War of the Worlds - 2005

Does anyone but me wonder why in 2005 there were three movies released based on War of the Worlds by H. G Wells published in 1898
?First H. G Wells' War of the Worlds by David Michael Latt.


The most advertised was the Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds with Tom Cruise.

Then finally there was the period piece War of the Worlds by Timothy Hines, it at least attempted to maintain the period of the original, novel which attempted to challenge the arrogance of the Victorian era. That arrogance is much more apparent in hindsight, as if we needed any reminders.

The the famous 1938 Orson Wells radio play


and the classic 1953 George Pal movie version should have been enough.

Unless someone had a much much better idea.

It's still a mystery to me why in 2005 this all came together.