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These movies are 57 years apart in execution and outlook. the 51 release is black and white and has a iconic score by Bernard Herrmann. The 08 release is in color and has dazzling special effects. Both titles depart from the source material, FAREWELL TO THE MASTER. All three are engaging : to say more would involve spoilers.Classic, timeless and timely science fiction K O
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
I already owned the original ‘50’s version starring Michael Rennie, and I’m a big fan of ‘50’s sci-fi. I had great expectations for the remake starring Keanu Reeves, but the story, the screenplay, was just not that good. There were good moments, and the actors were all good. I was just disappointed in the remake.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
In "The Day the Earth Stood Still" Keanu Reeves has four acting emotions: serious, more serious, almost comatose, and unconscious. He and other aliens have come to Earth to wipe out all human beings because they are destroying the planet. The human beings think it belongs to them. Well, it doesn't! In reality it belongs to the galaxy, and human beings don't have a right to desecrate it. Are they ever going to learn? These alien beings, morally and intellectually superior to Earth people, are on a serious mission. On his visit Alien Keanu discovers that humans can be loving and compassionate. Gracious! They (We) aren't completely hopeless after all. The special effects are none too special or eye-catching and seem to be recycled from other movies. The kid in this movie is really annoying. More of a brat. A movie with this title was originally made in 1951, and it was a landmark sci-fi flick, a critical success. This one is barely a footnote in sci-fi history. Kathy Bates is a determined and proactive U.S. Secretary of Defense. She's on serious pills too. It is not one of her better roles, and she could do this one in her sleep; in fact, I think she does doze off at times in this one. Army officers order everything but the kitchen sink fired at the alien ships. The "nuke `em" scenes seem to be taken out of the latest Hulk movie. These cookie-cutter scenes seem to migrate from one film to another. After you see this movie, you may start rooting for the aliens.Read full review
I had high hopes for this remake of the classic 1950's B Sci-Fi movie that has become a cult classic. Between excellent digital effects (WETA digital - Lord of the Rings), is a slow, plodding story virtually copying the original screenplay. Keanu Reeves is wooden as Klatuu the alien presence, sleepwalking through the part, so much so that Gort had more emotion. The other actors (Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, John Cleese) are only marginally better. So, in the end, an expensive CGI movie without great acting is like a fast food meal - filling but unsubstantial! The Blu ray set includes a remastered copy of the original film. A beautiful black & white production with a surprisngly improved DTS soundtrack. Michael Rennie (The Third Man), an excellent and urbane actor, portrays the alien superiority without being condesending. Great supporting roles frm Patricia Neal, Sam Jaffe, and Billy Gray. It might have been a mistake including the original, but this is the redeeming feature of this set. Some films are better left alone!Read full review
Having studied this film in comparison to the first, the film director, Derrickson strove at making a wonderful film presentation, but somehow missed the mark in several important areas. Even though the film seems to be a work of art for most, after close scrutiny, I find this film to be littered with mistakes, carelessness, and inconsistencies. This, alone within itself, would cause you to wonder what really went wrong with this production, yet may not necessarily make the film unbearable to re-watch, it may well have the opposite effect on viewers as well. My problems with this film started soon after we are introduced to Jacob (Jaden Smith), Dr. Bensen's son. Hopefully not, yet his character may well go down in history as playing the most annoying child in film. ERRORS IN GEOGRAPHY: When Klaatu is walking in the train station, the "VIA Rail" signs make it clear he is in Canada. FACTUAL ERRORS: 1)When the surgeon removes the placenta material from Klaatu, he hands a scalpel to a nurse who is not wearing surgical gloves. 2) No British news service would use the British flag as its banner. The flag is not widely flown within the country. It's never shown on television; stations feel that viewers already know which country they're in. 3) The MQ-9 Reaper is powered by a turboprop engine, not the jet engine shown in the film. 4)The colonel commands the controllers of the MQ-9 Reaper to fire their Sidewinder air-to-air missiles at the robot. The Reaper carries only GBU-12 Paveway II or AGM-114 Hellfire II air-to-ground missiles. 5)Helen Benson is put in a CH-46 helicopter along with other scientists and US Army soldiers. When it takes off, "UNITED STATES ARMY" is painted on the side. The US Army does not operate the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter. FILM CREW/EQUIP VISIBLE: When Klaatu escapes from the bunker, the camera is reflected the the elevator doors before they open. REVEALING MISTAKES:(At 1:08:03) When the TV speaker announces the latest news that there were riots in "London, Chicago,& many cities in China", on the screen you can see some vandals breaking stores, police on horses, and the 3rd video is not from listed cities, but from Belgrade(Serbia). They used a historical event which occurred on 5th October 2000, when 500000 demonstrators set the Parliament building on fire. On that day, Slobodan Milosevic was overthrown from power. CONTINUITY ERRORS: 1)At the start of the movie, when Helen Benson walks into the room of her son, in the background on a shelf you can see an action figure resembling a karate fighter due to its white outfit. However, when Helen leaves the room again, the figure is gone. It is replaced by an entirely different action figure. 2) When Klaatu is standing in the interrogation room after putting on the suit, the interrogator's right hand is still on the machine. In the next shot, his hand is on his leg. PLOT HOLES: 1) Klaatu's ship is identified as "OBJECT 07/493" and "discovered just beyond Jupiter's orbit." Such an ID # would mean that the object was discovered in 2007. We know it's 2008 because of Jacob's father's death and Helen saying he died a year ago. 2)In the opening scene, an alien probe obtains a DNA sample from Klaatu, leaving a large scar on his hand, but even today's human technology can obtain a DNA sample less invasive way. Regardless of the errors, the film deserves to be recognized for astounding special effects and strong sense of purpose to send the world a message. I'll give this a 3/5Read full review
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