The Day The Earth Stood Still

I'll immediately "cut to the chase" regarding the newly-released remake of the classic 1951 science fiction film starring Michael Rennie: avoid the remake. It is terrible.

The original film is a science fiction classic; in my opinion easily one of the five best SF movies ever made. Director Robert Wise (1914 - 2005; editor, Citizen Kane, director, Run Silent, Run Deep; West Side Story; The Haunting; The Sound of Music; The Sand Pebbles; The Andromeda Strain; Star Trek: The Motion Picture to name but a few) incorporated some remarkable things in this film, to include Bernard Herrmann's captivating score (first ever to use the theremin), its stark black-and-white aspect, simple but incredibly-convincing special effects (the shadow of Klaatu's ship following perfectly underneath to its landing point in the park), and a robot that was and still is ominous and believeable.

Whereas Klaatu in the 1951 original came to warn Earth about the dangers of war, nuclear arms and spreading our planet's violence into space -- what do you suppose is the new theme of Klaatu's warning?

Take a moment. Time's up.

Yes: Global Warming.

Klaatu says the planet is not ours -- though he fails to say quite precisely to whom it does belong if not its inhabitants.

I'm sorry, that's just the final straw, folks. The producers have taken a wonderful tale, mashed it with over-the-top special effects, limp performances, a kid you'll hate in an instant and, at the end of one hour and fifty minutes, you'll ask yourself why you spent the $10+ dollars.

There is no one in this film in which to relate, least of all Klaatu. Perhaps the best I can say is that Keanu Reeves hit his marks; he is, after all, in focus. That is the best I can write of Mr. Reeves.

I am so tired of "alien space craft" being portrayed as balls of light. I am so tired of special effects trotted across the screen for little other meaning than their simple presence; the character of Gort was completely digitized and slaughtered -- along with the "plot." The panderingly-obvious "product placement" is even worse. And then this mangled, bleeding lump is plopped at the religious altar of Global Warming.

For those of you who are devotees of the original film: stay away, as you will be angered. For all others: save your money. Rent or purchase the original The Day The Earth Stood Still. Mr. Wise did so much more with so much less -- and it is so much more enjoyable.

See videos of the original here and here, please.

BZ