The Day The Earth Stood Still remake

[George Bellefontaine]

... shouldn't have been made.

It seems that movie goers either love or hate Keanu Reeves. I fall somewhere in the middle. I've liked some and disliked some of his work. But for the Keanu naysayers, he hasn't done anything to change their minds about him by choosing the role of Klatu ( so well acted by Michael Rennie in the original ). He's so wooden, dead pan and unemotional, that a turnip could have played the role just as well . The film itself is similar to the original but updated by bringing in the global warming thing. Of course hi-def, cgi, action and sound beat the hell out of the black and white mono version, but that's where it ends. Thankfully, I only rented this because I couldn't bear to watch it again... well, maybe the parts with Jennifer Connelly.
Another classic they should have left alone.
On the other hand, if you are not familiar with the original, and are a hardcore Keanu fan, then you may well enjoy it.

[wkhanna]

Often, the best and only good thing about such re-makes is that they generate interest in the original and younger generations that normally would never have taken time to see it are able to appreciate them for their true brilliance.

[wettou]

this movie could have been so much better!! They should spare us the political correctness, I am also glad I rented it this was very disappointing..

Great CGi and that is all and the kid actor was such a brat reflecting today's youth .....

[Ovation]

I bought the three disc BD for two reasons--one, the original is on BD in the package. Two, as a "bonus", I get more Jennifer Connelly in hi-def (I'll suffer through quite a bit for that --even a bad remake of a sci-fi movie--to be fair, though, I've not seen either one yet, though I know of the first one's quality and significance to cinema).

[1oldguy]

I saw this in the theater...........Wasn't exactly impressed.
I also saw Max Payne which also was more action orientated but still fell flat for me and then Girlfriend.
Maybe I'm just a little big jaded.Who knows?

[George Bellefontaine]

I also saw Max Payne which also was more action orientated but still fell flat for me and then Girlfriend.

Fell flat for me, too.

[Chris D]

Agreed with pretty much everything you guys said, about everything.

Including Jennifer Connolly. (schwing!)

[audioqueso]

I just watched it last night. I didn't think it was bad at all (except for the ending). I've never seen the original. Perhaps it's because all of you have seen the original, and it was that much better, that it made this remake just piss poor compared to the original. I wouldn't know. I've never seen the original. However, just taking this movie as it is, it was pretty good.

I think Keanu's "wooden" character was accurate, but fit it perfectly. He wasn't suppose to be human (according to this movie), so his life-less emotions seemed on point.
Jennifer is just hot. Period. She did a great job.
I thought the best role was by Kathy Bates. She was just a bad ass Sec Def in this movie, and played the role just right. I really enjoyed her part.
Smith's little boy, the one Wettou mentioned as today's bratty youth, was very impressive! He can act. I think his role was the most define out of all of them. He lost his whole family. Never had a mom, then lost his dad. He was angry at everything (as would many people if they lost their whole family) And it was his anger that kept proving to Keanu's character that the human race is just violent and unforgiving. Point being, without Smith's character, the movie would have not made much sense.

The ending... I just didn't like it at all. It was wrapped up in about a minute, and bamn... the end. What was that!?!

I enjoyed the movie. It wasn't bad to me. Nothing great, but no regrets in buying it.

[Chris D]

You know, I'm remembering now that I posted another thread somewhere here in the Guide about this movie. In it, I remarked that I did NOT like Kathy Bates in her role as SECDEF. Just didn't fit for me, even though I like her as an actress.

To each their own...

[1oldguy]

I didn't see the original.I would have to agree about the lack of emotion needed to play the role since we cant have aliens telling jokes lol....My attempt at humor.lol
Yes the wam bam was just a little to quick I agree.

[David Meek]

I'm probably going to buy the Collector's set BD on this one. Reasons? At least four:

It includes the original version, which I thought I had but upon checking realize that I don't. Okay, the special effects aren't much, but the whole film certainly made a big impression on this pre-teen. Michael Rennie was just COOL. I'd be willing to bet that most anyone that saw it can still recite "Gort! Klaatu burada nicto!" :B

It has Jennifer Connelly. ;x(

I haven't seen the new version and want to.

It has Jennifer Connelly. :dancenana:

[Ovation]

I'm probably going to buy the Collector's set BD on this one. Reasons? At least four:

It includes the original version, which I thought I had but upon checking realize that I don't. Okay, the special effects aren't much, but the whole film certainly made a big impression on this pre-teen. Michael Rennie was just COOL. I'd be willing to bet that most anyone that saw it can still recite "Gort! Klaatu burada nicto!" :B

It has Jennifer Connelly. ;x(

I haven't seen the new version and want to.

It has Jennifer Connelly. :dancenana:

I see great minds think alike. :T (and remember--Jennifer is in hi-def ;x( )

[George Bellefontaine]

Hey, Tex, the fourth is THE ONLY reason to buy this movie... :W

[Burke Strickland]

Hey, Tex, the fourth is THE ONLY reason to buy this movie...

No George, I'd say that reason #2 is equally valid. :>)

[impala454]

George, thanks for the save. I was on the fence about buying/watching this but your review came to the rescue as always!

[George Bellefontaine]

George, thanks for the save. I was on the fence about buying/watching this but your review came to the rescue as always!

You can always rent it , Chuck, on the perchance you may like it.

Burke, you're correct. I was just funning with Tex.

[Ovation]

I just finished watching this and I have to say (at the risk of being in the minority) I actually liked it. Not a great film (had a screening of Lawrence of Arabia earlier today for a class--that's a great film), but not nearly as bad as I expected from various reviews (pro and amateur). Perhaps I had low expectations, perhaps it was Jennifer in hi-def, who knows? I still have yet to see the original, so my opinion could turn (I watched the new one first on purpose--if the original truly shatters it, then it would be less entertaining. Not having the original in memory, the new one could "speak for itself"--plus I was in the mood for some Jennifer Connelly in hi-def ).

There is a review of the new one at DVD Talk (I think--I'll look it up later) that puts in a reasonably favourable light and my impressions of the film are similar to what I read in the review.

In any case, different strokes for different folks. I do think John Cleese was criminally underused. A film that raised a number of potentially interesting points, but did not follow through on any of them in sufficient depth. Still, I was entertained while watching--and I can't say that for every film I've seen.

[George Bellefontaine]

I just finished watching this and I have to say (at the risk of being in the minority) I actually liked it. I still have yet to see the original, so my opinion could turn (I watched the new one first on purpose--if the original truly shatters it, then it would be less entertaining.

If I had never seen the original I may have felt differently about the remake as well. Sometimes I'll read about films that were disliked because they weren't true to the book, or the graphic novel, or the game... and found myself liking them because I've never read the book, the graphic novel or played the game. So I can see wehere you are coming from on this film. But to be honest, Keanu's performance absolutely ruined the film for me, and as I said in the initial post, I usually like what he does.

[Ovation]

Ah well. I found his lack of emoting made for a more believable performance (in context, of course--I'm not an "area 51/Roswell" believer or anything) in terms of portraying an "alien". The character seemed unfamiliar with emotions as expressed by humans and he was only here for a short time. Eh bien. Vive la difference. It's what makes life interesting.

[1oldguy]

LOL ......I think someone should tell Nassa ....Aliens are Boring,just so they know for when we do meet up with them.lol hehehheh

[Ovation]

I watched the original last night. Looks fantastic on BD. If I place it within the context of its day, it ranks as a very good film. It certainly provides a more sophisticated treatment of "aliens" than other films of its era, by a considerable margin. It is, however, a cultural artifact of its time and that lessens, a bit, the impact of its "message". Not that the message is meaningless. Nor is being a cultural artifact a negative thing. The film provides an insight into the preoccupations of its era quite well--more successfully than the remake will some decades from now when historians look back at our cultural artifacts. However, as an actual cautionary tale, I think it has lost its full effect with the passage of time. But that is a personal reaction.

All of that said, I do not think the remake comes off as poorly as critics have suggested. The basic premise remains the same (humanity faces destruction from outside powers if it doesn't mend its ways). The source of concern for Klaatu reflects the concerns of the day (nuclear weapons then, environmental degradation today). I still don't think the new film is above average--it has several flaws that keep it from being very good or better--but I also think it suffers from the "nostalgia effect". I suspect a remake of Casablanca would suffer disproportionately today, regardless of its own qualities. While some films and stories can be and frequently are retold--sometimes to great effect--there are some films that acquire a level of "untouchability" that make "re-makes" a risky proposition. The Day the Earth Stood Still, it would appear, is such a film (The Last of the Mohicans, on the other hand, would appear to NOT be such a film, by way of example).

[George Bellefontaine]

I suspect a remake of Casablanca

Though I hope it never happens, it wouldn't surprise me if an attempt was made. :M

Your comments on the original Day The Earth Stood Still are quite valid.

[Ovation]

Though I hope it never happens, it wouldn't surprise me if an attempt was made. :M

Your comments on the original Day The Earth Stood Still are quite valid.

Well, there was a kind of "re-make" with a TV version of some sort (it's an extra on my HD DVD but I haven't looked at all the extras yet).

And I also found the passage from the DVD Talk review of the BD that reflects what I thought of Keanu Reeves' portrayal of Klaatu.

Some have slammed Reeves for what would have been a stale performance in any other role, but this style of acting actually benefits his character to no end. The original portrayal of Klaatu seemed to be a little more human than we could ever hope for in an alien, and although Keanu's portrayal was completely at the opposite end of the spectrum to almost a fault, I feel his performance was the one that made more sense in the grand scheme of things.

In the end, I enjoyed them both and do not regret the purchase. I do think the new one is "lighter fare" and should be viewed, as much as possible, without thinking too much about it being a "remake". And as long as it has Jennifer in hi-def, it'll get repeat viewings.

[George Bellefontaine]

Well, there was a kind of "re-make" with a TV version of some sort (it's an extra on my HD DVD but I haven't looked at all the extras yet).

Oh, my, I'm so happy I missed it...

[scarpi]

We rented the movie and watched it tonight. As an fan of the original, this movie disappointed me. Save your money and skip this one and either rent or buy the original. They didn't even have the line "Gort, Klatu barada nicto" in it. It's a shame what they do to some original movies these days! Now War of the Worlds I felt was a great remake. Oh well.

[David Meek]

Not to go too far off topic, but War Of The Worlds was a different situation. The base premise was the same in both movies (I only consider the Gene Barry and the Tom Cruise versions to be valid), however the focus was completely different. The original looked at the "big" picture while the remake was close-focused on the one family group. To me, that's what made that specific remake a success - it wasn't trying to dress up the original.

As always, just my 2 cents....

[Ovation]

I actually was quite underwhelmed with the Spielberg War of the Worlds--to each his own, I guess. And the Gort, Klaatu barada nikto line was allegedly (according to some reviews) in the remake, though I did not notice it. It certainly was not as prominent as in the original, though since I'd not seen the original before watching the remake, I was not looking for it either.

[David Meek]

Still waiting on my copy to arrive from DeepDiscountDVD.... Ho hum.