Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008)

my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

»	Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE » Community » Film Handlers' Movie Reviews » The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008) (Page 1)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3

Author

Topic: The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008)

Justin Gorka
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 174
From: High Wycombe, England
Registered: Apr 2006

posted 12-12-2008 05:58 AM

Enjoyed this one. Reeves is ideal as the part of Klato, though some of the other characters are miss placed. Effects are well done without being OTT. The ending seems to be have been a bit rushed, but that may down to the Studio wishing to keep the running lime under 2 hours.
Comparisons will be made to the original, but this would be unfair as it owes more to the original book.
3/5

| IP: Logged

Marco Giustini
Film God

Posts: 2713
From: Reading, UK
Registered: Nov 2007

posted 12-12-2008 04:06 PM

"Well, we left a guy here for 70 years tu judge the Humanity, but he was wrong"...

Come ooooon!!! [Smile]

| IP: Logged

Mark Ogden
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 943
From: Little Falls, N.J.
Registered: Jun 99

posted 12-12-2008 06:20 PM

What a piece of crap this movie was, full of the same old lame SF cliches. Obligatory large object approaching from space, obligatory mean old government people driving around in black SUVs, speaking in clipped, highly efficient dialogue, arriving at a scientists house at night demanding he/she come with them with promises of an explanation later, obligatory use of computer display GUIs that don't look like anything anyone has ever seen and shiny gleaming technology that can do seemingly impossible feats of detection over long distances, obligatory single mother, obligatory government official that only wants to oppress information/heroism/non-conformity, obligatory dunning product placements (in order: Microsoft, McDonalds, LG, Citizen), obligatory "OK these people are capable of love so I guess we can spare them" trite-ass ending. Horse puckey.

quote: Justin Gorka
Comparisons will be made to the original, but this would be unfair as it owes more to the original book.

Neither of these movies share anything with the original book ("Farewell to The Master" by Harry Bates) except the robot reviving Klaatu after he gets shot. That's all. The book has none of the whole warning-to-Earth stuff that the movies added.

| IP: Logged

Mark Lensenmayer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1605
From: Upper Arlington, OH
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 12-12-2008 06:53 PM

Too much Klaatu, Not enough GORT. The robot could have been used much more effectively.

Nothing special...just an overblown action film. Lots of booms in the subs, but even that got tiring after awhile. None of the characters are very interesting. Could have used some more John Cleese, though.

Absolutely NOTHING is special about the IMAX NON-DIGITAL EXPERIENCE. Picture looked just as if it were 35mm, although a bit brighter..but, the audience is also closer to the screen. Nice clean sound, and, as I've stated before, I prefer the back corner surround speaker location.

I'll give it a C+. Should make some money the first weekend, but will quickly die off.

| IP: Logged

Benny Walters
Film Handler

Posts: 41
From: Columbus, OH USA
Registered: Jul 2008

posted 12-12-2008 07:04 PM

I think I'm with Mark on this one. More GORT could have been a real treat with the money they dropped on other special effects. Also, I did spend the first three reels waiting for John Cleese to show up. Kathy Bates was believable but nothing to write home about. I think Klaatu is a good role for the often inhuman Keanu Reeves.

C

I am a big fan of the original (1951) and recommend a viewing of that as opposed to this remake.

[thumbsdown]

[ 12-12-2008, 09:18 PM: Message edited by: Benny Walters ]

| IP: Logged

Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 12-12-2008 09:15 PM

Is there any Klaatu music on the soundtrack? ("Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft") If not, there obviously should be!

| IP: Logged

Steve Wilson
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 109
From: Paoli, IN, USA
Registered: May 2004

posted 12-12-2008 10:05 PM

This was one of my favorite Space Movies from the 1950s. I was expecting so much more and I came away feeling, what a missed oppurtunity. I would rate this well below War of the Worlds with Tom the Cruise, and it was no real winner either.

One of my buddies, says that I have never saw a bad film. This one is watchable, but thats about it. I would give it 2 of 5 Stars.

| IP: Logged

Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 12-12-2008 11:09 PM

Hey, this version didn't have Bernard Herrmann to do the score so it HAS TO SUCK! I'm not even going to bother with this movie... I did purchase the Original 1950's version on Blue Ray last weekend and it looks exceptional and sounds good.

Mark

| IP: Logged

Monte L Fullmer
Film God

Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 12-13-2008 12:42 AM

quote: Mike Blakesley
"Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft"

(woo, an old classic Carpenter's song.....)

Saw some of this tonite and agree with Mark; No Bernard Herrmann score, not a classic. Plus a look-a-like of "War of the Worlds."

NOW, if they do a remake of "This Island Earth" or "Forbidden Planet" and ruin them like they did with 2000's "the Time Machine", that'll be the death of it all..

| IP: Logged

Hillary Charles
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 748
From: York, PA, USA
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 12-13-2008 09:05 AM

quote:
quote: Mike Blakesley
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(woo, an old classic Carpenter's song.....)

Which was originally recorded by the group KLAATU, as Mike pointed out. It would have been a nice touch.

| IP: Logged

Justin Gorka
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 174
From: High Wycombe, England
Registered: Apr 2006

posted 12-13-2008 05:14 PM

Apparently the director took is ideas from the original book (1932?) so who know. Did like the grainy Gort....thought at first it was dodgy CGI but know we know different. Still think it's a reasonable film though(sorry....movie)

| IP: Logged

Monte L Fullmer
Film God

Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 12-13-2008 07:06 PM

Wow, forgot about that group "Klaatu" (being a TAS recommended recording group)

| IP: Logged

Todd Shelskt
Film Handler

Posts: 26
From: Manchester, CT
Registered: Feb 2008

posted 12-15-2008 10:48 AM

I haven't seen the movie yet, but one critic's comments made me laugh:

"Keanu Reeves plays an alien who doesn't talk much and shows no emotion. I really think he has found his perfect role." Kevin Carr

Everything tends to be so formulaic these days. Mylie Cyrus, product tie-ins, slick action, government agents. Where's the imagination? I loved the original "Day the Earth Stood Still." I have a feeling the new one's a stinker.

| IP: Logged

Joe Tommassello
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 547
From: Coatesville, PA, USA
Registered: Jan 2008

posted 12-16-2008 04:32 PM

Klaatu (the group) came out in the late 70s and were rumored to be the reunited Beatles at first. Their self-titled original album is worth a listen and you will pick up the Beatle similarities. Maybe they should have had a "Sub Rosa Subway" sign in the movie.

As for the movie I agree with the consensus here. Much ado about nothing. The original version - while not the most exciting sci-fi film - was at least thought provoking. This one is a mind-numbing exercise in environmentalist wacko propaganda. It doesn't even end...it just stops. IMAX 15/70 didn't even help this turkey. Reeves wooden acting style was actually beneficial to the role of Klaatu. The sexy new Gort and aging John Cleese were entirely underused. A missed oportunity.

| IP: Logged

Shane Cooper
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 232
From: Little Rock, Arkansas
Registered: Jun 2004

posted 12-16-2008 09:32 PM

quote: Justin Gorka
Apparently the director took is ideas from the original book (1932?) so who know. Did like the grainy Gort....thought at first it was dodgy CGI but know we know different. Still think it's a reasonable film though(sorry....movie)

Full disclosure: I am fan of the original and after watching this remake, I am ready to set it on fire.

Gort is the part I actually had the biggest problem with. Very inconsistent. You see "The Swarm" dissolve major structures like Giants Stadium in seconds, but when it comes to close ups, you see glass cracking instead of dissolving.

What a crock of [bs]

More importantly I found the whole thing incredibly boring. At least with the crap Michael Bay puts out I can enjoy it for two hours.

| IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3

Printer-friendly view of this topic

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.