The Day the Earth Stood Still (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, Jaden Smith, John CleeseDirector: Scott Derrickson
Studio: 20th Century Fox
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Running Time: 104 minutes
DVD Release: April 7th 2009
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DVD Review
A REMAKE OF THE 1951 CLASSIC SCI-FI FILM ABOUT AN ALIEN VISITOR AND HIS GIANT ROBOT COUNTERPART WHO VISIT EARTH.
User Reviews
60 Minutes - Rating: 3/5
Having been on earth for just more than six decades, I feel qualified in saying that the remake of this Sci-Fi classic is definitely the day the movie theatres stood still. I was 2...that's right, 2, when the 1951 classic TDTESS was released starring Michael Dennie and Patricia Neal...in black and white (of course). The 2008 remake stars Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly, a handsome and beautiful duo that have earned Academy recognition through the years. Stick to the 1951 classic. This one has all the millennium effects, sound and dull script, but it would have been much better if it had been condensed to a 60-minute remake on cable (like Masters of Horror). This was a yawner...had its moments...and the only saving grace was the beautiful countenance of Jennifer...she is just filled with natural beauty but she is much better cast in other films. I have to give 3 stars because of the casting and special effects. Cut this baby to 60 minutes and you have a winner.
An inferior "reimagining" of a sci-fi classic - Rating: 2/5
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This sci-fi movie is a "reimagining" or a loose remake of the original classic 1951 film of the same name. There are two extras with this movie, the most interesting and unexpected one being the original black and white classic on a second disc.
For those that don't know, this movie (and the original) are about a space alien (and his robot) who comes to Earth with an important message.
In this movie, the alien Klatuu (Keanu Reeves) is aided mainly by astrobiologist Dr. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) and her stepson (Jaden Smith) with some help from genius Professor Barnhardt (John Cleese).
This movie has a promising beginning but then settles into a story that alternates between Klatuu & Benson and the army trying to secure Klatuu's robot (eventually named GORT by humans). This movie is full of respectable references to the original movie.
We don't really learn about why Klatuu has come to Earth until about an hour into the movie. This movie tries to evoke action in the last thirty minutes but by that time it's difficult to save it.
This movie is heavy on special effects but is without a coherent story at its base. In other words, I had a difficult time following this movie. This movie takes it plot so seriously that the plot stands still with it.
I had no problem with Reeves and Connelly in their roles. My problem came with having John Cleese (of Monty Python fame) playing genius Professor Barnhardt. I'm afraid he just doesn't look like a genius. (Compare him with Sam Jaffe who played the professor in the original.) And the little boy played by Jaden Smith was just annoying. (Compare him with Billy Gray who played the little boy in the original.)
By the way, why and how does the Earth stand still in this movie? This is the movie's last scene. I have subsequently read a summary of this movie and now know why the Earth stood still but the reason is not apparent when watching the movie.
The background musical score in this movie was not all that impressive. (Compare it with the eerie space-like score of the original.)
I'm not going to review the original movie here. You're going to have to see for yourself why it is "one of the classics of the sci-fi genre." The original is easily a 5-star movie.
Finally, the DVD itself (released in 2009) is perfect in picture and sound quality. As well, the DVD of the original movie has been cleaned up. It probably has better picture and sound quality than when it was first released!! Be sure to listen for the following famous robot command in the original movie:
"Gort, Klatuu barada nikto"
In conclusion, this movie is a disappointing reimagining of a sci-fi classic.
** 1/2
(2008/1951; 1 hr, 45 min/1 hr, 30 min; wide screen/full screen; 28 scenes/24 scenes; color/black and white; 2 discs)
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Gort Klaatu barrada nikto - Rating: 1/5
The dvd ended, I stood up and said, "Without the line 'Gort Klaatu barrada nikto', it ain't "The Day the Earth Stood Still"." And, with that, I took the dvd and tossed it out the back door like a Frisbee into the abysmal darkness of night (which is EXACTLY where it belongs).
The Day PC Stood Still - Rating: 1/5
I am so tired of the west coast elite, telling all of us, we are bad for the world. We are the world. We belong here. Should we take care of this wonderful place we live in? Da, Yes.
This really is a piece of ShIIIIIIIIIIIIITe - Rating: 1/5
This movie sucks in all ways a movie can. The director, producers, and actors should apoligize and refund all people that payed a dime to see this garbage. I have seen the Billy Jack series, and this is by far blows far worse than the "The Trial of Billy Jack". The acting sucks, what do you expect from Canoe Reeves. I wish that the actors, director, and producer would all committ mass suicide to appease the peoople for the crimes they have comitted against humanity.
This movie sucks big time
This movie sucks more than than the Billy Jerk Trilogy. It's boring, the acting sucks (Keanu Reeves always sucks), The producer, director, actors, and all the staff should be sent to a gulag in Siberia and killed. They should be beaten for this, I mean severly, I hate them with a passion for wasting a $1.09 and 2 hours of total idiocy. I could film pissing in a bucket and it would be more entertaining than this piece of garbage. I liked the original, but if I was Stalin I would have all people related to this film executed summarily.
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