I don’t feel I should vote since I haven’t seen the re-make. But we made it a point to sit down and watch the original this weekend. I can’t imagine it could even compare.
Interesting typo, Sam. Are you , perhaps, betraying your opinion on what Keanu’s been, uh, brewing?
As for the poll, I’m with WonderJenn.
Haven’t seen it. Don’t plan to. Watching the original sounds great. So, can’t vote.
Be seeing you.
Chris from Seattlesays
It was ok. But it crapped all over the spirit of the original. And every time Klaatu said why he was there I wanted to punch a hippie. The original is a wonderful classic.
I love the original but I realize that fanboyism blinds… because it’s a really good flick, but the remake isn’t that bad. Klaatu is iconic in concept, in reality… meh. Keanu played the part as well as the original. I just can’t get on the fanboy community crackpipe.
TallGrrlsays
People, please.
NO one outside of older people and stone sci-fi geeks have EVER seen the original version of Day The Earth Stood Still.
I hang out with and work with a lot of people from their early 20s to their 70s and NO ONE I spoke to has EVER seen the original version of this movie…and they were very excited about seeing the remake.
Y’all need to realize while you’re bitching and moaning and hating on remakes of stuff from the 70s and older, that NO ONE that wasn’t around to see it the first time is trying to see it now.
They don’t want to see the black and white version of ANYTHING.
Yeah, it breaks my heart too but DEAL WITH IT.
The Day The Earth Stood Still, War of the Worlds, and countless other remakes are new to the majority of people going to the movies today. And they don’t care about seeing the original version because they most likely don’t know any of the actors. Yeah. It’s that shallow out there.
Yes, the remake of Day isn’t like the original one from the 50s. NO MOVIE MADE TODAY is going to be like one made in the 50s because movie audiences sensibilities have changed. If they brought out the original and remastered it and released it to theatres….NO ONE would go.
You don’t like Keanu? Fine. Whatever. He’s a box office star. People will go see the movie just because he’s in it, not knowing that it’s a remake.
I am very curious to see him in this role because to my mind, and by what few clips I’ve seen, and from his performance in the Matrix (especially the first one), he’s able to pull of the sort of nuanced detachment someone not of this Earth would have.
Anyway…that’s my little 2 and a half cents.
Just chill out on the hate, will ya’s?
Don’t any of those youngins mentioned by TallGrrl own a VCR or DVD? The original 1950’s classic Robert Wise film is readily available for viewing for those venues and can be found quiet easily at any rental store, Netflix and Blockbuster online. Anyone who hasn’t seen the original is missing out on a real treat. While it may be a bit dated, the sci-fi story is still one of the best ever presented on film.
Don’t get me wrong. I too was eager to see the Reeves updated version and was not disappointed. I simply viewed them as two different films with the same title.
Coreysays
Well I watched the remake on Friday, followed by the original on Saturday. I had never seen the original and decided I’d go watch the new one first without any bias. In my honest opinion, the new one is slightly better, yet disappointing. In order to get the truely classic film that people claim the original is, you’d have to combine the two movies IMO.
The original is very dull and obviously limited by the time is was made. The story is there and it’s a good one, but it’s also dated to the cold war. I can see how it would have a huge impact on viewers during that time period. This movie could only be helped by upgraded graphics and action/acting. The movie is very “Leave it to Beaver” meets a martian, with grown up speak. In the past I could see it getting a higher rating, but now I’d give it a 6/10.
The remake is very exciting in the beginning. The tension builds up nicely and you really think the movie could be a big hit. Unfortunately, the film slows to a screaching halt over the last 30-45 minutes and then it just ends. I thought Keanu was perfect for the role. The fact that he can look and react like he is not from this world helps. He has always been able to deliver with the “cool and calm”. The movie however turns out to be different in quite a few ways from the original. A lot of little things were changed. I found myself emerged in the story and having fun guessing what was going on. The movie just ran out of teeth at the end and really needed a similar speech, like the original. This movie was so close, but it didn’t pull through. I would also give this movie a 6/10. Very disappointed by what this could have been.
the lowssays
are you kidding???? we need to send joe after him. if he makes any moves at all, pow!
darcy
the lowssays
grr tall girl. i am 13 and seen it on dvd and turner classic movies lots of times!!! wow, (shakes her head.) no hope for peeps.
Darcy
the lowssays
my view is this, why redo something that’s been done before, is readily available and was done right the first time. dated? of course these films are, they were made during the cold war, back when russia was the “evil empire’. And also man was just starting to think about leaving earth to explore space. It is that innocence that make these film classics.
Now look at movies today, full of special effects, things blowing up left and right and cardboard characters with less depth than they had back in the fifties when these movies were made. I ask you, where is the character devolpment? Hell, where is the plot? All we get is cookie cutter movies we have had over and over again.
I am sorry Tall girl, you know I like you and respect your views of course, but I am afraid I have to disagree with you on several points. First off the ONLY time Keanu Reeves ever showed any acting ablity at all, was as yjr dog boy in the comedy freaked. He was lively then, not his current dead pan. Acting? Please. He is just reading his lines and collecting a pay check, that all it is; that’s all it has ever been.
Matrix? If not for Sam Jackson and the supporting cast, I’d take them down off my shelf and let Darcy trade them in for xbox games at Gamespot.
I am sorry, but the man simply can not act.
By not seeing the orginal movies of these remakes, you are robbing yourself of film making history, a lot of those special effects you kids go crazy for were pioneered but the people that made these films. Sure, I’ll give you the acting in most were not great, and some times laughable. But if you can get past that and get into the story and what went into to making these films you will see what I mean, If not for the model and stop action work alome, you would not have Star Wars or countless other Sci fi films.
No, I am sorry. If these are going to be the next generation’s “classics”, then I am like Darcy, I just have to shake my head.
(passing on the soap box to another.)
Tim
Drahgasays
OK, let’s start with I love the original.
I tried to go into this movie with no preconceived ideas. I was going to let it be its own movie. I knew it would be a different movie, with a retreaded name (ARGH!!!), but I digress.
I sat there and wanted to like it, I wanted to see the new take. However, on its own it still falls flat. There were too many holes, what was the purpose of the first 5 minutes? That didn’t need to be there. They could have just described what happened and I think it actually took away from the reveal. I knew what it would be, but they could have played it up more. The introduction of the asian character went nowhere, it didn’t help with the resolution in my opinion. It was just talking that fell on deaf Klaatu ears.
Gort started out KICK ASS, then Gort’s resolution fell flat. I do HATE that humans came up with the acronym to name him. LAME!!!
It just seems like Klaatu was there as a passenger and had nothing to do but watch, at least in the original he had some say as to what was going to happen. The ending left me with too many questions, I think there needed to be a speech, if even a small one. WTF happened and what are the ramifications for Earth?
The reason for re-makes is to re-introduce the movie to a new generation. Pre-web/Pre-DVD this made sense because most movies only came around 1 time. If you were lucky and the movie was popular it might come to the theaters again… ONE YEAR LATER.
Post-web/Post-DVD this makes sense because most older movies have very dated social messages (The wife should stay at home. A girl is bad for kissing on the first date, etc..), or they have dated special effects that actually get in the way of enjoying the story (filmed in black&white, amateurish scale model designs, men in rubber suits, etc..)
Re-makes are here to stay. Some will be horrible. Some will be better than the Original (Batman Begins, Dark Knight), Some will just be a just as good, but in their own, different way.
Judge each invidually on it’s own merits. Not on whether the story has been done before.
John in Rhode Islandsays
This is what happens when the Yuppie/anti-intellectuals get hold of a great classic and Yuppify it. Unlike some of the other reviewers I did see the original in the movies and most importantly I remember that period in USA history. Essentially, one part of the USA believed that the Communist conspiracy was talking over the souls of our nations (The invasion of the Body Snatchers) and the other was stressing that maybe this nuclear bomb business was serious and we should take a moment to reflect on the mortality of the human species (The Day the Earth Stood Still). Gort was the personification of natural results of bad behavior and Klaatu the forgiving narrator that provided explanations for natural consequences of human events: “Klaatu Barada Nikto.”
The 2008 version misses the points even though it did correct some social thinking of the time: namely how the universe was people by a wandering tribe of Africans who, having been isolated from the core group mutated the pigments of their skin, i.e. white guys.
The movie however lost opportunities that were exploited in 1951, namely that the world should be encouraged to again take a moment to reflect why we are still in the business of mass genocide.
WonderJenn says
I don’t feel I should vote since I haven’t seen the re-make. But we made it a point to sit down and watch the original this weekend. I can’t imagine it could even compare.
Edmund from Greenville says
Keanu’s “Stool Still”?
Interesting typo, Sam. Are you , perhaps, betraying your opinion on what Keanu’s been, uh, brewing?
As for the poll, I’m with WonderJenn.
Haven’t seen it. Don’t plan to. Watching the original sounds great. So, can’t vote.
Be seeing you.
Chris from Seattle says
It was ok. But it crapped all over the spirit of the original. And every time Klaatu said why he was there I wanted to punch a hippie. The original is a wonderful classic.
Sam Sloan says
No typo Edmund. 😉
KG says
I love the original but I realize that fanboyism blinds… because it’s a really good flick, but the remake isn’t that bad. Klaatu is iconic in concept, in reality… meh. Keanu played the part as well as the original. I just can’t get on the fanboy community crackpipe.
TallGrrl says
People, please.
NO one outside of older people and stone sci-fi geeks have EVER seen the original version of Day The Earth Stood Still.
I hang out with and work with a lot of people from their early 20s to their 70s and NO ONE I spoke to has EVER seen the original version of this movie…and they were very excited about seeing the remake.
Y’all need to realize while you’re bitching and moaning and hating on remakes of stuff from the 70s and older, that NO ONE that wasn’t around to see it the first time is trying to see it now.
They don’t want to see the black and white version of ANYTHING.
Yeah, it breaks my heart too but DEAL WITH IT.
The Day The Earth Stood Still, War of the Worlds, and countless other remakes are new to the majority of people going to the movies today. And they don’t care about seeing the original version because they most likely don’t know any of the actors. Yeah. It’s that shallow out there.
Yes, the remake of Day isn’t like the original one from the 50s. NO MOVIE MADE TODAY is going to be like one made in the 50s because movie audiences sensibilities have changed. If they brought out the original and remastered it and released it to theatres….NO ONE would go.
You don’t like Keanu? Fine. Whatever. He’s a box office star. People will go see the movie just because he’s in it, not knowing that it’s a remake.
I am very curious to see him in this role because to my mind, and by what few clips I’ve seen, and from his performance in the Matrix (especially the first one), he’s able to pull of the sort of nuanced detachment someone not of this Earth would have.
Anyway…that’s my little 2 and a half cents.
Just chill out on the hate, will ya’s?
Sam Sloan says
Don’t any of those youngins mentioned by TallGrrl own a VCR or DVD? The original 1950’s classic Robert Wise film is readily available for viewing for those venues and can be found quiet easily at any rental store, Netflix and Blockbuster online. Anyone who hasn’t seen the original is missing out on a real treat. While it may be a bit dated, the sci-fi story is still one of the best ever presented on film.
Don’t get me wrong. I too was eager to see the Reeves updated version and was not disappointed. I simply viewed them as two different films with the same title.
Corey says
Well I watched the remake on Friday, followed by the original on Saturday. I had never seen the original and decided I’d go watch the new one first without any bias. In my honest opinion, the new one is slightly better, yet disappointing. In order to get the truely classic film that people claim the original is, you’d have to combine the two movies IMO.
The original is very dull and obviously limited by the time is was made. The story is there and it’s a good one, but it’s also dated to the cold war. I can see how it would have a huge impact on viewers during that time period. This movie could only be helped by upgraded graphics and action/acting. The movie is very “Leave it to Beaver” meets a martian, with grown up speak. In the past I could see it getting a higher rating, but now I’d give it a 6/10.
The remake is very exciting in the beginning. The tension builds up nicely and you really think the movie could be a big hit. Unfortunately, the film slows to a screaching halt over the last 30-45 minutes and then it just ends. I thought Keanu was perfect for the role. The fact that he can look and react like he is not from this world helps. He has always been able to deliver with the “cool and calm”. The movie however turns out to be different in quite a few ways from the original. A lot of little things were changed. I found myself emerged in the story and having fun guessing what was going on. The movie just ran out of teeth at the end and really needed a similar speech, like the original. This movie was so close, but it didn’t pull through. I would also give this movie a 6/10. Very disappointed by what this could have been.
the lows says
are you kidding???? we need to send joe after him. if he makes any moves at all, pow!
darcy
the lows says
grr tall girl. i am 13 and seen it on dvd and turner classic movies lots of times!!! wow, (shakes her head.) no hope for peeps.
Darcy
the lows says
my view is this, why redo something that’s been done before, is readily available and was done right the first time. dated? of course these films are, they were made during the cold war, back when russia was the “evil empire’. And also man was just starting to think about leaving earth to explore space. It is that innocence that make these film classics.
Now look at movies today, full of special effects, things blowing up left and right and cardboard characters with less depth than they had back in the fifties when these movies were made. I ask you, where is the character devolpment? Hell, where is the plot? All we get is cookie cutter movies we have had over and over again.
I am sorry Tall girl, you know I like you and respect your views of course, but I am afraid I have to disagree with you on several points. First off the ONLY time Keanu Reeves ever showed any acting ablity at all, was as yjr dog boy in the comedy freaked. He was lively then, not his current dead pan. Acting? Please. He is just reading his lines and collecting a pay check, that all it is; that’s all it has ever been.
Matrix? If not for Sam Jackson and the supporting cast, I’d take them down off my shelf and let Darcy trade them in for xbox games at Gamespot.
I am sorry, but the man simply can not act.
By not seeing the orginal movies of these remakes, you are robbing yourself of film making history, a lot of those special effects you kids go crazy for were pioneered but the people that made these films. Sure, I’ll give you the acting in most were not great, and some times laughable. But if you can get past that and get into the story and what went into to making these films you will see what I mean, If not for the model and stop action work alome, you would not have Star Wars or countless other Sci fi films.
No, I am sorry. If these are going to be the next generation’s “classics”, then I am like Darcy, I just have to shake my head.
(passing on the soap box to another.)
Tim
Drahga says
OK, let’s start with I love the original.
I tried to go into this movie with no preconceived ideas. I was going to let it be its own movie. I knew it would be a different movie, with a retreaded name (ARGH!!!), but I digress.
I sat there and wanted to like it, I wanted to see the new take. However, on its own it still falls flat. There were too many holes, what was the purpose of the first 5 minutes? That didn’t need to be there. They could have just described what happened and I think it actually took away from the reveal. I knew what it would be, but they could have played it up more. The introduction of the asian character went nowhere, it didn’t help with the resolution in my opinion. It was just talking that fell on deaf Klaatu ears.
Gort started out KICK ASS, then Gort’s resolution fell flat. I do HATE that humans came up with the acronym to name him. LAME!!!
It just seems like Klaatu was there as a passenger and had nothing to do but watch, at least in the original he had some say as to what was going to happen. The ending left me with too many questions, I think there needed to be a speech, if even a small one. WTF happened and what are the ramifications for Earth?
OK, I’m old (41) and apparently I don’t get it.
Jeff in Fishers
Stan Slaughter says
“why redo something that’s been done before…”
The reason for re-makes is to re-introduce the movie to a new generation. Pre-web/Pre-DVD this made sense because most movies only came around 1 time. If you were lucky and the movie was popular it might come to the theaters again… ONE YEAR LATER.
Post-web/Post-DVD this makes sense because most older movies have very dated social messages (The wife should stay at home. A girl is bad for kissing on the first date, etc..), or they have dated special effects that actually get in the way of enjoying the story (filmed in black&white, amateurish scale model designs, men in rubber suits, etc..)
Re-makes are here to stay. Some will be horrible. Some will be better than the Original (Batman Begins, Dark Knight), Some will just be a just as good, but in their own, different way.
Judge each invidually on it’s own merits. Not on whether the story has been done before.
John in Rhode Island says
This is what happens when the Yuppie/anti-intellectuals get hold of a great classic and Yuppify it. Unlike some of the other reviewers I did see the original in the movies and most importantly I remember that period in USA history. Essentially, one part of the USA believed that the Communist conspiracy was talking over the souls of our nations (The invasion of the Body Snatchers) and the other was stressing that maybe this nuclear bomb business was serious and we should take a moment to reflect on the mortality of the human species (The Day the Earth Stood Still). Gort was the personification of natural results of bad behavior and Klaatu the forgiving narrator that provided explanations for natural consequences of human events: “Klaatu Barada Nikto.”
The 2008 version misses the points even though it did correct some social thinking of the time: namely how the universe was people by a wandering tribe of Africans who, having been isolated from the core group mutated the pigments of their skin, i.e. white guys.
The movie however lost opportunities that were exploited in 1951, namely that the world should be encouraged to again take a moment to reflect why we are still in the business of mass genocide.