docm-32304
After seeing the other reviews, it sounded like this movie would be terrible, but sometimes you just have to take a chance on making up your own mind. I love movies, especially if they see themselves for what they should be...good clean entertainment. I live in the world so I don't need to watch life as it is, nor do I need snooty artsy films. I watch movies to be entertained and if you are the same, you will find this film entertaining. I own the original movie and will not compare this one to it. It is a great stand alone sci-fi movie. I did not find the kid irritating as many reviewers commented. As a retired professional I found his character completely in line with a child who had lost his parents at that age.
The only negative I found was that it ended abruptly..
Erica Pettersson (faith_hope_love_88)
I'll begin by saying that I haven't watched the original movie from 1951. Therefore no comparisons will be made one way or the other.This is a movie that I wanted to like more than I actually did. I feel that the story has potential. The idea of an alien coming to earth, as far as I can figure, being the first alien encounter for mankind is intriguing. The acting and the special effects are good, and I like Keanu Reeves from before so it was fun to see another movie with him.But there were some things that just didn't agree with me very well. I think the major problem, for me, was that there were too many questions left unanswered. Or perhaps it was just me missing the point? But either way I had a hard time fully understanding the alien protagonist and his intentions. Not to mention the motives behind those intentions. That he somehow had the authority to do as he saw fit didn't make much sense to me. Who was he and his race to decide over a planet that isn't theirs? I would have wanted a deeper meaning here. I would have wanted more of a backstory to the alien and what he was up to. And as to the people's reaction, or most of the people anyway... well, that made me almost ashamed to be human. The only character that I can say I liked was Helen Benson played by Jennifer Conelly.
dncorp
This The Day The Earth Stood Still 2008 was not a Remake of the Classic The Day The Earth Stood Still 1951.The Day The Earth Stood Still 1951. The Primary Goal of Klaatu was for Earth to keep their Destructive Nature (Petty squabbles) limited only to Earth or be Destroyed as a threat to the rest of the Planets (Galaxies).The Day The Earth Stood Still 2008. The Primary Goal of Klaatu was to warn Humans to stop Destroying Earth. The idea that Earth like Planets were very limited according to this version of Klaatu, as "Advanced Tech" Klaatu not knowing about the science of "Terraforming" other Planets.The idea of Gort (a name, World Policeman, 1951) becoming G.O.R.T. an acronym as named by the Humans (not Klaatu) as the very Destroyer of Worlds by becoming nanobots (destroying everything except the limited saved by the alien spheres) is quite Counterproductive to the stated primary goal of Klaatu of The Day The Earth Stood Still 2008, destroy Humanity to Save Earth, as the released nanobots destroyed everything, plants, trees, animals, metal, concrete, and anything not in the alien spheres. How long would Klaatu take to recreate the food supplies, food sources, food chain for all the species saved in the alien spheres (arks). Killing off one kind of plant, grass, could result in the extinction of an entire species and the other species that feed on the other species that eat those plants, grasses, seeds that were permanently destroyed by G.O.R.T.'s nanobots.
John Brown
I've seen this film a couple of times and that's more than enough. I've probably seen the original a dozen times and I'll happily watch it again. The difference between the 2 films is very simple - the first was good and this remake is rubbish.Special effects, dramatic music and a few explosions can never compensate for a poorly scripted, poorly directed and poorly acted storyline, and a film full of implausible and unexplained nonsense. The ludicrously aggressive and jingoistic vice president is a parody, as are the arrogant military types who pop up from time to time. The gaggle of scientists that's brought together at the start seems to be pretty much superfluous to the rest of the story, as it's only the good looking girl (surprise, surprise !) who plays any prolonged part. The utterly unnecessary child is, presumably, included for box office reasons only, as his part could have been equally well played by a furry animal. As a whole, it's hard to imagine what audience this was made for, or what audience it would appeal to.As others have written before, the characters have no warmth and engender no sympathy. They all seem to be doing little more than 'going through the motions'. Indeed, if I were Klaatu, I'd want to wipe them all out too.I suppose that one day, someone will make a good film, one with a sensible story, good script, good direction and real acting, and without the special effects, flashy cinematography, constantly shifting scenes and portentous music. One day.
AD
