Movie the Day the Earth Stood Still Review
The Kid's Not Alright
Can 1 trivial kid ruin a movie?
Yup.
Think I'yard exaggerating? Watch this film. You can see Exhibit A of information technology right here in this scientific discipline-fiction "classic" picture show, a re-make of the 1950s hit movie of the same title. This re-make actually would accept only "bad" without inserting this annoying kid, but he made it "horrendous." Jaden Smith as "Jacob Benson" is a spoiled, bit-on-his-shoulder, disrespectful kid who incessantly talks dorsum to his female parent, who puts up with it - which is equally abrasive for most audiences.
What was the purpose of inserting this kid in the moving picture? What were the writers thinking? I'm glad to see a number of reviewers here agree with me on this ane. I guess if you're the son of a famous thespian (Volition Smith), they'll insert you in film roles, even if there is no purpose to it. And Hollywood wonders why people don't go to the movies much any more than, and they sneer at sorry re-makes?
Meanwhile, Keanu Reeves was a proficient pick for his starring role: an emotionless robot-like alien. Reeves is such a wooden-sounding actor to begin with that playing a bland robot is good casting for him. "Klaatu" is tailor-made for him.
Comedy was provided via the ludicrous ecology fearfulness-mongering bulletin in here. I laughed out loud in several spots when "Klaatu" explained to u.s.a. the reason for his mission. Information technology's and so stupid, it's laughable. I was reminded of Ed Wood's horrible sci-fi stories in the 1950s.
I will say some of the special-effects and the surround sound in hither is excellent. Information technology was the highlight of the movie. These are adept visuals and good audio, and a squeamish film to view on Blu-Ray. Unfortunately, the story got in the way.
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The Mean solar day the Audience Shrugged Their Shoulders
Warning: Spoilers
"The Day the Earth Stood Still" is a stunningly inept remake of the 1950'south classic of the same name. It'due south one of those big-budget films so unfathomably deadening and inane, you wonder how information technology ever got made. Whereas the original warned of the dangers of nuclear armament, this modern update boldly chides us for beingness mean to each other and non taking intendance of the environment. Gee, Hollywood, thanks for the peachy insight! This Christmas season Hollywood teaches us that people can sometimes suck, but only that special kind of film can suck totally.
Although the entire production is horrible from tiptop to bottom, the inert direction of Scott Derrickson and the randomly hare-brained script from David Scarpa acquit most of the arraign. The screenplay conspicuously went through arbitrary rewrites, perhaps after being focus-grouped to death, and shows not a single breath of imagination. Around every plow, it wastes opportunities and insults the intelligence of the audition and gives usa not one authentic character or moment to connect to. Even when information technology thinks it's being cool (like the lame reveal that those alien spheres are actually "arks" trying to save animal life before the earth is annihilated) the script fails miserably. One sphere that is shown on the back of a pick-upward truck being attacked past flame-throwers in some foreign desert boondocks inexplicably contains squid, considering, well, the shadows of squid inside a behemothic sphere wait kinda neat, that'south why! At least the script teaches united states of america one affair. Plainly all y'all need to exercise in order to survive an apocalyptic robotic alien insect assail that devours everything in sight is to hibernate nether a bridge in Key Park!
The saddest part of the film is how the director wastes his talented cast. The always wooden Keanu Reeves was perfectly chosen to play the alien Klaatu, but even he seems to be disbelieving the words that are coming out of his oral cavity. Poor Jennifer Connelly, an immensely emotive and alluring actress, appears to be in physical pain or constipated for almost the film, evidently stunned she agreed to star in this junk. Kathy Bates and John Cleese apparently showed up only for their paychecks and sleepwalk through their lines, and at one pivotal moment where Bates' Secretary of State attempts to show regret for some bad decisions made, she really appears to fall asleep in her chair. And and then there's poor little Jaden Smith, who appears bored to tears throughout the film and is given no management from Derrickson except when he is asked to weep on cue in the supposed emotional climax of the picture that left me feeling sorry for all involved.
Still, if anyone should exist hung for this travesty, it's the producers, who must've run out of money at some point and filled the gap in funds with some nauseating product placement. How else do nosotros explain Klaatu'southward trip to McDonald'due south for an of import coming together with another of his kind?
"The Solar day the World Stood Notwithstanding" is hands the worst film of the year. At least "The Happening" had its accidentally humorous moments. This clunker offers no such relief. Fifty-fifty the special effects are done in a lazy and unimaginative manner. It's so atrocious, I was stunned into stillness while the rest of the audience seemed to shrug their shoulders.
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Mildly entertains, but never reaches its potential.
The epic science fiction blockbuster is slowly only surely condign a dying class of cinematic amusement. Non since the days of cold war paranoia and the initial splurge of CGI technology back in the nineties has the genre seen much dear either from its cadre enthusiasts or those looking for something big merely different. Nonetheless there are numerous obvious reasons for its decline in demand, well-nigh of which are unavoidably apparent in this, the latest and arguably commencement of its kind for over a year now, The Mean solar day the Earth Stood Yet.
Based upon a picture from the genre's heyday, director Scott Derrickson'southward version lacks the same sense of awe, conviction and relevancy to our current social climate. Bombarded with underdeveloped themes, an breathless plot and extremely rough characterisation, the movie suffers not simply from a lack of significance in its arrival, just too in its implementation. Well-nigh disappointing of all withal is that in spite of the many technical flaws nowadays, the biggest let down is that the motion picture simply doesn't convince; the effects are impressive and the story can exist gripping through its thick layer of foreboding atmosphere from time to time, but an overall lack of substance hurts the motion picture's ability to truly depict you in and take off. It's a routinely enjoyable experience sure plenty, only an over reliance on this condom-play construction stops the feature from excelling beyond mere calorie-free amusement.
Telling a beginning contact story that involves rather heavy handed themes of a doomsday like prophecy, similar most good scientific discipline fiction movies big to small, The 24-hour interval the Earth Stood Still retains a sense of wonder and mystique to its tale, specially early on. During these initial moments of exposition which come to an eventual climax of contact with an conflicting presence visiting Globe for unknown reasons, the motion picture achieves its only real piece of coherent and engaging drama; the way in which it unfolds is magnificent and capitalises on the movie'south big effects upkeep in ways that experience impressive and yet essentially eerie at the same time- there are moments when this big shot sci-fi picture show actually feels similar a 18-carat product of imagination and heart.
Disappointingly however, this does not last very long. From hither on in the feature slowly but surely declines in both mystique and involvement, culminating in a third act which is about every bit convincing equally it is exciting; which believe it or not, isn't much at all. It'due south around this point that things take a desperate turn from intelligent and insightful science-fiction to big dumb blockbuster action motion picture; the themes that are brought up during the movie's initial stages are belittled to a deux ex machina that never quite seems justified, and the climax –if you can telephone call it that- feels stunted and perfunctory for the sake of giving a make clean feeling of catharsis. Information technology's peradventure the biggest reason why most major productions based on sci-fi scripts never seem to piece of work; the balancing deed between catering to the mass public and those wanting intelligent drama is a difficult ane to pull off, and nobody here seems quite sure how to exercise such a affair.
If there is one affair that I can praise the movie for, outside of its opening act that is, information technology would merely be within its excellent aesthetic pattern. From the dynamic score penned by Tyler Bates to the often endlessly interesting photography of David Tattersall, The Mean solar day the Earth Stood Even so gets most of its outer shell right, even if everything that lies underneath is a less than inspiring mess. 1 also has to depict attention to lead star Keanu Reeves who plays Klaatu, the alien/human hybrid visitor and mediator who is welcomed to Earth with a less than hospitable, only terribly human being introduction. Reeves is an actor known for his alien-similar, wooden mode- which is why he is and then often found in these kinds of films- and it suits his character adequately enough hither. Co-star Jennifer Connelly holds her own also, and while she isn't given much to work with throughout, she does a fine job in playing as Keanu'south contrived human being sociology lesson.
When the credits roll however, despite the movie's impressive effects, imaginative premise and somewhat entertaining moments, The Day the Earth Stood Still simply feels similar an empty experience. As science fiction, the movie conjures up some intelligent questions and yet David Scarpa never seems quite up to the task of taking them any further; and as popcorn fodder, the picture simply doesn't do enough rule-breaking to come up off as anything but standard fare. This awkward need to balance both crowds irrevocably results in a feature that indeed avoids polarising, but just to the point where by and large anybody will leave feeling under-stimulated. It has its fair share of compelling and visionary moments, but a distinct lack of development, coherency and substance stops The Mean solar day the World Stood Even so from beingness one worth remembering. Calorie-free sci-fi with a dash of social intrigue that mildly entertains, but never reaches its potential.
- A review by Jamie Robert Ward (http://www.invocus.cyberspace)
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Jaden Smith ruined the whole motion-picture show
I second another reviewer who said they'd have given it 10 stars if the pic ended with his character being killed. Not but was his acting horrible but the classic kid character that's annoying, makes problem, doesn't mind and runs away causing problems totally ruined everything that could accept been good. If our survival as a species depended on this child representing us, nosotros'd have been wiped out immediately, simply similar this pic's skilful ratings.
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Humankind saved by spoiled brat - over again
I saw this movie on TV terminal nighttime, as I would have never gone to the cinema and wasted my hard-earned money on information technology. Peculiarly not after having read some of the negative reviews posted here. I cannot only agree with almost of them.
In a nutshell: Keanu Reeves was probably built-in to play this part. He is inexpressive and emotionless as the conflicting part is playing requires. Whether thanks to his interim skill or personality, I do not know, only he does a good job. Apart from him, everything else sucks. Connelly is totally unconvincing playing a scientist. Never saw any scientist looking similar a model; honestly, if you are that attractive, you plan a career in evidence business, not in a lab. The kid – Volition Smith's son - is a total brat. Obviously he got the part thanks to daddy. But what has this got to exercise with actually being able to act? Absolutely zip.
To compound the felony, humankind is supposed to be saved thanks to the emotional connection of the alien with this obnoxious kid. If this was a real life situation, I think the conflicting would speed upwardly destruction subsequently having met this unbearable deviling. How is whining and beingness a pain in the ass supposed to prove that humankind will change for the better? If our salvation depends on a kid – peculiarly i like this – we are definitely doomed. And perhaps the aliens take a good point.
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A before long-to-be forgotten remake of a timeless classic
Alert: Spoilers
The 2008 version starts off somewhat promising. Different the original, at that place is a build-up to the first encounter with Klaatu, which is sort of effective in eliciting both wonder and fearfulness. Information technology's reminiscent of Close Encounters of the Tertiary Kind and Independence 24-hour interval. It proceeds down a similar path to the original for a while afterwards, embellishing a bit in some areas.
While Michael Rennie's Klaatu was a complicated character, simultaneously coming off equally creepy and trustworthy, Keanu Reeves'south Klaatu is inappreciably more than a robot. He is completely inexpressive and undynamic. At that place's no way the audience can identify with him, then his fate seems ultimately unimportant. Also, his purpose is largely unclear in this version. He was a messenger in the original; the closest thing he can exist related to in this version is a harbinger of death...
Which brings me to my biggest complaint with the movie. Robert Wise's version had a clear underlying bulletin to its audience; Scott Derrickson'south version doesn't. Though the "big consequence" that the film deals with has been inverse from the nuclear arms race to global warming, it is inappreciably touched upon. The destruction of the human race is triggered with petty more than a few lines of explanation.
Not to undermine the efforts of the 1951 archetype's film crew, merely The Mean solar day The Earth Stood Still is a classic because of its message, a bulletin that easily however applies today. Derrickson's version of The Day The Earth Stood Still could have been a marvelous way of touching modern audiences with an erstwhile truth. Instead, it focuses more than on thrills and special furnishings. Klaatu would be disappointed...
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You know what'due south sad? 1951 had better special effects than we exercise!
So I was i of those people who was screaming no at The Solar day The Globe Stood Still remake, the original is one of my favorite movies. Information technology's a terrific sci-fi film, probably the best to come up out of the 50'due south era. I highly recommend information technology; moving onto the, sigh, remake. Keanu Reeves, mmmm, what on Earth about him scream alien? I guess since it looks like it hurts when his confront expresses human emotion, he'due south what the director needed. Merely what I didn't appreciate about the remake is that information technology completely changed the story and the moral the first moving picture brought to usa. If nosotros were to accept a remake of this story, at least it seems similar in today's world it moral is more important than ever, that humans are just destroying themselves with all the technology and violence that we accept created. Instead, I go ii hours of Jennifer Connelly complaining to a stubborn Keanu Reeves on how much humans rock.
Dr. Helen Benson, a Princeton professor, and other scientists are hastily assembled past the government in club to formulate a survival program when it is feared that a big unknown object is due to affect Manhattan in approximately 78 minutes. Nil can be done most it because a vital military machine satellite has been disabled. It hits Earth and out of the sphere comes a being named Klaatu emerges from the sphere while accompanied by a large robot. Klaatu, a representative of a grouping of conflicting races, has come up to assess whether humanity can reverse the environmental damage it has inflicted on planet Earth. In the frightened confusion, Klaatu is shot, but survives and is taken to a authorities facility. While recovering from his injuries, Klaatu is detained by Regina Jackson, the United States Secretarial assistant of Defense, and is barred from speaking to the United Nations. Klaatu manages to escape, and he soon finds himself eluding the authorities throughout northern New Jersey, specifically Newark and the forested Highlands, with Helen and her stepson Jacob. After speaking with Professor Barnhardt most how his own species went through drastic evolution to survive its sun'south demise, Klaatu is convinced past Helen and Jacob that humans can modify their ways and are worth saving The three get toward the sphere in Primal Park to stop the machine from destroying the world.
So when I really think about this moving-picture show, it just makes me sad. I was going to exist fair with the rating, but gosh, those special effects? For 2008, it seems like nosotros got worse with CGI, the catastrophe effects were just way way way over the meridian. Keanu Reeves is sadly the merely convincing histrion in the film...? Oh, my God, did I just say that? Not to mention, did Kathy Bates owe someone a favor? She's a terrific extra, why was she in here? I likewise love how Jaden Smith, Will Smith's son, is taking his daddy's footsteps in alien movies, does Will Smith come from another planet? Because information technology seems like that family is obsessed with aliens. I'yard going to do y'all a favor and recommend watching the original 24-hour interval the Globe Stood Nevertheless, believe me, information technology's so much better.
three/10
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I couldn't sit yet, let alone stand.
I don't know about the world continuing still but I certainly had a hard time moving later this ane finished. I think I may have been in daze. I didn't know they still fabricated movies as bad as this. That's me, I judge; the eternal optimist, thinking one twenty-four hours Hollywood will see the error of their ways. I'm starting to think there'due south a greater hazard of aliens landing in Manhattan though. You lot don't have a highly regarded classic like THE DAY THE Globe STOOD Even so and update it for no reason other than to make a few bucks. Certain, you can pretend there is purpose; you tin greenbacks in on the electric current environmental crisis fears by insinuating that aliens have come to globe to salvage the planet from the horrifically unappreciative human race. When y'all make a picture show with such condone for quality though, yous tin't practice anything to convince me that you actually intendance about what yous're trying to say.
I will give Hollywood this though; they have finally found the perfect vehicle for the now- veteran Hollywood role player, Keanu Reeves. Reeves plays Klaatu, an conflicting in human class who has no capacity of expressing human emotion or understanding the intricacies of human nature and interaction. It might likewise say that at the summit of Reeves's resume and then this is Reeves in his element. Honestly though, this is the get-go time I can say that Reeves's presence in a film has admittedly nothing to do with why information technology is unwatchable. You know you lot accept a trouble when dialogue is so bad that it even drags Reeves's acting downward. In fact, having the familiar Reeves on board for this uneventful journey, alongside the strikingly beautiful, Jennifer Connelly, at least gives us something pretty to distract u.s.a. from the banality of the entire thing. Klaatu certainly rocks that three-piece suit though.
The earth is supposed to stand still on this particular day because aliens have descended upon Cardinal Park in a behemothic weather sphere of sorts. It is a momentous occasion, ane that could exist the sign of the cease of days. Nonetheless, in THE Twenty-four hour period THE EARTH STOOD All the same, panic hardly seems to be in the air. Panic comes from a fear of the unknown and an inability to see a solution to your problems but David Scarpa'south script is so painstakingly obvious and formulaic that y'all can run across right through to the end at all times. I hope I'one thousand not giving anything away here but as if this picture show would finish with humanity's extinction. And when the devices used to create the melodrama are so laughably contrived (who knew that a white step mom and a black stride son could take such hard times getting along?), at least you take the special furnishings to revel in. Mind yous, when the special effects are even more ridiculous than the ensuing melodrama in a big sci-fi pic like this, what is there to keep you sitting still, allow along standing?
Yous'll never believe this only humanity, or at least the American government run portion of humanity, take immediate military activeness against the alien invaders earlier giving them the chance to make their case. This next bit is fifty-fifty more shocking. Apparently, violence is not the answer to solving our problems. I swear, I learned so many hard life lessons watching this moving-picture show. Maybe the almost important lesson though is that humanity volition never learn. THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL represents the aforementioned disposable and commercial interests that are the root of our environmental problems. Yet, here is information technology preaching against the very values that justify its existence. For that reason alone, I would consider this film to be one of the about hopeless (and hapless) films of the year. We're essentially doomed so I say yous can take it, Klaatu. Globe is all yours. We clearly don't deserve it.
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Jaden Smith is gifted
At being annoying. He gives a primary class in this movie on the art of annoying. At first I thought it was merely the adult Jaden Smith that was so annoying. No. The child Jaden Smith is annoying as well.
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A disaster
zetes 14 December 2008
Alert: Spoilers
I am not one who is against remakes in principle, non even remakes of really proficient films. The 24-hour interval the Earth Stood Still is, as far equally I see it, a prime number candidate for remake. It would exist piece of cake to update this story to comment on current times. Modernistic audiences, afterward all, are very picayune effected by the Common cold War anymore. The makers of this new version do, in fact, attempt to relate their movie to modern affairs. The conflicting company, instead of interfering over Earth's nuclear ambitions, comes to out planet in order to stop united states from destroying our environment. That's a perfectly adequate updating. Unfortunately, as is the trouble with most remakes, The Day the Earth Stood Still '08 has the unmistakable aureola of having been made for a quick buck. You remember there's a classic called this? Throw us a few bucks, and you won't have to sit through information technology in black and white anymore! And there'll be a couple explosions! It all feels then rushed and sloppily thrown together. Scenes contradict each other, little of the plot makes whatever sense. The visual furnishings are wildly uneven. Gort in particular is a computer generated monstrosity that looks like he's been imported directly from a Nintendo 64 game. Pretty much all of the actors don't seem to want to exist at that place, and nearly all of them requite abysmal performances. We expect that from Keanu Reeves, but when Jennifer Connelly, who gives it her all even in junk similar Hulk, phones it in, y'all should realize your project has piffling merit. The entire picture is poorly paced and oft stilted. Information technology never works.
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Poor casting
Jaden Smith is the worst role of this entire film! He solitary makes it almost unwatchable!
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With a Whimper!
This is a sadly inept pic. It gets my usual comment. Let's encounter yous had millions of dollars, some wonderful actors, and incredible applied science. Do you call up you could have found a story to use to make use of it. The ii leads are incapable of anything interesting. He is totally dislocated and hesitant; she is full of emotions one moment and cold science the side by side; heroic one moment and incompetent the side by side. When the kid is crossing the river, Klatuu should take pushed him in. His character is nearly as unlikeable equally 1 tin be. This film started out well. I was really engaged. Merely then information technology got into the same old lack of imagination. If the armed forces is like that portrayed on the screen in these movies, we can kiss out butts goodbye. What if that guy coming out of the ship was just a guy flight a new aircraft. Of class, blow him away now; don't ask whatever questions. I beloved science fiction and it's so sad that when given an opportunity to do something with a cool situation, nosotros get this large budget bust. For heaven's sake, see the original from 1951.
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Boring and Abrasive
This is a very wearisome film. The 2nd half of the picture just drags into nothingness with a anti climactic ending. The aliens are laughable. The environmental message is preachy and heavy handed and non well idea out. It fails as a deep drama.
Acting is OK: Keanu is supposed to be a blank stone and so he'south okay. Jennifer Connolly is earnest. Jaden Smith can act just his graphic symbol is irritating beyond belief. In the end the characters are just not sympathetic at all.
Don't waste your time - you lot'll just end up frustrated and annoyed that you bothered to sit through it.
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Disappointing
FabD1 10 Dec 2008
Let's be blunt: this is definitely not a adept movie; it's non horrid either, it'southward just somewhere between boilerplate and bad. At that place are quite a few problems. Kickoff, with the script, which tries to incorporate all elements of the 1951 movie into a new, updated whole. The end result lacks cohesion and plays more like a sequence of v to ten minutes scenes badly sewn together, the prime objective of each scene being either to innovate an element taken from the original movie or, on the contrary, an thought absent form the1951 original, instead of simply advancing the story. 2d, the management: poor, poor, poor. Third, some of the worst acting I take seen in a mainstream movie for a long time; I plant the leads, peculiarly Keanu, quite good merely the other actors are decent at best, with Katie Bates delivering a frighteningly catastrophic 'operation'. I was not shocked (positively or negatively) by all the other aspects of the film.
Coming out of the theater, I found myself pondering about this remake and the 1951 original. I find the Robert Wise movie quite good, but non the masterpiece some claim it to be. I was therefore set to have a remake and the few new ideas offered by the 2008 picture made me painfully aware that a remake could indeed have been interesting, had it been put in ameliorate hands or, if I cartel say so, in much better easily. And so, to me, it's another sadly missed opportunity.
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Overall and something little
While I was worried well-nigh the casting choice of Keanu Reeves in the motion-picture show, in the cease information technology seemed someone else was the real Achilles heel. More on that in the next paragraph. Back to Keanu and his part. His graphic symbol does not challenge him too much, acting-wise that is. Jennifer Connely gets to aid him, but both of them become allow downwardly by the script.
At that place are so many plot holes, character holes and unexplainable mood changes, that would make Michael Bay proud. Seriously though, while any Michael Bay flick has a certain amusement value, the message that is delivered here, makes information technology all even more than unbearable. The icing on the (bad) cake is the kid (operation). So annoying that you wonder, why and how he could make people (or other creatures for that matter) alter their mind, in a positive sort of way ...
I liked the directors previous endeavour (Exorcism of Emily Rose), but this 1 but has a good bones thought ... execution wise - very bad. I'm seeing what he'south trying to achieve, unfortunately he fails disarming (actors fail too).
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Tin exist a smashing film if remade
Warning: Spoilers
Why do these movies experience they need to include a spoiled, overbearing kid? The blench worthy performance of Jaden Smith added annoyance to the script. Obvious influence by his famous popular no doubtfulness. Compassion every bit the kid added nothing to the message the film is crying out to portray.
The picture show starts off well enough, and so tries miserably to develop the characters and brand us care for them. The Bates role is truly absurd; Cleese'southward role has virtually nothing to say during what should be an astonishing encounter. The military point of view is typical as if there'southward only one area where the war machine is useful.
There were some very interesting ideas (the sphere-like ship, the nanobots, the Gort acronym) and the effects were great but the message was totally lost.
Keanu was perfectly cast and Connelly does a proficient job with what's given to her. All in all, another flop of a remake. This really makes the War of the Worlds remake shine.
America and New York are not the centre of the world, become real delight?
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Irksome and simplistic
America's meridian scientists are pulled together into ane identify and told of an object hurtling towards Earth on a direct collision course. There is little over an hour before it impacts and no chance of stopping it – all they tin can practice is gear up for the aftermath. Yet, the object slows and lands in NYC. A figure comes out but is shot and just an alien control prevents a large robotic figure retaliating. Dr Helen Benson is there when this figure (Klaatu) is recovered and taken to hospital where he develops a human being form. Distrusting the motives of her superiors and curious about this Klaatu, she helps him in a small mode that leads to his escape. Against the advice of her son, Dr Benson helps him farther only learns that, although he has come to "help", Klaatu's definition of "assist" may non be in everyone'south interests.
The trailer was rammed with the effects shots and it did enough to describe me in when I saw it recently. I'grand non sure why my encephalon did not stop me but it was the festive season and perhaps I had goodwill in my heart and figured that this trailer, this one trailer correct here, was telling me the truth and that this would be a dandy blockbuster sci-fi. Of course the truth is that it is nothing of the sort but even nonetheless, was it unreasonable of me to expect it to be at least an OK pic? Probably not but this boring, simplistic and bland sci-fi cannot even get to that. We'll get the activity out of the way kickoff. OK, in that location has been coin spent, there is no denying that – I could not make these images myself and would have no thought where to start. Are they the nigh amazing effects ever – no, but they are all the same proficient. The problem is that they are cipher more than images, the effect-driven sequences do not engage and practise non excite at any point and and then they but sort of "happen" and I met these scenes with a shrug.
The reason for this reaction is that the rest of the flick is wooden and/or simplistic to the point where the film was probably written in crayon. The plot is an offensively simplistic "green" message that just clunks down in front of the viewer with no intelligence or thought – and I say this every bit a left-leaning environmental professional, non as someone scoffing at the message itself. This crass bulletin is then filled out by wooden characters with barely serviceable (at best) dialogue, who are then pushed downwards a narrative path that doesn't ring true even once merely manages to exist corny and contrived at the same time as being wooden. Nothing in the plot or characters engage the viewer at whatever bespeak, instantly killing the film by leaving the majority of the audience looking at their watches and wondering when information technology volition be over, rather than caught upward in it.
The cast match this feeling of blandness. Fifty-fifty if Reeves was a great actor, the material would accept limited him. He is not a great actor and so the poor script is really just another layer of lacquer to his wooden performance. Connelly is no better equally the plot gives her a thankless task that she cannot deliver on – stumbling badly as she goes. It doesn't assist she has to work with Jaden Smith, who offers up almost cipher hither. Bates slums around in a vague function that is necessary as a plot device simply she is half-asleep while John Cleese gets the job of delivering the "moralising" part of the script – which is but dumped in 1 scene as yet another bit of proof of terrible writing.
The Twenty-four hour period the World Stood Even so is a poor pic. At best the blocks of narrative provide a really basic story to follow and the usual effects are OK (but all in the trailer) merely information technology is all and so basic and tedious that y'all'll not even make it to the halfway point earlier you are gear up for it to stop. And when it does end, information technology does so with such a pathetic conclusion that it is clear that many of the makers had stopped caring every bit well.
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Klaatu's (Not so) Excellent Take chances...
Alarm: Spoilers
The new version of "The Day the Earth Stood Yet" should be offered as a lesson in everything that is wrong with Hollywood today. Robert Wise's 1951 version is perfectly fine on its ain, and there was no reason to remake information technology.
The movie begins with a scene where a mountain climber in 1928 encounters a sphere, which collects his DNA to produce a clone who looks just similar Keanu Reeves fourscore years later. The scene is completely unnecessary and is handled better by exposition afterwards in the movie. Flash frontward to the present, where Jennifer Connelly is a scientist and a single adoptive mother. (Keep in mind, the equivalent character in the 1951 version was a simple government worker, and that was just fine.) The government grabs her to prepare for the impeding arrival of an unknown space object.
Well, this is pretty much the setup for the 1951 version, the UFO lands, and its occupant is shot past a nervous soldier. The robot Gort emerges from the spacecraft and mixes information technology up with military machine. Except now Gort is twoscore anxiety tall and rendered by CGI. The conflicting Klaatu is rushed to the infirmary, where his request to address the UN is refused past Kathy Bates playing the Evil Regime Lady. (Incidentally, more than of liberal Hollywood – the U.s.a. is portrayed as the 'bad guys'.)
What follows is Klaatu escaping from the Secret Government Facility, and and then proceeding to come across with another of his kind who'south been here for 70 years. (And they run into at a McDonald's. Isn't Mickey Dee part of the problem?) They mutually conclude humanity tin can't exist reasoned with.
Now, the 1951 version was topical because information technology was but a few years after WWII, and humans were creating weapons capable of destroying the planet. It was a cautionary tale. This one tries a cautionary tale as well, we hateful old humans are slowly destroying the planet, then these avant-garde aliens are going to destroy it chop-chop later on extracting the snail darters and spotted owls. Yup, the ecology reasoning of people who fly around on private jets… They aren't the trouble, you are!
Connelly's character convinces Klaatu to meet with one of our groovy scientists, played past John Cleese (Actually, the former Python gives the only decent performance in the picture.) Unfortunately, Cleese asks the sensible question, if you're then worried, use your advanced engineering science to ready the problem. Oh, wait, can't do that. We'll merely exterminate your whole species and most of the others and so reseed the planet. Yeah, that makes more than sense than slightly adjusting the CO2 level in your temper.
Well, a bunch of actions scenes later on, which should accept convinced Klaatu that we are a bunch of homicidal maniacs, he changes his listen and decides to salvage humanity. Except past this time, Gort has converted into a swarm on flesh and metal eating Nano-bots that proceed to expand over the east coast.
The terminate of the movie is Klaatu calls off the nano-Gorts, but renders all technology on the planet inert. Of class, this makes no sense. That wouldn't just 'alter our lifestyle', it would result in 6 billion people dependent on industrial agronomics starving to death, leveling forests to keep warm, probably eating some of those endangered species to stay alive.
Missing are the 1951'due south version's Christian allegories. In the classic, Klaatu comes to us with an important bulletin, lives amongst the states as "Mr. Carpenter" (who else was a Carpenter?) is betrayed and killed, simply rises from the dead. Before he ascends back in to the Heavens, he gives us an important message that nosotros demand to straighten up our human action. This ane has no such subtlety, it's just an alibi for CGI and action sequences.
Okay, lessons to be learned class. 1) If a movie was perfectly expert the outset time around, it doesn't need to be remade. If it wasn't, then there'due south no need to try again. 2) Special Effects are Non a substitute for plot logic, character development or dialog. Neither are activity scenes. 3) Keanu Reeves still tin can't human activity. 4) Product Placement by corporations that are role of the problem you are whining about undercut your message. 5) No need to trounce us over the caput with the message. We had to mind to the annoying kid whine nearly his dead father for well-nigh of the film. Wise handled this with subtly. We meet a tombstone with the proper name and "Anzio" written on it. Got the signal across.
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Will Smith's Child ruined information technology for me.
If Klatu and his robot had come to Earth to kill Jaden Smith, i would accept given this Movie 10 stars. I'll be Frank. this kid ruined the flick for me. The 1951 version is yet my favorite. 2008 version has some good furnishings, But changing the storyline is stupid. Casting is awful. And I'll say it again Jaden Smith killed the Pic for me.
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The Day the Motion-picture show Jammed
This film is lost, lost, lost, and going nowhere. It has been misconceived, has no betoken, is overdone like a burnt steak, and just think of all the money they wasted on producing this rambling, directionless, self-indulgent failure. Strangely enough, I rather liked the cardinal performance by Keanu Reeves as the visiting alien. Some people might say it was wooden and inexpressive. But it was chillingly convincing, and more than or less the way an alien of that sort would human activity (I know several, they come up from a rival planet, and would never be immune on mine). I actually admired the sturdy determination of Reeves to maintain continuity of mood throughout this mayhem, where crazy things were happening all around him and he had to put up with Jennifer Connelly and her obnoxious, thoroughly revolting brat. Why on earth (even if it were standing still) did anyone choose Jennifer Connelly for the role of the adult female? (One cannot call her the 'honey interest' because Keanu Reeves, as an alien with no expression, is above such things, or below them, or whatever.) Fifty-fifty when they are trapped in a machine on long dangerous drives, looking at each other meaningfully, the meaning has zero to do with males and females simply more to do with dogs and cats. Connelly looks haunted, just for the wrong reasons. She seems non to have slept in 10 years. She really should have a holiday and freshen upwardly. Why are her eyes so sunken and tired? She does not add together whatever cipher to the action, she makes us want to go take a nap or we will look similar her. Reeves has never looked amend, even when he was a young buck with doe eyes (is that a contradiction?) The DVD of this flick offers the states the original pic starring Michael Rennie as an extra. 'Oldies but goodies!' Bring back the days when they knew how to make a science fiction moving picture properly for only a tiny budget and impress the hell out of us! The worst affair about the film is the bloodcurdling son of Jennifer Connelly. I don't want to mention the unfortunate male child actor's proper noun, I simply want to signal out that the whole matter stinks. What is this obsession they accept in Hollywood with putting icky children in every picture show who then have to exist worshipped by cringeing, apologetic, neurotic parents? Is information technology considering all parents are now cringeing and neurotic? Or all children have now get that offensive, sneering, sulky, and big-headed? And has anyone noticed that Connelly is every bit white as parchment while her 'son' is, well, what shall I say? I don't want to commit a 'detest criminal offence' by pointing out that he differs rather extremely in hue. As we all know, we aren't permitted anymore to mention any skin color other than white without getting arrested. But isn't this carrying blackness tokenism in films to insane extremes? What a mess. Further comment well-nigh this meandering, unfocused, pointless exercise in cinematic vanity would exist an law-breaking to those electrons who sacrifice their lives to announced on our calculator screens. Or should I now say those liquid crystals who offer themselves for annihilation on the altar of a potassium carbonate plastic drinking glass, then that we may all read and write in cyberspace? This is a sci fi review, after all. (And as for the plague of metal locusts in the moving picture, come on! Permit'south get unreal!)
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A Existent Disaster Motion picture
Alarm: Spoilers
The days when Hollywood once turned out such classics every bit the l951 THE 24-hour interval THE EARTH STOOD STILL, are long gone. When we go to the multi-plex today, we're treated to endless, lousy remakes of Asian horror flicks, endless sequels (i.eastward., Saw, Alien, Terminator, Halloween, etc.) that squeeze every driblet of magic from the original until there's but a dried up rind. This remake of The Day the Earth Stood Notwithstanding, is a perfect, pitiful example of what passes for movie sci-fi/fantasy in the year 2008. While the l951 original still fascinates with its powerful interim, script, product and that fabulous Bernard Hermann's musical score, this new accept features a shockingly inept bandage and grade-Z special effects.
Nosotros're treated to a zombie-like Keanu Reeves who shows the emotion of an oyster. His face and eyes never change expression. His vox sounds like a dead man. His fellow living corpse is Jennifer Connelly who acts as if she exists in a different universe with no connectedness to what's happening around her. Fifty-fifty worse, is the obnoxious, surly black kid, Jaden Smith (oh, yes, son of the mighty Volition Smith) who is and then repulsive you lot wish the giant robot Gort would zap him off the screen. It's as if the moving picture makers are so fanatically politically correct that they gave us a black child who is supposedly adopted by a white adult female, Jennifer Connelly. They have no rapport, simply so the child is so hostile, ane can understand why. One of the key figures in the original was the young male child played past the wonderful child actor, Billy Gray. He was and so genuinely sugariness and likable that yous really loved him. When he shows the alien the memorial graveside of countless dead military men and women, and then visited the Abraham Lincoln memorial, yous were profoundly moved. When Jaden Smith does this in the remake, a glycyrine tear dribbles down his cheek ss he glares sullenly at the zombie-like Reaves. Wow, what a really downwardly, hostile scene.
There's no sense of impending disaster and when the day finally comes for the Earth to stand still, a swarm of badly executed CGI bugs destroy Yankee Stadium and so finish. Keanu Reeves has patently discovered that mankind isn't all evil. That's because the black kid and his mother accept persuaded him that at that place is withal proficient in the man race. If only, there was some good among movie makers, the blazon of goodness that would persuade them to give u.s.a. some original, scary moving-picture show magic--like Alien, The Thing, The Terminator, halloween, etc.
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Like an former testament prophet
Watching this remake of The Twenty-four hours The Earth Stood Notwithstanding reminded me of how Q in the opening episode of Star Trek The Next Generation was ready to condemn humanity out of mitt. But at least John DeLancie was maxim this far you've gone and no farther. Hither like an onetime attestation prophet Keanu Reeves has come to render final judgment on humanity and how it is messed up the gift of planet earth.
Keanu Reeves was certainly dissimilar than Michael Rennie in his interpretation of conflicting Klaatu. He's more like Fredric March in Death Takes A Holiday, the handsome immature stranger who brings a hope of destruction. Rennie was a sophisticated kind of player and brought that quality to his functioning. In his version he does mix and mingle with humanity and does save us from the big robot.
The robot here is about the size of the Statue Of Freedom much bigger than the 1951 moving-picture show. His arsenal is mighty and in the climax, positively biblical.
I do prefer the 1951 motion-picture show, merely this i is not as bad as folks make it out to exist.
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Why was that kid in there?
Warning: Spoilers
That kid ruined a movie that might take been okay. There was no reason to constantly hear his wining and back-stabbing. It really ruined a movie that was just hanging onto me past a thread. I really wanted that kid to just die at the end of the movie. Everything nigh him was awful.
The rest of the movie was okay. It should take been much cooler. The 50'south version had cutting edge and suspense. This had none of that, plus bad CGI work. How many times have we seen NYC destroyed? We don't need to see that anymore. The "Ship" was very lame. A saucer would accept been much better, merely anything would have been better that what they picked. The Military people and all were atrocious.
Overall it was mildly entertaining and really felt more like 1 of those bad Sci-Fi channel movies, bad graphics and all. Get the DVD and just fast forwards it every fourth dimension you lot run across that child and the movie volition be much better.
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Day of the nonsense
What is this? An alien goes to McDonald'south and decides to destroy the world. And there's some demented kid running around annoying everybody. I'd blast the Earth too if it meant getting rid of that kid.
A ridiculous "remake." It has petty if anything to practise with the original. Instead of a cool disintegrator ray, we go some flying oragami cockroaches. And some dark clouds, too. Before, the aliens wanted us to cease fighting wars, now they've appointed themselves ecology cops or something. They don't like....uhhh, whatever information technology is. Then there'due south Kathy Bates as a Secretary of Defense with a bad hair 24-hour interval. Her lines are ludicrous; I thought she'd burst out laughing whatever 2nd. And even so in that location's that punk deviling getting on your fretfulness the whole time.
Continuity does not exist in this film. After deciding to wipe out everybody, Klaatu saves somebody. Then the guy can die with the rest of us, plain. One scene shows Tv news footage of world wide rioting and violence. The reporter breaks from this trivial story to report the forepart folio banner news flash that there's a man wanted past the police for questioning. Such foolishness goes on from beginning to finish.
Klaatu barada niktu. Translated means: "Klaatu, zap that kid already, won't y'all?"
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annoying remake with poor casting
Oh await. another preachy picture show most how humans are messing up the planet. Strange how this theme slipped into a movie when we're beingness told near climate modify and such all being our mistake. If information technology'due south true it's the fault of big business organisation, which is condoned and supported by regime so what nosotros, the people, are supposed to do I take no idea.
Equally to poor casting, it seems that every film with Jayden Smith has him playing a snotty picayune sh*t. All I wanted to do throughout the whole film was see someone give him a practiced slap. That fact alone kept me from getting into the flick.
If you really want to spotter the Day The Earth Stood Still, forget this tripe and sentinel the original. Information technology'south that uncomplicated.
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