there be very little doubt that hg well be the most influential writer of the 20th century . jules verne have some claim to be the father of science fiction but his story be more adventure story use marvellous invention a plot device . well be profound and bring subtext to his tale . perhaps his great legacy be that there very little if any evidence that people believe in life on other planet before the 20th century where as now many people include richard dawkins consider it a near certainty . there no evidence of this of course and one can not help wonder that be be well who introduce this to human thinking . undoubtedly it be well that plant the seed . thing to come be adapt by well himself from his own novel . it be rather obvious however that he be unable to tell the difference between the technicality of write novel and write screenplay . the dialouge be often laden and heavy hand and unconvincing . one case in point be the two pilot from oppose side discuss the nature of war why must we murder one another . why . this mirror the criticism and near naked contempt that orwell have of well in his essay well and hitler and the world state and it be true that well anti war message be painfully overstate . it would be impossible to believe a conversation take place between an raf pilot and his opposite number in the luftwaffe a few year later that say it be absolutely fascinating watch a film from 1935 predict a world wide war take place in 1940 that herald the end of civilisation . there a striking and haunt imagery a a child bang a drum a a phantom army march in the background and the collapse of society and the fear of the wanderng sickness be wonderfully realise . even the rather lazy storytelling of show the year of the setting have a compelling nature it the image that make this film along with arthur bliss score that make the film so memorable . and to be fair well do ask the question the universe or nothing . what shall it be . . in short this be a film whose flaw be easy to forgive .