I saw a trailer and it looks like this classic gets released in December. With Keanu Reeves in the Michael Rennie role.

Please do it good.

Good grief.

That's what I said. (JBL's did NOT cheer me up, no surprise there)

one is not optimistic.

That's what I said. (JBL's did NOT cheer me up, no surprise there)

No soup for you.

Problem with Reeves as an actor is he has one emotion and it will be terrible here.

WHY DO THEY MESS WITH CLASSICS!!

any modern makeover of any classic movie will be crap. Everyone so far has been IMO.
Just look at war of the worlds. crap.

any modern makeover of any classic movie will be crap. Everyone so far has been IMO.
Just look at war of the worlds. crap.

It also did not help that Tom cruise was a part of that movie. Every thing he touches (with the exception of the first MI movie) has turned to crap.

Why can't anyone have an original idea.


It also did not help that Tom cruise was a part of that movie. Every thing he touches (with the exception of the first MI movie) has turned to crap.
I thought the first MI was crap, his War of the Worlds was mostly crap because of the endlessly whinning kids. I dug out the original WOTW right before halloween and watched it again. Crappy acting but a great film. It was the "Gone with the Wind" of SciFi films

If you have ever read the book, the best War of the Worlds movies just might be M. Night Shyamalan "Signs".

The problem with making The Day The Earth Stood Still starts with the fact it's a dated concept.

Based on the trailer I saw it will be yet another film full of loud explosions and impressive CGI and little else. Another one of those "blockbusters" that will make a ton of money for a couple weeks then disappear into video.

As much as anything else, the original "Day the Earth Stood Still" is a statement on the paranoia and bigotry of the late 40s - early 50s. Many in the film industry were under suspicion because of their alleged political beliefs and/or their associations with so-called "communists." They were often called "un-American" because they had, or knew, someone whose socio-political leanings were left of the supposed center. Films like this were one of the only creative outlets for making a statement against these wrongs. It could not be made as a current "true-life" picture, as had the classic "Gentlemen's Agreement" in 1947; the message had to be rhetorical and methaphorical. It had to be in a sci-fi or a picture set in a previous century. Those were dark days in Hollywood.

These days? The story really belongs in the 1950s so I suppose the current film will really resemble the original only in the most basic way - the theme may be similar and the title is reused.

And Keanu Reeves? Gimme a break! I cannot understand how such a limited actor can have such a big career. He belongs in stuff like "Bill & Ted" and ...... wait a minute! Most of his films aren't any deeper than "Bill and Ted." They just have bigger budgets. Mindless fodder to put asses in the seats. A month in theaters and straight to video.

I remember how much Keanu Reeves stunk up Bram Stoker's Dracula. The only thing that saved that film was Anthony Hopkins entertaining and over the top performance.

Mr. Reeves makes more bad movies than good movies, but I'll give him props for the "Bill and Ted" series, the "Break Point" surfing flick (my wife loves that), and as the cop/drugee in "A Scanner Darkly."

Ken

any modern makeover of any classic movie will be crap. Everyone so far has been IMO.
Just look at war of the worlds. crap.

agree 100%.

It's doomed.

Yeah, Reeves was very out of his comfort zone in that one. His acting range is suitable for light comedy but when he's called upon to actually "act", well, let's say he's subpar. It's not that he can't, the main problem seems to be that his personality is so laid back and he has a serious lack of screen presence, nee "charisma." When he's onscreen with a better actor, say a Larry Fishbourne, Anthony Hopkins, or even a Patrick Swayze, he almost disappears. Surfer dude needs acting school.

Why can't anyone have an original idea.



I thought the first MI was crap, his War of the Worlds was mostly crap because of the endlessly whinning kids. I dug out the original WOTW right before halloween and watched it again. Crappy acting but a great film. It was the "Gone with the Wind" of SciFi films

If you have ever read the book, the best War of the Worlds movies just might be M. Night Shyamalan "Signs".

The problem with making The Day The Earth Stood Still starts with the fact it's a dated concept.

Are you kidding? There is nothing dated about this film, except it's original release date. The concept, and the ideology it's against is alive and well! And will never go away.

I saw a trailer and it looks like this classic gets released in December. With Keanu Reeves in the Michael Rennie role.

Please do it good.

Never heard of it.:scratch2:

Well, 'Klaatu barada nikto' right back at ya. I hadn't heard of the remake this yr. I imagine the only gain to this remake is more action & better visual effects. We (who have seen the original) already know the plot & outcome.

I thought Keanu was pretty good in that one movie with the grape farm. It was based in the far past..... Forget the name of it at the moment. He was coming back from the war I think.

Could be worse. They could do a black version with Martin Lawrence or Chris Tucker( I dunno..) in the lead...:rolleyes:

Or maybe even a Steve Martin version. He did a pretty good job destroying Sgt. bilko, and no I haven't/won't see his "Pink Panther"

Could be worse. They could do a black version with Martin Lawrence or Chris Tucker( I dunno..) in the lead...:rolleyes:

Although I could see Will Smith in the role of Klaatu. Maybe. Klaatu is a very serious and determined guy.

I'm having trouble imagining "Klaatu Narada Nikto" in Keanu's SoCal accent..

Or maybe even a Steve Martin version. He did a pretty good job destroying Sgt. bilko, and no I haven't/won't see his "Pink Panther"

How about a Mr. Bean "Earth Stood Still?" :)

Steve's Pink Panther is an insult to the memory of Peter Sellers imho... I bet someone remembered his "cheese omelet" routine and decided he'd make a funny Clouseau.

I'm having trouble imagining "Klaatu Narada Nikto" in Keanu's SoCal accent..


It'd be: "Whoa! Like, Klaatu Narada Nikto Duuude!" :stupid:

It'd be: "Whoa! Like, Klaatu Narada Nikto Duuude!" :stupid:

Dan, that horrible thought has been rollin' around in my head ever since I learned of this...Some things just need to be left well enuff alone...Remaking "Day the Earth Stood Still" is, IMHO, one of those.

Dan, that horrible thought has been rollin' around in my head ever since I learned of this...Some things just need to be left well enuff alone...Remaking "Day the Earth Stood Still" is, IMHO, one of those.

Yeah, it'd be like the Bee Gees remaking Sgt. Peppers... Oh, wait...nevermind... :thumbsdn:

I saw a trailer and it looks like this classic gets released in December. With Keanu Reeves in the Michael Rennie role.

Please do it good.

Is this the one where the Earth has to rotate at a certain speed or it explodes?

Is this the one where the Earth has to rotate at a certain speed or it explodes?

:lmao::lmao:

I thought Keanu was pretty good in that one movie with the grape farm. Forget the name of it at the moment.

A Walk in the Clouds. The grape farm was called Las Nubes (the clouds). Pure & simple romance film.

Re: Reeves, yeah, wooden is probably being generous. Still, looking at his catalog of films there are plenty there that I enjoy & that he starred in. Same thing for Cruise.

To the topic at hand, Day the Earth Stood Still, Reeves might possibly be perfectly cast. Michael Rennie wasn't exactly playing someone (an alien w/ human characteristics) that had a broad range of emotions.

At the risk of being stomped I have to say I never liked the original so it goes without saying I probably won't like the new one either.

I found the films message arrogant and hypocritical: alien comes to earth to warn humans to stop their violent behavior.......or they will be destroyed in a most violent manner!

HUH???

So, who is to judge these aliens in traveling the universe destroying planets that don't conform? So, Klaatu & his race of beings are acually very human-like only much more powerful.

Russ

I haven't seen the movie in many years. I thought the message was to "stop the violent behavior or we'd end up destroying ourselves". But my memory these days is flaky as Aunt Tilly's pie crust.

Russ, I believe the premise was the same as the books/movies 2001 and 2010. It was okay for us to be violent down here. But as soon as we stretched our legs a little, and could get around to other planets and stuff, we became a threat to more than ourselves. That's what got us the warning.

Russ, I believe the premise was the same as the books/movies 2001 and 2010. It was okay for us to be violent down here. But as soon as we stretched our legs a little, and could get around to other planets and stuff, we became a threat to more than ourselves. That's what got us the warning.

This more or less sums up my opinion on you staying in New Jersey.

This more or less sums up my opinion on you staying in New Jersey.

Someday I want to buy you a drink.

Make it a nice tall glass of lye would you?

Make it a nice tall glass of lye would you?

One for me too?

:D

Going by the trailers, I'll buy a seat. Not a remake so much but a new film carrying over some of the original film details.

The trailers -

You Tube Trailer (short) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_bNDv0-ZrU)

Apple Trailer (high quality) (http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/thedaytheearthstoodstill/)

Unknown source, 7.5 minutes (let it load, come back later) -

Extended Trailer (http://the-day-the-earth-stood-still-trailer.blogspot.com/2008/09/earth-stood-still-extended-preview-clip.html)

I was hoping that the cast of "A Scanner Darkly' would be involved in a re-make of "Dark Star"......Keanu would have made a great Captain.......

I saw that trailer a few weeks ago. Same title but apparently different movie. In the original, alien makes his point by making everything stop working at a given time, hence the title. In the new one, alien makes his point by blowing the living s**t out of one or more major metropolitan centers. Should have named it "The Day The Earth Got F****D"

My kid and I watched the previews, I withdraw my skepticism.

and Tinitus, I have your avatar on my wall.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x53/GustavHolst/Image1-2.jpg

and Tinitus, I have your avatar on my wall.

It is a good thing I placed no bets on the movie source of that poster.

In my mind's eye it was from 'This Island Earth' -

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q294/soundmotor/This_Island_Earth_MMM1954.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q294/soundmotor/this_island_a.jpg

I thought I had seen 'Invasion of the Saucer-Men' but guess I had it confused with 'Earth vs. the Flying Saucers'.

(Boy, there is a whole thread there on 50's sci-fi!)

Nice catch, guys. Those movies I grew up with are hardly on TV anymore.

Problem with Reeves as an actor is he has one emotion and it will be terrible here.

WHY DO THEY MESS WITH CLASSICS!!

That's exactly the way I feel about Nicolas Cage... no talent, one dimensional!
IMHO.


WHY DO THEY MESS WITH CLASSICS!!

Because they can't come up with anything original I'd say.

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q294/soundmotor/This_Island_Earth_MMM1954.jpg

Look, it's Scrotor!

"Michael Rennie was ill The Day The Earth Stood Still, & he told us where it began...And Flash Gordon was there in Silver Underwear, Claude Rains was the Invisible Man..."

"Michael Rennie was ill The Day The Earth Stood Still, & he told us where it began...And Flash Gordon was there in Silver Underwear, Claude Rains was the Invisible Man..."

I suppose the elephant in the room is if you really get hot when you see Janette Scott?

http://www.plasticdimension.com/hammer%20girls/janette%20scott.jpg

We have now fully sailed away to the land of OT..................................

"Michael Rennie was ill The Day The Earth Stood Still, & he told us where it began...And Flash Gordon was there in Silver Underwear, Claude Rains was the Invisible Man..."The Horror, the Horror!

Yeah, but all youse bestids KNEW what I was talkin' 'bout, didn't ya ?!? Hehehehehe..."Science Fiction, Double Feature...Doctor X will build a creature...See Androids fighting Brad 'n' Janet...."

I agree with everything thats been said...I also heard there's another remake in the works of THE THING,I liked Carpenters version quite a bit.Keanu Reeves?? Look at the bright side it coulda been Jim Carey..

There are some classics that have been redone and they came out beautifully (i.e. The Thomas Crown Affair). For the most part though I am in agreement with you about this.

Russ, I believe the premise was the same as the books/movies 2001 and 2010. It was okay for us to be violent down here. But as soon as we stretched our legs a little, and could get around to other planets and stuff, we became a threat to more than ourselves. That's what got us the warning.

Caught it at the end... This will be a preachy global-warming load. To quote the last line of the trailer:

"If you die the earth lives, if you live, the earth dies."

Which is funny, because I've always had the feeling the earth will survive regardless of what we do. It's living things that are at risk (if you buy this BS). It seems as if the trailer accomplished exactly the opposite of what it was supposed to do... Make me want to see the movie.

Aliens forcing the world to rotate extra-fast, under a threat of blowing it up, sounds like a better movie.

Read an article in the Trib about new movies released in December.

The buzz on this movie is positive. Go figure.

Maybe we should give it a chance.

They're going to re-make They Live.....

Might be interesting...

on topic...

The original concept art had Gort a little more modern/interesting.
Maybe a little transformers movie-ish but still interesting unique in it's own way.

Too bad they went with copy the old and screw creativity.


http://www.aintitcool.com/images2008/gortconcept.JPG



I'll be waiting for many reviews before I even think about a matinee viewing of this.

Hollywood disappoints too often.


Oh and technically...The Thing was a remake itself of a 1951 movie...

Oh and technically...The Thing was a remake itself of a 1951 movie...

The Carpenter remake was a lot closer to the Campbell short story "Who Goes There?" that the orginal The Thing from Another Planet was based on.

Should not remake a classic.:nono:

I say I'd watch just about anything with Jennifer Connelly in it.

dew.

This will be a preachy global-warming load.

I hope not. I've had about enough of that.

They're going to re-make They Live.....

Might be interesting...

It was interesting the first time because Rowdy Roddy was in it.

:thmbsp:

One for me too?

:D

Going by the trailers, I'll buy a seat. Not a remake so much but a new film carrying over some of the original film details.

The trailers -

You Tube Trailer (short) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_bNDv0-ZrU)

Apple Trailer (high quality) (http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/thedaytheearthstoodstill/)

Unknown source, 7.5 minutes (let it load, come back later) -

Extended Trailer (http://the-day-the-earth-stood-still-trailer.blogspot.com/2008/09/earth-stood-still-extended-preview-clip.html)


That extended trailer is quite good. More than I thought possible, it actually had a sustained creepy/tense feel. I had to stop watching, I didn't want to ruin it.

I have to admit I am not a big sports fan, it looks like they take out a stadium or two. More money for schools?:D



Klaatu: I am leaving soon, and you will forgive me if I speak bluntly. The universe grows smaller every day, and the threat of aggression by any group, anywhere, can no longer be tolerated. There must be security for all, or no one is secure. Now, this does not mean giving up any freedom, except the freedom to act irresponsibly. Your ancestors knew this when they made laws to govern themselves and hired policemen to enforce them. We, of the other planets, have long accepted this principle. We have an organization for the mutual protection of all planets and for the complete elimination of aggression. The test of any such higher authority is, of course, the police force that supports it. For our policemen, we created a race of robots. Their function is to patrol the planets in spaceships like this one and preserve the peace. In matters of aggression, we have given them absolute power over us. This power cannot be revoked. At the first sign of violence, they act automatically against the aggressor. The penalty for provoking their action is too terrible to risk. The result is, we live in peace, without arms or armies, secure in the knowledge that we are free from aggression and war. Free to pursue more... profitable enterprises. Now, we do not pretend to have achieved perfection, but we do have a system, and it works. I came here to give you these facts. It is no concern of ours how you run your own planet, but if you threaten to extend your violence, this Earth of yours will be reduced to a burned-out cinder. Your choice is simple: join us and live in peace, or pursue your present course and face obliteration. We shall be waiting for your answer. The decision rests with you.

I loved watching 50's Sci-Fi movies on TV when I was a kid (and I still do), but TDTESS really freaked me out.

One of the best 'chill down my spine' triggers from that movie was the exceptionally creepy score; in particular, the use of two theremins and the talents of Dr Samuel Hoffman and Paul Shure.

It was brilliant!

I played the movie earlier this year (on DVD) for my 10 year old son who really enjoyed it. But, when he went to bed that night, I made that two note theremin (lead-in to the scary parts) sound vocally while tucking him in.

He said, "Dad. . .please don't do that, ok? It's kinda freakin' me out."

It's nice to know that the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

:)

. . Falcon

The Carpenter remake was a lot closer to the Campbell short story "Who Goes There?" that the orginal The Thing from Another Planet was based on.

And Campbell's "Who Goes There?" was itself inspired/influenced by by H.P. Lovecraft's "At The Mountains Of Madness".

And Campbell's "Who Goes There?" was itself inspired/influenced by by H.P. Lovecraft's "At The Mountains Of Madness".

Which was inspired Edgar Allan Poe's lone novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket.

was itself inspired/influenced by by H.P. Lovecraft's "At The Mountains Of Madness".

Quite possibly one of the creepiest sci-fi tales ever penned.

:thmbsp:

Quite possibly one of the creepiest sci-fi tales ever penned.

:thmbsp:

Yes, indeed. And it can be found here (http://www.dagonbytes.com/thelibrary/lovecraft/index.html) for the reading...free. Along with pretty much everything else HPL wrote.:D

Yes, indeed. And it can be found here (http://www.dagonbytes.com/thelibrary/lovecraft/index.html) for the reading...free. Along with pretty much everything else HPL wrote.:D

Shunned House, check!

In the Walls of Eryx, missing!

:scratch2:

(Another great sci-fi!)

Quite possibly one of the creepiest sci-fi tales ever penned.

:thmbsp:

Turning into something of a threadjack, but as a kid around 9 years old I read my first true horror short story and the first thing I'd ever read by HPL: The Colour Out of Space. Scared the living you know what out of me. I still get that frisson of fear every time I read that story, even more than 40 years later.

Yes, indeed. And it can be found here (http://www.dagonbytes.com/thelibrary/lovecraft/index.html) for the reading...free. Along with pretty much everything else HPL wrote.:D

Wooo, cool, I'll have to do a little reading.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1193610-day_the_earth_stood_still/


Reviews are coming in and the percentage has dropped since I posted the address above...

I don't always care what the reviewers say but...sometimes it's a good thing to check.

I'll save my pennies for now. I'll check the thread to see feedback from those of you that went to see it.

Keanu Reeves did a fine job. I have no issue with his performance. I wish he was in a better movie. It really followed the original, it has a lot of scenes from the original. Spoilers kind of below....



The movie lost it's focus. Even Klaatu lost his focus. I have to deliver a message to the leaders of the world, never happened, in fact no message to anyone accept the woman who was helping him.

The little boy's change over to "can you help me" after all the stuff he pulled was non believable in a big way. To me there needed to be a inbetween step of him possibly asking Klaatu "why do your people want to kill our people?" He had none of the inquisitiveness of the other boy in the original movie.

The we can change for a few was contradicted by what they were showing on all the TV newscasts. Kathy Bates, channeling "Hillary Clinton" was quite fun to watch.

Based on what I saw if I was Klaatu i would've let the human race go. The ending was interesting. It looks like we lost all of our technology, all the lights out, oil stopped, no visible signs of electrical power or mechanical power. I guess that was the cost he was talking about.

If it had the focus of the original movie, it really would've been a really great movie.

Mark

At the risk of being stomped I have to say I never liked the original so it goes without saying I probably won't like the new one either.

I found the films message arrogant and hypocritical: alien comes to earth to warn humans to stop their violent behavior.......or they will be destroyed in a most violent manner!

HUH???

So, who is to judge these aliens in traveling the universe destroying planets that don't conform? So, Klaatu & his race of beings are acually very human-like only much more powerful.

Russ

Actually Russ, I think "Get along, or we'll kill all of you." is exactly what mankind needs to hear. A superior force threating to wipe us all out if we don't stop fighting might bring things into perspective.

Anyways,
I went to see this film last night.
Don't spend the money. Wait for it to show up on HBO.

The ending sucked worst of all.

Dave

At the risk of being stomped I have to say I never liked the original so it goes without saying I probably won't like the new one either.

I found the films message arrogant and hypocritical: alien comes to earth to warn humans to stop their violent behavior.......or they will be destroyed in a most violent manner!

HUH???

So, who is to judge these aliens in traveling the universe destroying planets that don't conform? So, Klaatu & his race of beings are acually very human-like only much more powerful.

Russ


Lets see, behave or go to hell. I think it's an idea we are used to. They didn't care what we did to our planet, or at least how we governed it, in the first movie. They're capitalists too, He mentioned "The result is, we live in peace, without arms or armies, secure in the knowledge that we are free from aggression and war. Free to pursue more... profitable enterprises."

No bow, yield, kneel. Just this is how we do things, and since your the new kids at the table we thought we would give you a heads up.


Actually Russ, I think "Get along, or we'll kill all of you." is exactly what mankind needs to hear. A superior force threating to wipe us all out if we don't stop fighting might bring things into perspective.

Anyways,
I went to see this film last night.
Don't spend the money. Wait for it to show up on HBO.

The ending sucked worst of all.

Dave


The ending was curt, but given the first one, Klaatu said his peace, and left, and after being shot twice, and killed once, I wouldn't be in a hurry to stay around and have tea.

The amount of fear and paranoia we have in the 2nd movie is amazing. I half expected Klaatu to get waterboarded.

Watched the original yesterday, forgot just how good it was.