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Whoa. The Earth is, like, totally in trouble with Keanu and Gort's Excellent Adventure.

Come on, guys. Nobody thought Michael Keaton would make a good Batman. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, No Way! Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker, you've got to be kidding! If the director and actor are good collaborators with an appropriate vision, the movie works. Sure, be skeptical, but don't prejudge. Some of the best on screen portrayals have been by an unexpected actor.

NO no no no. That's it, officially RUINED the best classic Sci-Fi movie ever made.

Uh oh. If Keanu's not playing the robot, then it'll be a stretch for him.... But seriously, casting directors show such a lack of imagination, I'll bet they thought of Keanu because his name sort of rhymes! (as in 'you say "Keanu", I say "Klaatu"....')

I really like Keanu Reeves. I'm thinking he may be okay in this remake. I have loved this movie for as long as I can remember. I am also a baby boomer...born in 1955. I have had correspondence with "Bobby" from the original movie..loved him. Let's give Keanu a chance.....what does "Bobby" think? Dortman from Nova Scotia, Canada.

This my all time favorite movie....ever!!!!!!!! Corny for today's standard of sci fi sure. But the unspoken sexual tension between Patricia Neil and Klaatu, not to mention the good vs evil within ourselves makes this classic intense sans special effects. Oh and, Michael Rennie was a definate 'hottie' for his time

Okay, I'm all for a re-make of the original. I'm sure that they'll screw it up somehow. Very few remakes are better than the originals, no matter how many special effects are added. Picking Keanu Reeves as Klaatu is completely wrong. Keanu is in the same class as Tom Cruise in that they play every character the same or at least in 99.9% of their films. So do we really need a tortured and moody(and slightly valley) Klaatu? When I found out that they were remaking TDTESS I tried to think of an actor who would be able to fit the part. And the first name that came to mind that would make me go out and see the movie was Johnny Dep. Why? If you look at the last ten movies that he's made you see 10 different roles that are truely different from each other. With the exception of the Pirates trio, each and every time he picks a role it's something completely different from his last few roles. From a mythical Scissorhands to a cross-dressing film maker, Johnny Dep has proven his ability to take unusual roles, make them his own, and make them credible and enjoyable. I can't say the same for Keanu! Now that they've screwed up the lead, that just leave the robot to mess with...so we can probably expect a new CGI robot that is streamlined and moves incredibly fast and takes out its enemies in the blink of an eye. Which would be entirely wrong! The reason that Gort is large is because of the power that needs to be generated for his different types of defense/attack rays. And it doesn't matter that he moves so slowly because he's made of the same indestructible material as the ship. But as with Hollyweird today, everything must go, don't keep anything from the original, that would be a waste of "creativity". HA! If Hollyweird were so damn creative, why didn't they come up with their own ida for a movie instead of trashing a classic? Now is the time for restraint and recasting. Break a leg Keanu, no really break a leg, so they have to cast someone else....pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Keanu will do a great job! He has a way about him, especially for science fiction. The time is right for a Remake....with OUR world in 2007...this Message is so NEEDED!

I am totally against the idea of yet another crap remake of a classic. However if they must, then the person to play Klaatu should be Christopher Eccleston. He was fantastic as the Doctor in the first of the new series of Doctor Who. He's got that other-worldliness that Klaatu needs. I agree with a previous poster that they should forget CGI crap as far as Gort is concerned. Could they not just copy the same design (ie minimalist) Gort and just beef up the special effects for rays etc. Cheers, Stephen Phillips London, England

The sadness is, as mentioned earlier, that hollywood goes for remake/churn over originality yet again. C'mon guys! I know you like the safe bet, but invest in a new franchise - you know it makes sense. Having said that.. Galatic alignment? pole shift?? What??! Help!

Keanu barada nikto!

God Awful News! Shameful that good, classic movies can get remade by talentless HACKS! sad

This will be a great film. Keanu is a good actor. The cast that is lining up is well qualified, too. Kathy Bates...come on, it's going to be great. I look forward to updates in the area of special affects. The closing/exiting speech, however should not stray too far from that which was spoken in the 51 film.."we do not pretend to have achieved perfection..." gotta listen, learn, & love it. It all holds true, even today. As for global warming I agree that it should, at least be incorporated into the film's message, but there are so many others to be concerned with, too. CDC matters, war, in general. Same ol' "haters" problems. Would like to see how it will be developed. Hope this rocks. Can't wait.

I'm sure Gort will be in the movie; he's too important to leave out. I'd be very surprised if a toy company owns the rights to the name and characters over the original owners, Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

I am so excited about this remake. This is an original classic I remember when I was a kid. The music was a classic soudtrack. It was such an impact on me and the reason I write movie soundtracks today. Would love a chance to show you what I have written since I heard you were remaking it. Let me know. Awesome and cant wait to see it.. Remember everyone Keanu Reeves dosent take on a move script unless its good! Gives us something to look forward to.

No!!!!!!!!!!!! This was/is one of the few films that is in no need to to be remade. What leftest Hollywood crap will dumped in to this this re-make. Will Klaatu be vegen, gay, or just out acted by Gort? Anti-war is cool. Will the Great Spirit be talk of or will we worship the sci. Please.........leave this in the can.

Well maybe everyone is looking at this all wrong. He made the matrix believable and still there are many that wish it was real, a true classic piece . Now the way the world is globally can we afford not to escape to the movie world or look at it as a tool for some form of hope ,is that not what scifi is meant to be. The world around us is in need of a shake up, a message visually. This remake will never take away from the original ,that message of the threat of total destruction by nuclear war still is clear today. Time to rekindle the flame! The movies are powerful voices of expression. If the movie manages to be handled correctly it will continue the greatness of the 1st one . I will never forget the message it has stayed with me from the early fifties when we had blast drills at elementary school. SciFi the great medium the turns fiction to fact .Sit back and think if it was true how much better things would be in the world. Then it would not be fiction . My hope is that "GORT" does not look like one of the toasters from galactica new or old it would take away everything that we would hope for in this movie believable . War of the worlds just missed it all and if this goes the same way which it will not (HOPE) then the flood gates of remakes like this will open up. Then it is going back to the Marvel World for enjoyment. I await KLAATU"s greeting before returning home GOOD NIGHT EARTH

This is Klaatu's speech at the end of the original The Day the Earth Stood Still: I am leaving soon and you'll 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 signs 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Any thoughts regarding changes you would like to see in the parting speech for the remake?

I first saw " The Day The Earth Stood Still " back in 1974 when it was shown by the B.B.C in their Sci-Fi season in the early evening slot. I was eleven years old at the time and the film blew me away completely. I knew then as I know now, that this film was something VERY special. It became my favorite film of all time for that very reason. I do not object to a remake of this Super Classic ( ALTHOUGH I DID FOR A LONG TIME ). But I DO feel that this is something that has got to be handled very carefully, and needs to be as close to the original as possible. Of course, I accept that to an extent, it does need to be modernised, but this cannot be done by substituting good scripts and acting with CGI, Whiplash editing, Tacky over the top music, and the over-aggressive tendancies that seem to be the trademark of many films these days, used primarily to sell the film to a wider audience at any cost. " The Day The Earth Stood Still " is not about that, it is about putting across a message for all of humanity to " Clean Up It's Act " or else. An issue that is totally applicable in today's World, and one that we would all do well to heed. The Original 1951 film, as everybody knows, was shot in Black and White, which would not have been a bad idea today because Black and White has the ability to convey certain aspects in cinematography far better than Colour ever can. Sadly, however, Joe Public doesn't see it that way, and if it were to be shot in Black & White, it would probably become a commercial disaster. On the subject of GORT, he is one of the central characters in the film and to GET IT WRONG as far as he is concerned would be a FATAL mistake. He needs to be as menacing in 2008 as he was in 1951. A real challenge for the film makers there. Bernard Herrman's original score for the 1951 movie has become one of the most memorable soundtracks in Sci-Fi history, also being used in the 60s Sci-Fi series " Lost In Space " ( ALSO MADE BY FOX ). Bernard Herrman has become a legend in his field and has inspired some of the greatest composers around today. To be able to compose a soundtrack to rival one of Herrman's greatest is a super-challenge to say the least. All things considered, I would like to see the film makers pull it off because TDTESS is a truly remarkable film that has set standards for others to follow, and to be able to make something that even approaches that must truly be an achievement.......phil evans

Those who don't think Keanu Reeves is the right choice for Klaatu you are not quite tuned in to the Keanu personality and aura he carries . As a matter of fact he is famous for his out-of-this world persona. Mystery is his trademark; actually he has been dubbed "mysterious" by the Hollywood reporters, journalists, writers, etc. He has also been referred to as "Zen Master of the Universe " and other tags like that . Because he IS differant he is rather a misfit in Hollywood society . As for looks- he has the type of face that is outstanding among either today's or yesterday's actors. Some pictures of him don't show it, but then cameras can cast a bad light sometimes, for the most part he is truely an outstandingly handsome man . Google a few picture gallerys online featuring him and you will see what I mean. He has a touch of the exotic in his look and high cheekbones and everything you'd need in the look of a being from outer space. He is also know for his stoical and void expression-. just right for an alien being . He's not known for great acting , but he is very believible in some roles . I was looking for some reviews on "Street Kings" the other day and saw some pictures of him at theaters on opening nights in Korea and Austrialia , and his fans were absolutely screaming and falling all over him. So many of the young actors today look like "the boy next door". He doesn't and never has.

Hollyweird needs to get over it's self and start earning the large amounts of money they expect us to fork out for the films they are making. All these pointless remakes just show a lack of creativity, and a desire to rip off something that has worked in the past because it's an easy way to make money, all good films begin with a good script so if the basic script is already worked out for you how hard can it be, and also they hope because it's a remake it will come with a built in audience, who loved the original. Look at the Peter Jerkson's remake of King Kong......for some one who claimed to love the original so much all he did was make a long winded, self indulgent ego trip for himself. Just because a film has amazing special effects does not make it a good film, look at Terminator ...... amazing special effects but average direction and silly almost laughable acting, i mean it, look at the film properly and with out emotion....take out the effects and what do you have nothing....a silly almost Saturday morning cartoon script and bad acting. Seriously there is more entertainment value in one of Ed Wood JR’s so called "bad films" than in the whole of all the sequels to Alien, the original though still is one of my all time favorite films. It was very original and well executed…..the sequels dull and repetitive. Just when i thought the worst they could do was remake "Dawn of the Dead" i now find out about a hideous remake of this cinema classic "The Day The Earth Stood Still" Well i guess that's why they call it show bizz. Quick everybody rush out and buy the original before all you can find are copies of the remake. Instead of remake how about Re-release of the original on the big screen, that's a much better idea. What we need from Hollyweird, is more Original material less remakes and sequels.

e-mail: mikedana0@lycos.com Keanu Reeves would adapt beautifully to the roll of Klaatu. I know others have suggested David Bowie or Johnny Depp. However, I think they are appealing more for their look and likeness to Michael Rene, than the actual roll. Reeves is a fine actor who, I feel, will emerse himself in the part and produce an outstanding performance. The Producer(s), Director etc... should make a special effort to produce a contemporary story, while preserving the original flavor of the film. If the temptation to incorporate too many special effects is resisted, the film may well be an admirable remake, worthy of it's namesake. Lets hope so.

Kyle MacLachlan carries the gravitas necessary for the character of Klaatu... Reeves: good in his cyberpunk roles, but not Klaatu material.

When I think about a really good remake of an original classic SciFi pic, "John Carpenter's" The Thing" comes to mind. But then he picked Kirk Russell to play McCready. Ahhhh, Now that was a great remake. If they decided to continue it or remake it again, I hope it is on par with the "80's remake. I have to be honest when I say that I hope the new, TDESS will be fantastic!

It was a great film with a great story. When I saw its original release it gave me pause for thought and take an active interest in both science and World politics. The film made me realise that evil may flourish when good people do nothing. Nuclear energy, firearms etc. are tools. They are only evil in the hands of people who are evil. If humanity is to continue then the good people must take a stand against those who seek to destroy something that is not evil - whatever their race or beliefs be they a next door neighbor or another Country. This message needs to be told as often and in as many different ways as possible. If that means TDTESS is re-written to attract a big audience with a script, cast and special effects that are more attractive to the younger generations then I say do whatever it takes to get the main message out amongst them so they may take an active interest in ensuring humanity continues to survive. The biggest disappointment would be if the story the film tells is changed into a nothing more than a piece of simple, thoughtless entertainment.

"Who's playing Klaatu" isn't the problem here. The problem is: why would other-worlders feel they needed to destroy us now, when we're doing such a swell job of it ourselves -- and abandoning our own space travel programs into the bargain!

They couldn't have picked a better man for the part than Keanu Reeves. Those who see him very seldom may not understand just what kind of a person he is. He is an enigma; and a curious person, and he's got a very unusual personality. He has a spaced- out quality and playing Klaatu would be almost like playing his own self. I've heard his looks being distribed as "out of this world" and was meant as a compliment. Go figure !