Comments on: Day the Earth Stood Still – Review

By: Steve Biodrowski

Steve Biodrowski — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:09:53 +0000

I noticed no hostility during the press conference I attended, at which Reeves and Connelly sat side by side. (There were two other speakers on the panel, so it would have been easy for them to contrive to be separate.) I doubt the film will be a blockbuster. It's interesting but not satisfying. People looking for something like the original will be disappointed. Those looking for another ID4 will also be disappointed.

By: Merci Merci

Merci Merci — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:32:05 +0000

Steve, were you able to tell between the actors there was little or no commodity? Watching several interviews, in tandem and solo, with Keanu and Jennifer neither is convincing either is a fan of the others. The stiff, distant, almost abrasive body language during press calls/premieres is alarmingly hostile. I have wondered had they gotten along during the filming at all. What do you think the long term boxoffice receipts will be? Is this a blockbuster or a one week semi-blunder?

By: Steve Biodrowski

Steve Biodrowski — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:43:14 +0000

You certainly hit the nail on the head about what is wrong with the new version. I did not specifically mention it in my review, but motivation for Klatuu’s mission is weak, because polluting Earth does not threaten other planets. The film tries to raionalize this by having Klatuu remark on how rare are planets that can support life, as if these planets are such a valuable resource that they must be saved from their occupants.

It would have made more sense if Klatuu were not an alien but some kind of spirit or personification of Mother Earth.

By: ravingdave

ravingdave — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:22:34 +0000

It’s Wednesday, December 10, 2008 and the re-make of one of the greatest science fiction movies of all time, “The Day The Earth Stood Still”, opens in two days. My “Google” search for pre-
opening reviews turned up only one–your thoughtful, well-written piece–for which I’m grateful.

Unfortunately, it confirms what we fans of the original had suspected and dreaded: that the film-makers botched the job. It seems their biggest mistake was trying to jump on the global-warming band-wagon instead of sticking to the premise of the original.

In the original, Klaatu tells us that he and his fellow planeteers didn’t care what we puny earthlings did to one another as long as the damage was limited to our planet. It was only when we threatened to export our insanity via space exploration that they felt the need to intervene. That makes sense.

Climate-change may or may not present the dire consequences to the planet that its critics claim. What it clearly doesn’t do is present any threat to the rest of the universe. Maybe the new Klaatu is ready to destroy Earthlings on moral grounds alone. If only we had (choke)recycled and (sob) changed our lightbulbs.