to be "Eating" humans out of the basket. It had an organic-looking "mouth" on the underside leading me to believe that the tripods were organic as well as mechanical.

Can anything be added to this? Nothing in this article mentions any of the above.

[edit] Suggesting move

I'd like to put it to a consensus for moving the article to fighting-machine. The reasoning is that this is predominately what Wells (and his narrator) call the machines throughout the book. The term is used at least 17 times (yes, I counted!) while "tripod" is actually used only 8 times in total. Hell, the application of the generic "Thing" (note the captialisation) is more on par with the usage of "fighting-machine". Agree or disagree? --Bacteria 12:43, 11 October 2006 (UTC)

Disagree. I believe that "Tripod" is a more common term, especially in later adaptations. Andy120290 19:00, 11 October 2006 (UTC)

Also note that heart attack is a more common term, but that redirects to the less common myocardial infarction. Additionally, the head and bulk of this article concerns the machines that Wells created in the book while the material on the adapated versions are supplemental. I also find "fighting-machine" to be more generic; "tripod" is a bit prejudice towards the floating and six-legged machines of two adaptations (or any other anomalies I'm missing). I'm still waiting for a concrete concensus on this, but am also adamant on the naming issue as I think the title as is gives a wrong impression in regards to the original novel. --Bacteria 21:10, 30 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "Dish cover"

Tripods in the books are described as a "Thing like a dish cover". I have never seen anything like that in film. I've seen one that looked like a huge beetle, and a swan- shaped one, but never one like a dish cover.

[edit] Could use different picture

Would it be possible to use a different picture next to the lead? The current one (Image:War of the worlds illustration pearson.jpg) does not seem appropriate. Wells himself stated he hated Goble's tripods, so why is it that that picture is the first one seen? Andy120290 04:13, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:WOTW 9.jpg

Image:WOTW 9.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

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BetacommandBot (talk) 15:59, 21 January 2008 (UTC)