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Dear God, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

That's complete bullshit, there is no way they (Hollywood) can even touch this movie....Tom Cruise as Klaatu???? My ass!

Alex, are you seriously telling us that you found the idea of a species that plans its meals millions of years in advance more convincing than the original's asteroid landings? The ending was quite possibly the best part of the movie.

You just know they will try to put some "big star" in the lead role. Who could they get as Klaatu, hmm, let's see, how about John Travolta? And as Helen Benson? How about Gwyneth Paltrow? Think how a "star" ala Tom Cruise helped ruin War of the Worlds. What an medoicre movie that was especially with Cruise in it as his typically repressed, one-dimensional self. Don't know what Spielberg was thinking.

I think that MichaelM really summed up what I thought of War of the Worlds. It was a mediocre film at best. The problem is that Hollywood is hellbent on remaking films that are loved. This really is a no-win scenario. Were they to take films that had decent concepts but crappy execution and actually improve on them, I think it would actually generate some good will amongst filmgoers.

I say leave it alone. The original is good enough, and the music soundtrack fits the mood of the film.

The film was a classic in its own right and sooooooooooo far ahead of its time. If they can create the same "ahead of its time" feeling and clever use of the special effects available, then they are on to a winner. Cant wait............

Instead of coming 4 million miles to reach earth how about 4 million light years.Intstead of the doctors smoking cigarettes maybe they can smoke a joint.

Please Hollywood, do this right! I was obviously not alone in crushing disappointment withWOTW. Gushing sentimentaliy aside, the impact was totally lost in our modern world. The victorian era was a perfect setting for the insideous invaders from Mars with their unheard of technology( Wells! what a visionary... I think he did have a time machine!). I concur with BVELAZQUEZ that the modern setting would work well- given that it's even more screwed than '51. I remember watching the original as a chld in the sixties and this laid the foundation for a lifetime love of science fiction. If they ruin this one... they'll have me to deal with

I am a big fan of TDTESS, and it has been in my top 10 favorite movies since I saw it on TV as a kid. I am the product of the 70's and have seen sci-fi grow to a higher popularity than ever before. I grew up with StarTrek and then it's subsequent reiterations(not all of them worth the time to watch). I'm not sure weather to welcome some new version of a well done story or be fearful that it will be mutated into the craptastical remakes that have been rehashed in recent years. Besides hasn't the story already been redone recently - The Abyss

Are we sure that this isn't 01-08-08.... or CLOVERFIELD??

Back to WOTW: After seeing the '05 version (and having seen the George Pal version decades ago), I went back and read H.G. Wells' original. The '05 version followed the original story amazingly closely--much moreso than the previous movie.

THE ORIGINAL MOVIE IS SUCH A WATCHABLE OLDIE. I SAW IT WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG. I ALSO LOVED THE ORIGINAL "WAR OF THE WORLDS" AND WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE REMAKE. I WILL WATCH THE REMAKE OF "THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL" AND HOPE THAT IT DOES NOT STRAY TOO FAR FROM THE ORIGINAL. NOTHING CAN TAKE THE PLACE OF THE ORIGINAL OLD SCI-FI FLICKS. "WAR OF THE WORLDS" PROVED THAT.....

Looking for a science fiction short story published circa 1950's titled "I am the Master." Don't know the author, but it is about a spaceship landing in the USA, an alien disembarks from the ship with a gigantic robot, and the alien is shot. The robot freezes in one position(sound familiar?). Later, it turns out the robot, named I think Knute, is trying to restore life to the alien. He succeeds temporarily, and at the end of the story is leaving with the alien in the spaceship. The human protagonists talk with him briefly and ask him about his master, the alien he has saved temporarily. The last line in the story reveals the true nature of the relationship between the two, when he replies to a question put to him about his "master." His reply is; "You're both wrong. I am the master." If anyone knows of the story &/or author, please respond.

FORBIDDEN PLANET!! Only one of the greatest Sci-Fi films ever made (apart from The Day The Earth Stood Still). I thought everybody on this this little planet knew about that film! MONSTERS FROM THE ID! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049223/

To Jon Hornstein. Got it. That is the story, and it is a great website. Many thanks.

There is nothing better than scifi! Just have a well known superb director doing the movie please! I wish Spielberg was doing it.

There ought to be a law about remakes of classics - they should only be done if they honor the original points that made the movie a classic and improve on the relevance to the current audiences. There is an obligation here not only to millions of scifi fans but to the world that dearly needed to heed the lessons of DTESS in 1951 and unite as a single world of beings to solve our little planet's problems together. In this regard, the original movie was a failure; the remake gives the story another chance to have a positive effect - don't mess it up!

I agree that the classics should be remade, brought up to date with the technology we have now. But I like the classics to remain in the original "time period", and not brought into this millenia. I believe that modern people should see the older time periods to some of the classics, but for The Day The EARth stood Still, I feel the people of today need to be taught a lesson, a lot harder than stopping electricity. I don' t even think that Gort should spare Earthlings. Just my feelings, 'cause we have failed in our calling. Krispin Glover. I can't bring my ears to hear how he sounds, but I do like him as an actor. Michael Rennie, and Claude Raines (The Invisible Man, The Wolfman) had very elegant, sexy voices. Women loved them for their speaking prowess. OH. Aunt Bea could be played by Queen Latifah, or The Guy Who plays in the, "Mama's House" movies. The little boy could played by a girl this time. How about the little girl from "The Lions, Witches Wardrobe" or whatever that title is.

for a real treat the music of "The day the earth stood still" has been re-mastered(re-recorded) with period instruments. it is on the "Varese Sarabande" label. produced by: Robert Townson. I purchased my copy thru CD Universe online. it sounds exactly like the original but it is very "crisp". try it. Ron

This timing is more relevent that you know. Reference http://www.disclosureproject.org/.

Oh great, another dumb Hollywood movie designed to make the ignorant masses fearful of extraterrestrials. Governments across the world will cheer the day we are contacted by aliens, even if they are peaceful beings some governments will jump at the chance of boosting their own power in light of an imaginary threat.

Do you think they will add humor to this version? I mean there is that part where Klaatu gives Bobby the diamonds. I don't think the message of the old film is to make humans fearful of aliens. It is the humans that should fear humans and we do already. The trick to TDTESS is for humans to think of a working way to get control of our irrational selves. We either take control with robots, stem cell research, dna alterations, and chromosome alterations, or do it with robots. I'd rather have my own personal Robot, like all humans should have. This movie can go so deep down into what humans really need. Because I think overall, we are hopeless lunatics.

The day the earth stood still, Best science fiction film ever made, Can never be beaten, Even today.

Songs get remade. Stories get remade. Washers and Dryers, and other things get remade. Even people. As it now stands, there aren't alot of new people even knowing who Klaatu is, and why he came to Earth. They need to know, and they aren't going to pay attention to an old black and white film that some of us were fond of. I am glad it is going to be redone. I am hoping it is going to be very good. If not then, I will beat my bloody head on the wall too.

It is bad fashion to be human but that isn't our fault. Over reacting is one of the poorer attributes we have. And we tend to over react over small things like children do. I don't really care anymore, how they do the movie. I have the black and white version and that makes me happy. If the remake sucks, I am certainly not going to have a "spleen fit over it", that would mean I learned nothing from the black and white version. Mark, Klaatu never got bent out of shape...but Gort did. Gort was the destructive side of Klaatu. I would rather have my emotions in check like Klaatu. And like you said, if they remake classics and you don't agree with them remaking classics, then you can sit at home and not be party to it. I don't like the fact that Keanu Reeves is playing Klaatu, but it is not important enough to me, to get me boiled over.

I'm sorry, but I have to do this. TDTESS is my favorite movie- period. And for the record, I'm not a one-trick pony, all sci-fi, all the time. But this film is being made for the money, not the message- and that's wrong. IMHO, Keanu Reeves not only is completely wrong for Klaatu, he pretty much can't act his way out of a sandwich bag. Just watch "The Devil's Advocate" some time- he gets blown off the screen every scene he has with Pacino. You need depth to portray someone who has just travelled millions of miles to give you a message, then turn around and be awe-struck and reverent over the words of Abe Lincoln and the sight of Arlington Cemetary. You want me to believe remakes are inevitable? I'll buy that if you can assure me the remake will have something better to offer. Think anyone's ever going to remake 2001? A Clockwork Orange? To Kill a Mockingbird? Although not a remake, I feel the same way over this as I did in anticipation of "I, Robot". THIS is how Hollywood does things. But, alas, it will be made and likely it will make a few million for the studio... then be forgotten. And we can wait for the new and improved "Forbidden Planet" starring Brad Pitt as Cmdr Adams and Jack Nicholson as Morbius.

"I don't care too much about the people of Earth in these days and times. They've come up short, and I don't think are worthy of continuing to rule Earth." AGREED! I wish Klaatu would come here for real and knock a few stupid heads together!

I'm confident that this movie is gonna be great.tomy viewpoint (contrary to Steve) the presence of Keanu Reeves in the cast is a real reason to be optimist!

I think they should have used a being from another planet. Afterall Earth isn't the only habitable one. How about an actor to play Klaatu from his planet? :-p

Who the hell would ever say that War of the Worlds was good. That movie sucked harder and more than a 2 dollar day hooker.

I just read seventy six comments about the movie and no one has mentioned a very special instrument used in the musical score. One attribute about this movie was the musical score and especially the eerie THEREMIN that was used in so many of the scenes. An LA podiatrist by day and thereminist for many of the films in the 50's was Samuel Hoffman who gave this picture it's novelty and scary effects. I certainly hope that instrument will resurface in the remake played by a reputable thereminist.

I am interested in buying the CD you mention but I don't know which one to get. Why didn't you give us the version you have, who it is by etc? Leonid/Leon Theramin created the Theramin. He was from the soviet union and when he traveled to America with the Theramin showing it off he was under house arrest when he returned to Russia. He was a reknown scientist. The Theramin is using sinewave language, and some type of oscillation. I used to hear this oscillation when my Aunt was building her own Oscillascope, back in the 1950's. Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys used the Theramin in the song, "Good Vibrations", and there was a famous woman who used the Theramin in classical music. More '50's movies used it and the Theramin was used in Tim Burton's, "Mars Attacks!". I love its sound.

Purple Haze, perhaps my last post (#76) was not specific enough.....I loved the music in the Original movie , and was meaning to point out that , the 70s rock band "KLAATU" ,and it's fans are very familiar with Samuel Hoffman and the Theremin. My point intended was that...the NEW movie should include a music score done by KLAATU. Sci-fi fans can hear KLAATU @ KLAATU.ORG Jimmy

The original TDTESS movie is one of a handful of sci-fi movies that changed not only movies themselves but makes you believe that great movies are possible. Metropolis and Blade Runner come to mind personally. You have to consider that those of us who were kids when Star Wars came out were never exposed to any of the older sci-fi's. Thankfully I had parents who exposed us kids to a variety of films all the way back to the silents. I was both sad and excited when I heard this movie is being remade. The original is close to perfect and I can't see them improving on the formula. Hollywood will probably do the standard extreme makeover, ie., special effects, load noises and split the screenplay up between 3 to 6 screenwriters who have no business tackling a story like this. I have always wondered why they do it this way but its simply money. The War Of The Worlds remake would have been exceptional except for Tom Cruise, the screaming (constantly) daughter, the unlikeable son who just " had to see it for himself" and the goofy ending. The machines were incredible, the effects were great, but the story kind of got glossed over in favor of looking at Tom and the special effects. I am not getting my hopes up on this one. If they let a director, say Ridley Scott, Alfonso Cuarón or someone who knows how to pack the visual punch AND give you characters you care about (Joss Whedon?), then it might live up to the hype. Then again, the movie just may be one of those flukes that people identify with. Just my two cents.

Oh Jason! If only the mindless masses were as caring about these things!!! I need a frontal lobotomy, I want to be a sheep too! TDTESS is a close second behind The life of Brian for me in the all time greatest movies category! I'm just so sad that the wonderful concept and message of the great movie will be trashed by the "Money for Money's Sake" ideology. There's nothing the little boy can do about the Emperor's New Clothes!

Who has info on getting a copy of the original short story by Harry Bates: 'Farewell to the Master'? Perhaps an anthology of science fiction? Titel and anthologist would be helpful to allow looking for a copy on Amazon.com. BTW the Theremin rocks - I built one from scratch and got the video of the concert violinist who became the American Theremin diva, Clara Rockmore. For more info and audio samples: http://www.oldtemecula.com/theremin/

To S. DICHT: Perhaps, if we are lucky, Keanu Reeves will be cast as GORT, and not KLAATU. Reeves is completely inappropriate in this remake. Rennie (in the original) sounded suave, looked older than his years. The effect was to lead the viewer to believe in his superior intellect. In the MATRIX films, for all of the F/X, you never have the feeling that NEO is the techno-master that he's supposed to be. In other words, decent actor, completely miscast. What's next, Tommy Lee Jones in a remake of THE LIFE OF CHRIST ? ("Y'aint sinned -- y'all cast thuh fust stone.") Or maybe Whoopi Goldberg in THE ELIZABETH MONTGOMERY STORY....

This is my all time favorite movie. I hate to see it messed with. I dont think a remake of this movie is possible unless the original score is used along with the exact dialogue. I also believe making the movie take place just as it did in 1951 in Washington DC would improve its effectiveness. The film was way ahead of its time when it came out. We dont need a lot of special effects. The movie was more suspenseful then it was an action movie. I think Clive Owen would be a good pick for the role of Klatu and some unknown actress to play Mrs Benson. If FOX screws this up they will be seeing " The Day the Box Office Stood Still "

Trust me ......GORT is no muslim

LOL, EL Blanco I couldn't agree with you more!!

RE: Who has info on getting a copy of the original short story by Harry Bates: 'Farewell to the Master'? Frank Erickson on Nov 14, 2007: Just enter 'Harry Bates' in Amazon / Books search, to find "The Day the Earth Stood Still and Other Classic SF Novellas" (Kindle Edition) by Harry Bates. It is also collected in an anthology from long ago .... .

Harry Bates Story is online @ http://thenostalgialeague.com/olmag/bates.html

I pray that they are not using the storyline from the original one by Harry Bates. I hated it, when I read it. It was very short, and boring. The movie was so much better. So Keanu Reeves could be "Gort" and Kathy Bates "Klaatu" *err have to reverse the names for this.

Please leave this classic alone it deserves more respect!

Christopher Walken should be cast as Klaatu!! That would mos def roKK my soXX

i knew people would get all emotional about this the truth is let them remake it if it's crap then what exactly does that do to the original NOTHING..

Klaatu is going to be portrayed by Keanu Reeves. I liked him as Robert Arctor in a Scanner Darkly so I hope he soes a good job.

I think it's the perfect time for this remake. At first, I thought, great, another Hollyweird liberal/regressive propaganda piece disguised as a science fiction movie. Preaching to us how you have to try to "understand" the murdering psychotic enemy who's trying to destroy you. That you have to try, somehow to "kaffe klatch" with evil dictators and armies of terrorist homicide bombers. But then I saw that Fox is making it, so I figured the studio that brought us PATTON and INDEPENDENCE DAY (the movie in which we kick ET's ass) must know what they're doing. When you think about it, the story is really more about the conservative "fighting fire with fire" (peace through strength) than the liberal "peace at any cost" (throw flowers at killers and sing kum-bayah to them). In a way i think WE are in the process of creating GORT, or becoming him, and ulimately, the police force of the galaxy. In the same way we are now telling the Islamo-Fascist terrorists of the Middle East: "Cease your evil, your killing, your bombing, your terror, or you will be completely and irrevocably destroyed!"

Darlene: Think of Keannu Reeves, think of Michael Rennie and then think of Ralph Fiennes. There is no doubt Michael Rennie IS Klaatu. Ralph Fiennes is the perfect modern day Klaatu and without a credible star the movie will fail. Being beautiful is way down on the list of requirements for a believable man from outer space who frightens the entire world.

Saw the trailer today. Remake or no remake this film looks intense. I love 'afraid of what' and then ch ch ch ch as the lights turn on to Keanu in that chair. Awsome scene. I think I actually raised my hands. I can't wait to see that. Of course J.C. is as beautiful as ever but I want to see more of her!!!! When can we find this trailer on the net?

I'm so sad that they didn't choose a well spoken English actor for the role of Klaatu. It would give the American audience a sense of 'danger'....oh how that annoys me! So strange! So very, very strange!

I saw the trailer and I was so disappointed. Seems the only thing the movie has in common with the original is the title. Mags

Perfect person to have played Klaatu: Hugo Weaving.

I can't get this ot of my head, with KR as Klaatu: "Dudes of Earth! Unless you all stop acting totally bogus, we're going to have to burn you all crispier than a Dead concert crowd! Whoa! But if you're all like cool, then we can just Party On!" First impresions . . . .

OK, let's see about remakes of past films: Invaders From Mars: Remake = Crap. Invasion of the Body Snatchers: Remake = Crap. War of the Worlds: Remake = One Degree Above Crap. The Omen: Remake = Crap. Attack of the 50 ft. Movie:" Original is crap but campy crap and the remake was worse and didn't come close to the original. I know I'm forgetting some of the other remake disasters, but with a track-record like this, why would we thing a remake of "Day" would be any better? I truly hope it's better. The sad thing is that there are zillions of people who's only exposure to this story will be the remake. If the remake is a disaster, their reaction will be "What a crummy movie and story" and they will never have experienced the gem that was the original movie. Since this movie will probably be ruined during the remake, why not turn it into a musical? Just think...a chorus-line of dancers around the space ship and Gort turns into the largest boombox!!! Please don't steal my idea.

Citizen Kane sucked. I saw the trailer for The Day the Earth Stood Still last night, and it looks like it is going to do justice to the original. If the moral of the story remains intact, it might be worth watching. I saw the original in the early 60's - back then, you could see re-runs from the 40's and 50's at local theaters, especially on Saturday afternoon. It was great! I paid my 25 cents for three Saturdays in a row . I am sure it will be entertaining.

I'll bet they change the phrase to stop Gort to: "Klattu, Obama, Al Gore"

I saw the trailer to the new movie, and can't say I was real impressed. Of course it didn't show much, and hopefully the rest is better. We will have to wait and see. Like I said earlier, I thought Spielberg's remake of War of the Worlds was terrible; more about Tom Cruise and his dysfunctional family than the original story line. Hollywood is playing to a new audience these days, one I usually find to be immature and unappreciative of the classics as they were, more dependent on story line than special effects and triteness. I have my fingers crossed.

I think you're on to something there! (smile)

...and they LOVE guns!

Cathy, Great insight and comments. I couldn't have said it better. I totally agree about the many underlying messages in the original movie. For me, one message was a social message with racial undertones: Being afraid of someone who looks different. Yet when Klaatu shows up to rent the apartment, although he IS different, no one is afraid because he looks the same as the other people and there is no question about his legitimacy. And I agree about the need or reason for the saucer in the original "Day" to land in D.C. instead of N.Y. Is this another token favor to N.Y. after the 911 tragedy? And yes, yes to the comment about the remakes not having any soul or humanity. The M.O. seems to be "Make big effects and forget the storyline." In the original War of the Worlds, Gene Barry chops off the head of the "scout" alien, and brings it to the labs at JPL or wherever it was, and I loved the investigation done to figure out what we were up against. This was sadly omitted in the remake. I found it an essential slice of the movie that gradually gets us involved with the aliens and allows us a close-up look into these things. I did enjoy the alien creatures in the remake and the sound effect they made when attacking, but as someone else said here, the remake revolved more around Tom Cruise and his dysfunctional family rather than the aliens. I think in the remake, there should have been a little time spent explaining how or why the aliens were buried underground for eons. This was only brushed over and it could have added some substance to the storyline.

I take it none of you have read the original story? Do a google for "Farewell to the Master." Klaatu was NOT in control of Gort. It was the other way around.

GORT was in control! As it should be!

I do recall Michael Rennie, when referring to the race of robots they had created, saying, "In matters of aggression we have given them absolute power over us." Klaatu's race had given control to the robots, apparently not even trusting themselves. I imagine Klaatu had the authority except when things became violent beyond a certain point. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't mind such a ship landing in Washington DC today. The chronic and habitual predilection of Homo sapiens for war and violence is getting quite old.

Well, the trailer on YouTube left me feeling....well, underwhelmed. Sheesh, it looks like a poor version of Independence Day and X-Files combined. Speaking of X-Files, Chris Carter could probably have made an interesting remake of Day. What a shame. I hate to say it, but it looks like we're doomed here.

Having seen the trailer, and realizing how trailers are designed to pull an audience into the theater, I was trying to figure out how they could have a tractor trailer truck and several miles of landscape and buildings being destroyed in the remake, when in fact the demonstration to 'make the earth stand still' in the original was totally benign. We have to remember that in this 're-imagining' of the original, Keanu Barrada Blando is hear to warn us of an invasion under way, not that if we don't join the intergalactic police force one will take place. I'm thinking once Keanu is shot, the big orbs begin the destruction which is what we see in the trailer, and then Gort is contacted and calls them back. After all, we have to get that CGI in there, don't we? I admit, the orb rising out of the sea is cool looking, but we haven't seen a simple flying saucer in a film in years and it would have been even more cool to have one like the original with it's seamless entrance and hidden ramp, land in New York, or Washington without the CGI extravagnaza we appear to be in for.

I recall seeing a part of the re-make of "The Omen" the other night and it was "not good" -- to put it mildly. "Psycho" did the same thing -- simply awful. So somewhere in these comments I read that "Forbidden Planet" is next on the list to be re-imagined, or whatever you want to call what they're calling re-makes this days -- have to admit, this is a new one to me. This story in this is based on Shakepeare's "The Tempest," I believe. So, folks, once again, it's all about story and characters, but it's set on another planet, so it's sci-fi. Special effects are secondary. I have to admit, I've never watched a true classic and said, gee, I can't wait to see this one re-made. No, I like originality. To quote Stephen Colbert: "If you make the first one good enough, you don't need to write another." This was referring to his very funny book "I am America and So Can You." It could be aptly applied to classic movies: If the first one is that good, why do it over." Go original. Make something that 20 years from now will be considered a classic. We have a few but not many.

They should NOT remake 2001. Period. You just can't beat the movie. Dave, HAL, the Monolith. They just can't be beat. If they ever remake the movie, I'm going to have to kill the director. Oh, and also I wish they would stop making alien invasion movies for a while, I'm getting sick of them.

I think this article says it all. No, this movie did not and should not have been re-made, re-imagined, or whatever BS thing you want to call it. I think about TDTESS very often when I look at society today. No, the message has not changed. I only hope that this re-whatever-you-want-to-call-it doesn't bury the original gem or the totally timeless message: A world without war and violence. For those who do love the original you'll love this article. It really says it all. And it underscores why we love this film so much. Films are not always "just entertainment." They can make us look at ourselves and yearn and work for something better. Hollywood has forgotten this. http://io9.com/5037895/the-day-the-earth-stood-still-remake-is-pure-sucky-evil

Turner actually stopped colorizing movies some years back and instead poured money into restoration and preservation. "Citizen Kane" was one of the first and was placed into a successful limited theatrical release. It was really beautiful. This idea, of course, is what has made TCM so successful.

I first saw this wonderful sci-fi when I was 6 years old and had trouble understanding why anyone would shoot a visitor from outer space, especially when he was going to present humanity with an unbelievable gift. My father explained that people are always afraid of the unknown and aliens were unknown to viewers at that time. I have spent a lifetime studying the unknown and alien stories. I have seen the original "Day" 15 times and can't imagine how it will be presented in this remake. I'm skeptical about this version because we have all grown up with alien movies, so the awe and fascination of visitors from out of space has become mundane. At the time the original was made, this concept was a real novelty. I'm looking forward to seeing this version so I won't prejudge it. I hope they haven't made Gort and the story-line ridiculous.

Yes KK, Hollywood IS "that hard up for material!" Most of the movies I've seen this year (and I love to go to the movies) have been crap. There were two lately that I thought were above par to very good, namely, "Traitor" and "Righteous Kill." I've seen the trailer for "The Day the Earth Stood Still" several times now. Each time my heart sinks a bit lower. Like you, I thought the original was a classic, with a definite message and right on that message. From what I've seen of the new movie I can't imagine how it is anywhere close to that message. Sure, I could be wrong, not having seen it in its entirety, but..... The original was basically benign. An intelligent and enlightened man from space comes to kindly, but firmly, warn the world about the pickle it might be in if its aggression spreads into space. He is attacked, more than once (actually killed and brought back to life the second time), but remains calm and non-belligerent. The new movie seems very much different, with the aliens being quite threatening, both in word and deed. Of course, one must create a vehicle for lots of gratuitous violence and special effects. We shat see what we shall see.

KR will be just fine...I loved the original too, but lets see a different perspective. You cannot expect this new dilm to be the same as the old one, there would be no advancement. Like many have said, no matter how this film comes out, the original is still there. Also, we all cannot be Producers/Directors. If you don't like who was selected for a role, make your own movie.

Good point Maria. I'm not sure what to make of the promos I've seen. In the original film, violence and destruction was what Klaatu preached against. Gort would only act when needed, such as to control violent outbursts from other beings in the universe. In the promos, I've seen mass destruction of buildings, trucks, etc. I wonder how these acts of alien violence relate to the peace that Klaatu preached in the original. Only a few months until our curiosity is rewarded.

Cathy, With the lousy economic situation our country is in, maybe the best movie for the times is "Grapes of Wrath." Then, while I'm being depressed, I can pull out my recipe for Rock Soup and have a good 'ol time.

The short story, "Farewell to the Master" by Harry Bates, served as framework for the movie, "The day the earth stood still". In the book, GORT was called GNUT and the ship did not come from another place , but another time. ---------- Of all the things Cliff had wanted to say to Klaatu, one remained imperatively present in his mind. Now, as the green metal robot stood framed in the great green ship, he seized his chance. "Gnut," he said earnestly, holding carefully the limp body in his arms, "you must do one thing for me. Listen carefully. I want you to tell your master — the master yet to come — that what happened to the first Klaatu was an accident, for which all Earth is immeasurably sorry. Will you do that?" "I have known it," the robot answered gently. "But will you promise to tell your master — just those words — as soon as he is arrived?" "You misunderstand," said Gnut, still gently, and quietly spoke four more words. As Cliff heard them a mist passed over his eyes and his body went numb. As he recovered and his eyes came back to focus he saw the great ship disappear. It just suddenly was not there anymore. He fell back a step or two. In his ears, like great bells, rang Gnut's last words. Never, never was he to disclose them til the day he came to die. "You misunderstand," the mighty robot had said. "I am the master." ---------- The short story s available on the Gutenberg Project website in its entirety. Give it a read for contrast...

I saw the trailer for the first time on TV last night. I'm convinced they just should have called it something else. It's a totally different everything. All I saw was that one scene with Reeves sitting down with the electrodes, or whatever (and who cares) and lots of things blowing up. It's probably my age (52) but I can't stand movies where all I see is the world exploding. I can sadly do that by turning on the evening news. Yes, I prefer the intelligence and gentleness of the original.

Thanks. I just found out that on December 2nd TDTESS will be out in a new special edition 2-disc DVD and it has on one of the disks an audio version of Farewell to the Master. Apparently this is a very hot item. It's ironic that they are releasing this a week before this reimagines thingy. Anyway, here is what's on the 2-disc set: # Disc 1: # Commentary by Robert Wise and Nicolas Meyer # Commentary by Film & Music Historians John Morgan, Steven Smith, William Stromberg & Nick Redman # Isolated Score Track # Disc 2: # The Making of The Day The Earth Stood Still # Decoding "Klaatu, Barada, Nikto": Science Fiction as Metaphor # A Brief History of Flying Saucers # Edmund North: The Man Who Made the Earth Stand Still # The Astounding Harry Bates # Farewell to the Master: An Audio Presentation of the Original Short Story # Fox Movietonews from 1951 - Featuring the Film's Premiere # Restoration Comparison # Theatrical Trailer # Still Galleries

I'm 57 and I too agree. I'd rather see 50 where they save the world, than one where they don't, but onle if both the prolem and the solution are both plausible.

From watching the latest trailers I'm beginning to suspect that the movie might actually be meant as a sequel to the original. One graphic in particular said, "We should have listened." If this is the case, I think the title should have been reworked to reflect it, but it will not disappoint if this is indeed the case. We'll see.

I plan to see the movie, but not as a "Remake", I plan to see it as a whole different movie. I saw new previews this past weekend and it looks really good.

To Cathy: Violence is not more prevalent than ever. Where do you get your facts? I understand that it may seem so because you see it all the time on television or read about it in every news paper, but, if you compare the number of people killed by human hands from 1776 verses 2008 - the numbers will show otherwise. Just because you're SEEING more of it - doesn't mean there IS more of it. Get real and stop talking jibberish.

I subscribe to the notion that man has contributed to global warming, but what I never hear about is the fact that the earth, over it's 5 Billion year lifespan, has naturally gone through it's own massive cycles of heating and cooling. Over the eon's of time, the earth has froze, heated, froze, heated, etc. Regardless of what puny mankind does, the earth will continue to go through it's cycles. Mankind is just another passing lifeform on this earth. We weren't the first and we won't be the last. The pollution that man creates will only shorten his time on this planet. In the longrun, I don't think that it will affect the earth as a whole. OK, I've stepped off my soapbox now.

Thank you Cathy for saving me the bother.

I will be able to see a screening of the new TDTESS on Dec 20. I'm not holding my breath, but I need to see it just because. In the meantime, I bought the new DVD release of the old version. I haven't watched it yet, but it includes all of the "Making Of", commentaries, documentaries and other features that have aired or were scattered around here-and-there about the original. THIS is worth the cost, even though this will be the 3rd version of the movie I own. In fact, I bought both the Blu-Ray and standard DVD of the re-release, so technically I will own 4 versions of the old film.

I kind of agree Greg, but I've been caught waiting for a film to be "out of print" and missed my opportunity to have a "backup copy" of a film. My first copy of the film is a VHS, which I will donate to my local library with a hundred other VHS movies, then when the movie first came out in DVD I rushed to buy it because I feared it would never be issued again. I bought a second DVD of it two years ago when it was reissued on DVD, and it was re-mastered. But this copy never had all of the "Extras" that were so important to supplement this film. I had recorded a separate program on AMC that was the "Making of The Day The Earth Stood Still". This program was recorded on VHS and I burned a separate DVD of it. I recorded a similar program that appeared on TBS. Now, with the lates DVD, all of these scattered "Extra" shows are now included in pristine quality on both DVD and Blu-Ray. If you don't have a Blu-Ray player and a HDTV, then you don't know what you're missing because the quality is jaw-dropping.

WARNING SPOILER INFO POSTED!!!! Just saw the film. It was AWFUL! What a way to ruin a classic film. This version has NOTHING on the original. Plot, (Global Warming) WEAK! Beginning sequence disjointed and confusing! More holes in this story than swiss cheese! What did the opening sequence have to do with the story? Klaatu walks out of the "Globe" (where is the ship???) and just as the good Dr. is about to shake hands, he is promptly shot! He wasn't reaching for anything but a handshake the universal sign of 'hello'. Klaatu is taken to makeshift hospital where we learn that he was walking in a 'Plancenta' suit one minute and then the next minute they are marveling about how he was 'just born'. ??? Later in the film he uses some of this 'plancenta'material to bring back to life a cop he just KILLED. It grossed me out when he stuck his finger in the 'planceta' and then in the dead cop's mouth! Why did he bring the cop back, if he was on a mission to kill the entire human race? Later we learned that the Globes were all over the planet, and they were the 'ARK' that was saving stuff to be used after the world was 'cleansed'. (They actually used the word CLEANSED in this context) Then there is the ACTING, (If you can call it that) The acting was DEPLORABLE! Probably the worse I have seen in any movie in the last 10 years! Kathy Bates as Sec of Defense SILLY, OVER THE TOP, NOT BELIEVABLE. ( I kept looking for her to break somebody's ankles) "The One" as Klaatu is just plain PITIFUL and PAINFUL to watch! He sleep walks thru almost the entire film. (Oh wait that is what Reeves calls 'acting') Jennifer Connelly was terrible also. She was not believable as a Scientist nor as a mother! She never connected with Reeves or Jaden Smith on any level! (It may not have been her fault, I don't envy what she had to work with!!!) And the Simth kid, What in the world made them think this kid could act! I looked for the credits to see if they were the producers on this film! I didn't see their name! How did this kid get the part! It didn't help that the part they wrote for him was as a spoiled brat who needed his butt..... (I wish I would call an adult who is now my mother by her first name....) I would not even rent the DVD to see this movie, I am sorry I wasted $6.00 on it. Save your money, The Day the Earth Stood Still was when I wasted an hour and 40 minutes of my time watching this crappy film! Thank you "HollowWood" for messing up another Classic Film! "No soup for you"!

"I was so looking forward to this remake. After only 20 or less minutes all of us were ready to leave but as it turned out nobody had the courage to say "let's leave". After 30 minutes the pain was just too much and I recommended we leave and everybody happily agreed. My dog could act better (if you call that acting) than the whole cast. It was as if a bunch of scenes were spliced together to kill time. Instead it killed us. Truthfully we want to sue the theater for allowing such garbage on screen. Personally I am boycotting movies for a while to recover from this "horror" remake. All I can say is shame on anyone who had any part of this debacle. Hope this gets posted!" This was one of the comments after the review in The Washington Post. No, I did not write this, as I obviously have not seen the film. I have to be very careful where I spend precious bucks. I realize reviews as just opinions and many times I've disagreed with reviews after seeing a film. However, I have discovered that when so many write a bad review they are accurate. The reviews for the remake of "Marie Antoinette" were dead-on accurate once I saw 10 minutes of that mess on cable. Almost to a "T" the reviewers referred viewers to the "Marie Antoinette" with Norma Shearer and Tyrone Power, where Norma Shearer is an study in great acting.

HATE TO SAY I TOLD YOU SO! Was it ever in doubt?

I saw TDTEST on 12/20/08. This was an interesting take on the story, and it could have been good, but it wasn't. Blame it on a poor story, poor acting, poor plot, poor writing or whatever, it just was so unfulfilling and so unenlightening. The sad thing is that many people will only associate this bomb with the title, and will have never had the chance to see the original. The new film should have been released as a double-feature, with both the old and new films being run back-to-back. Funny thing is, the old film could have been shown first as a "period" picture to explain the old vehicles, and I'd bet most people would have been duly impressed. Then they would have walked out during the second feature, scratching their heads, asking themselves what it was they were just watching.

I enjoyed the beginning of The Day The Earth Stood Still or"TDTEST" remake but what happened to the end, what a let down, this won't be a classic it was full of PC, and as for Mr Smith from the matrix as a stand in for "Klaatu" crossed with the wooden tops sorry but this remake goes into file 13 as with the War of the worlds and the first Hulk. Gery Anderson puppets could have done better as Klaatu. If this is the best they can do with remakes then it's best to leave them a lone.

Firstly let me say that I enjoyed the remake. I was able to watch it on IMAX which no doubt maximized the pleasure. My kids 14 & 16 yo loved it and I found myself cold and clammy and engaged throughout the whole movie. The movie was in name only a remake, I felt its plot was so different from the original plot as to not class it as a remake. The spirit of the movie was however close to the original. I think the movie can stand on its own merits and it isn't fair to compare scene by scene and character by character. Lets forget what is loosely familiar like the names of the characters, the general flow of the plot and 60 years of movie special effects experience. The movie left us with a new experience and a new set of questions much like the original movie. The movie although puzzling at the end left me with more questions than answers much the same as Kubrick's, 2001: A Space Odyssey. And some of the questions I could pose were, why were we worth saving, I would have accelerated the process of destruction. If your so technologically advanced why are were you so primitive in other aspects like honesty, wisdom & philosophical reasoning. And how can such a morally primitive alien species impose such determinations in the first place. Hey your technology was strangely familiar, please show us some of your hot technology! And how the heck can Basil Faulty play Prof Barnhard without me cracking up.

I thought the point in this movie was more real the it's predessessor. It truly is an eccletic planet where all life form on it should co-habitate. If humans do not stop wanton waste and destruction of other life on earth then Mothere Nature should YELL AND LET WHAT HAPPENS FALL ON US