The Day the Earth Stood still at DVinfo.net

Frank Granovski · January 8th, 2008, 02:30 AM

Do you remember this movie with the large robot? "They're" shooting a remake in the Lower Mainland. My brother's there watching right now---around the corner from where he lives. Lots of lights and smoke. :-)

Richard Alvarez · January 8th, 2008, 07:03 AM

Yup remember it well. Probably the earliest 'sci fi' memory of my life. It was technically a 'soft sociological' piece of sci fi - not a lot of technology and whiz bang to it. Just a tall guy in a neoprene outfit. But the 'message' was the primary element.

"Y'all get along with all this nucular stuff, or we'll have to wipe you out. You're living in a bigger world now. See ya."

I expect they'll probably screw that up in the new one. (Keanau Reeves as Klaatu???)

Heres the old trailer.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0043456/trai...lay-E29594-310

Bill Ravens · January 8th, 2008, 08:40 AM

Michael Rennie....a notable thespian

Kelly Goden · January 8th, 2008, 02:01 PM

Didnt even know there was a remake happening...the ship opening scene was very effective.

Gort was cool but the movie itself was kind of silly upon reflection. An alien race was willing to destroy all life on earth because of the actions of a few thousand members of one species. Talk about overkill. You would think they could do a surgical strike and just remove the problem element--or destroy all technology and let everything start over. No need to vaporize the planet.

There was a sequel planned in the 80s called the Day the Earth Still Stood. I think James Cameron was involved. Klaatu's daughter returns with Gort.

John Miller · January 8th, 2008, 04:45 PM

I hate it when epoch-making films are remade.

I think it shows a lack of imagination and a wanton desire to earn box office returns on someone else's work.

I don't think I've ever seen a remake better than the original. The most recent one I saw was Miracle on 34th Street. Horrible.

Frank Granovski · January 9th, 2008, 12:48 AM

I agree. Most remakes are terrible, and for television as well. Examples: Twilight Zone, Outer Limits---doesn't say much for Vancouver based production. Now please excuse me while I get ready to watch a DS9 re-run. :-)

Victor Kellar · January 9th, 2008, 06:36 PM

Actually, there was a short lived TV series based on "Earth" in the 80's. It starred one of the guys from Adam 21. That's all I remember of it. Probably lucky there.

I loved the movie when it first came out. Sure, the "message" seems silly now but at least it had a message which was rare in them days ... these days too. And Gort was cool. Every time I see that image I get the willies.

Barbara O Neal. Every time I see her image I get the willies .... um, just kidding.

Richard Alvarez · January 9th, 2008, 07:10 PM

I vaguely recall, after seeing the film on Television, that it inspired me to place a dinner plate in the backyard sand pit, scatter my green army men around it....

My mom wouldn't let me melt them.

Tim Miller · January 18th, 2008, 12:38 AM

Being a HUGE fan of 50's sci-fi, I have to say this is my favorite movie of all time. There is nothing in the film I do not like and I have seen it at least 30 times.

Anyway, I never had hopes for the remake - they never work - but when I found that Keanu Reeves was going to play Klaatu I completely gave up. I have a hard time taking him seriously as a human being much less an alien. The only thing worse would have been to have cast Liam Neeson as Klaatu. In my opinion he is the only major actor who is less talented than Keanu Reeves.

By the way, Patricia Neal is from my neck of the woods.

Victor Kellar · January 18th, 2008, 10:31 PM

"In my opinion he is the only major actor who is less talented than Keanu Reeves."

Really? OK, not the world's greatest thespian but think Nell or Rob Roy

Way worse: Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes .. gosh, the list just goes on and on

And I actually like Patricia Neal

Tim Miller · January 18th, 2008, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victor Kellar

"In my opinion he is the only major actor who is less talented than Keanu Reeves."

Really? OK, not the world's greatest thespian but think Nell or Rob Roy

Way worse: Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes .. gosh, the list just goes on and on

And I actually like Patricia Neal

Yeah, those guys are horrible to varying degrees. I'm not sure what it is about Liam Neeson that I don't like. For some reason he just irritates me. I didn't like "Nell" and I haven't seen "Rob Roy" - probably because Liam Neeson is in it :-) I did see "Star Wars EP1" and "The Haunting" - another butchered classic.

But to be fair to Keanu Reeves, it really doesn't matter who they cast to play Klaatu - their performance will pale in comparison to Michael Rennie's.

Richard Alvarez · January 19th, 2008, 09:09 AM

I'm just wondering how much the feel they will have to 'pump it up'. I mean, really there isn't much in the way of effects in the original one. A ship lands, some guns and tanks get melted, nothing elector-mechanical works (the day the earth stood still), and a guy in a neoprene suit has rays shoot out of his eyes... that's it. That's the extent of the 'scary effects and super powers'.

The strength of the script lay in the subtext of the story line. (Which is true of all great sci-fi and horror scripts). I'm thinking the 'brains' at the studio are sitting around going "Yeah, we need to blow up the eiffel tower, and melt the statue of liberty, and crush the hoover damn... yeah, and have the soldiers FACES melt off... and..." you get the picture. All the while, not looking at how the SCRIPT is key... looking at the theme, and updating THAT, while keeping its universal message.

In the midst of a writers strike.

Henry Dale · January 19th, 2008, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Miller

... the only major actor who is less talented than Keanu Reeves ...

What about Sean Bean?

January 8th, 2008, 02:30 AM	#1
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	The Day the Earth Stood still Do you remember this movie with the large robot? "They're" shooting a remake in the Lower Mainland. My brother's there watching right now---around the corner from where he lives. Lots of lights and smoke. :-)

January 8th, 2008, 07:03 AM	#2
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Yup remember it well. Probably the earliest 'sci fi' memory of my life. It was technically a 'soft sociological' piece of sci fi - not a lot of technology and whiz bang to it. Just a tall guy in a neoprene outfit. But the 'message' was the primary element. "Y'all get along with all this nucular stuff, or we'll have to wipe you out. You're living in a bigger world now. See ya." I expect they'll probably screw that up in the new one. (Keanau Reeves as Klaatu???) Heres the old trailer. http://imdb.com/title/tt0043456/trai...lay-E29594-310

January 8th, 2008, 08:40 AM	#3
Bill Ravens Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: santa fe, nm Posts: 3,264 Images: 10	Michael Rennie....a notable thespian

January 8th, 2008, 02:01 PM	#4
Kelly Goden Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Surrey BC Posts: 259	Didnt even know there was a remake happening...the ship opening scene was very effective. Gort was cool but the movie itself was kind of silly upon reflection. An alien race was willing to destroy all life on earth because of the actions of a few thousand members of one species. Talk about overkill. You would think they could do a surgical strike and just remove the problem element--or destroy all technology and let everything start over. No need to vaporize the planet. There was a sequel planned in the 80s called the Day the Earth Still Stood. I think James Cameron was involved. Klaatu's daughter returns with Gort.

January 8th, 2008, 04:45 PM	#5
John Miller Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hillsborough, NC, USA Posts: 968	I hate it when epoch-making films are remade. I think it shows a lack of imagination and a wanton desire to earn box office returns on someone else's work. I don't think I've ever seen a remake better than the original. The most recent one I saw was Miracle on 34th Street. Horrible.

January 9th, 2008, 12:48 AM	#6
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	I agree. Most remakes are terrible, and for television as well. Examples: Twilight Zone, Outer Limits---doesn't say much for Vancouver based production. Now please excuse me while I get ready to watch a DS9 re-run. :-)

January 9th, 2008, 06:36 PM	#7
Victor Kellar Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 239	Actually, there was a short lived TV series based on "Earth" in the 80's. It starred one of the guys from Adam 21. That's all I remember of it. Probably lucky there. I loved the movie when it first came out. Sure, the "message" seems silly now but at least it had a message which was rare in them days ... these days too. And Gort was cool. Every time I see that image I get the willies. Barbara O Neal. Every time I see her image I get the willies .... um, just kidding.

January 9th, 2008, 07:10 PM	#8
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	I vaguely recall, after seeing the film on Television, that it inspired me to place a dinner plate in the backyard sand pit, scatter my green army men around it.... My mom wouldn't let me melt them.

January 18th, 2008, 12:38 AM	#9
Tim Miller Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 43	Being a HUGE fan of 50's sci-fi, I have to say this is my favorite movie of all time. There is nothing in the film I do not like and I have seen it at least 30 times. Anyway, I never had hopes for the remake - they never work - but when I found that Keanu Reeves was going to play Klaatu I completely gave up. I have a hard time taking him seriously as a human being much less an alien. The only thing worse would have been to have cast Liam Neeson as Klaatu. In my opinion he is the only major actor who is less talented than Keanu Reeves. By the way, Patricia Neal is from my neck of the woods.

January 18th, 2008, 10:31 PM	#10
Victor Kellar Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 239	"In my opinion he is the only major actor who is less talented than Keanu Reeves." Really? OK, not the world's greatest thespian but think Nell or Rob Roy Way worse: Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Wesley Snipes .. gosh, the list just goes on and on And I actually like Patricia Neal

January 19th, 2008, 09:09 AM	#12
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	I'm just wondering how much the feel they will have to 'pump it up'. I mean, really there isn't much in the way of effects in the original one. A ship lands, some guns and tanks get melted, nothing elector-mechanical works (the day the earth stood still), and a guy in a neoprene suit has rays shoot out of his eyes... that's it. That's the extent of the 'scary effects and super powers'. The strength of the script lay in the subtext of the story line. (Which is true of all great sci-fi and horror scripts). I'm thinking the 'brains' at the studio are sitting around going "Yeah, we need to blow up the eiffel tower, and melt the statue of liberty, and crush the hoover damn... yeah, and have the soldiers FACES melt off... and..." you get the picture. All the while, not looking at how the SCRIPT is key... looking at the theme, and updating THAT, while keeping its universal message. In the midst of a writers strike.