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FIRST LOOK

First The Day the Earth Stood Still Remake Banner Discovered

by Alex Billington
June 24, 2008
Source: Film1.nl

We were the first ones to break the news on The Day the Earth Stood Still remake last year, now we have the first official teaser art from the film. 20th Century Fox has been keeping this project very, very quiet. No teaser posters, no teaser trailers, no photos, nothing yet. It's due out in theaters in December and I have a very good feeling this is going to be the film all of us will be talking about this Christmas. Courtesy of Film1.nl, this banner was discovered on the floor of the The Cinema Expo in Amsterdam. Although it's not much, it has a very eerie feeling to it that mysteriously draws me in. I'm very interested and this makes me think this film will be a lot more epic than we might all be thinking so far.

It's great to see Keanu Reeves starring in a big blockbuster again. I actually think he'll be able to pull off a modernized Klaatu quite well. In addition to Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, John Cleese, and Will Smith's son Jaden Smith star in The Day the Earth Stood Still. In March, we posted an interesting article where Reeves had said that this re-imagining looked at "what we are doing and who we are as a species" and is "more about man against nature" than man against man like in the original. I'm very curious to see how the story has changed and how the film fits in today's time, and if it's any good.

The Day the Earth Stood Still is directed by Scott Derrickson, of only The Exorcism of Emily Rose previously, with a script written by screenwriter David Scarpa, of only The Last Castle previously. There are a lot of fresh creative minds involved in this project who haven't yet had a lot of experience. The film is a remake of Robert Wise's 1951 sci-fi classic of the same name. Fox is releasing the re-imagined The Day the Earth Stood Still on December 12th later this year.

Explore tags: First Look, Opinions, Posters

Chris

It's a beautiful poster, but I'm still ambivalent about the project, considering an poor script review indicating many deviations to the story, which may or may not be the final project. Still, it will be interesting around Christmas to discuss the themes, similarities and differences between this and the 1951 film.
Nanea

The poster reminds me a lot of that scene in Close Encounters where everyone's looking up, with their backs turned to the viewer. I had expected something original, a different look and feel. I'm disappointed.
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

Its not original but it is very effective. I agree with you on this one Alex 100% about everything.
Iron Man Fan

Woah!
Shawna

As a graphic artist, I love the poster. It's very "earthy" in its color scheme, placid, interesting with the small images of humans showing the vast knowledge and experience of the visitor. I especially love the lettering as it is reminiscent of the 1950s novel covers, so they've kept some of the illustrative style from that era but modernized it. I am looking forward to the film.
http://handfulofwires.blogspot.com DCompose

So instead of talking about war being the problem, global warming is the problem.
Shawna

I think all of the bases will be covered. Scott and Keanu and everyone involved know (obviously) that the world is at war. People are killing each other and killing the earth. Man, I can't wait to see it. I am looking forward to this one more than any other film this year. I love a great sci-flick.
http://cinexcellence.com Cinexcellence

I'd almost forgotten about The Day the Earth Stood Still.
Alex

Please, please please, dont be about global warming..... I am so tired of movies based on global warming i can tear my eyes out of my skulll... be based on nuclear weapons like the last one, that is WAY more interesting....
Shawna

Are there any movies based on global warming out there? I thought they were documentaries.
avoidz

It's got that "Close Encounters" look to it, hasn't it; and why not, I suppose. I'm not sure why an alien emissary would be sent if humans were messing up their own planet (unless the aliens are worried we'll start dumping our trash in the rest of the galaxy), as opposed to the increased threat of nuclear activity which was the reason in the original film. This could go either way.
Alex

Ok, I still am nervous about this.... i really really dont want global warming to be the BIG THREAT and have to watch a movie with Keanu reeves telling us about what light bulbs to use, etc. please hollywood dont squander a good opportunity to make an interesting movie...
Shawna

Obviously we don't know enough about the changes to make an accurate analysis of the storyline. I look at the cast and think it has to be worth seeing. Especially Cleese and Reeves together.
http://www.myspace.com/livingdeadjoel Joel

The Day After Tomorrow is the only movie that I can recall that is about Global Warming, the rest are documentaries. It wouldn't hurt to mention it, but also including war and nuclear weapons wouldn't hurt either (Those are the major topics these days). I just hope the tree's aren't communicating with each other in this movie. "more about man against nature" This movie sounds interesting, and I am a bit excited.
Janet

I agree that if it's about global warming that will be kind of lame. I'm unimpressed with the poster but it is too early to tell anything without at least seeing a trailer. Am I the only one who thinks this is a strange release date in December? Also, this is opening up against Will Smith's Seven Pounds and Twilight. I think it's something like the last 7 (??) Will Smith movies have been number 1 at the box office on their opening weekend.
Shawna

Seven Pounds is not a blockbuster... it's more along the lines of The Pursuit of Happyness.
Zak

Pursuit of Happyness grossed $163 million. Seven Pounds looks to be a slightly different animal, but I think if you offered Fox $163m for Day the Earth Stood Still they'd take it.
Shawna

TDTESS is described as a tentpole film for WB so I think they are expecting big things. I didn't realize POH took in so much... it was a good film but not exciting.
Curtis

I agree with Ryan on this one not very original but effective it is. Im looking forward to seeing how Reeves does in it. Not too excited for it yet waiting for a trailer.
Tim "Cloverfield"

This is one of the true All-Time Classics.....Michael Rene was perfect as Klatu, and I honestly believe Keanu can do the same with the new version. I really cannot see how this can fail. Very excited!
Darrin

this looks amazing but with all the potter fans and twilight fans, this film might not do well.
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

I want to add that I kind of looks like a book cover though than a poster...
Ajax

Oh please no. Why, oh why?
alan

why must they always tamper? I am legend ,The avengers,need I say more?
http://myspace.com/suenote Susan

I cannot believe that anyone can surpass the acting of Klaatu as WONDERFULLY as Michael Rennie did!!! but Keanu Reeves will give it a go as good as any actor that is in the film industry right now!!! suek1@charter.net
Arramon

Have we forgotten about Matrix 2 and 3? The first one was amazing and I even thought Keanu "totally!" Reeves did a great job as the nerdy computer hacker that had the rug pulled out from under his simulated feet... but the other two movies in the series. OMG. I wanted to plug myself right back into the Matrix and feel like it was just a dream. But whatever... everything nowadays seems like its a remake of something. The Changeling remake by del Toro. Clint Eastwoods Changeling movie with Jolie. This awesome Sci-Fi classic my father loves to death. If they bring classic movies from the past back to life, they always try to make them teenie-bopper-pop-culture style, trying to pull in younger crowds. MAKE THEM LIKE THE ORIGINAL to make all the older crowds happy that the movies they loved from back in the day have returned from the grave and look just as they did when they first came out. Not all of this flash-bang-computer generated backdrops and sets that make the actors seem lifeless because they are infront of freaggin bluescreen. =/ I'm scared,,,
Edison Carter

Well, in the trailer Klaatu says,"If the Earth dies, you die. If you die, the earth survives," which lays the premise that humans are the problem. Now, the cause of humans being the problem sure seems like an environmental issue to me. However, the only thing getting eradicated , like the truck and stadium, are inanimate objects. I'm 48 and grew up seeing the original in dozens of airings on WGN-TV in Chicago. Heck, I still use the phrase,"Do not substitute fear for reason". If the new film is a cautionary environmental tale, they better be able to sell it because this planet, more than once, has had 80% of it's life forms eliminated due to an environmental travesty. Whether it was a meteor and the dinosaurs, or when the planet just had microbial life and it turned into an iceball, the planet comes back. While humans may be gone in a million years, the planet carries on, eventually. The only thing that is a definite planet destroyer is when the core cools completely or something nearly the size of the moon would hit us. Ultimately, the new Klaatu is sort of a Starman kinda guy. He's alien, his body is human, nice trick. I preferred Michael Rennie's because he was passionate and had a purpose. Acting dispassionately about something that requires passion, is not interesting. Regardless, I'll be there on December 12
Dr. E

The jist of TDTESS is perspective. How do we and what we are doing on this planet look to an outside observer? The list of potential subjects and focus is vast. It would be refreshing to have the remake take an updated and inspired viewpoint. I for one would welcome giving a good writer some leeway and license to think outside the planet and maybe cause people to stop and think about what's happening because of our actions as a species. Nuclear war potential is still with us every day until all the weapons are decommissioned. The climate change problem is just one of several potential end-game scenarios for civilization as we have known it. NEO's [asteroids, comets], biological, chemical disasters. I think it will be entertaining to have the remake take them all on as a group reason for us to listen to the alien, straighten up and fly right, or else!.
David Caywood

Well I am a huge fan of the original even though I am just about to turn 33. And yes I am referring to how young I am. Gimme a break! I do have a solid metal Gort figure on my computer desk. I dont know if that credits me or discredits me. I am dreading this remake from the bottom of my heart. The original, as a concept, is just too good. Anything after it seems like it cannot avoid being a rip-off, any deviations in the story seem like a shameless attempt to sensationalize someone else's idea. looks like a lose lose to me. Even though Jennifer Connely is in it (which gives it some definite hot mama appeal) How can you expect Reeves to represent who was an articulate, intelligent, charismatically well communicating higher intelligence!? Clearly they are altering Klaatu signifigantly. Also, in 1951, it was close enough to WWII and before the politics of Viet Nam, so aggression itself was the "enemy" These days, unless they do a healthy highlight of radical Islam's violence and maybe that of some African atrocities, it is gonna look like a leftist jab at the War in the Middle East with the US as the main aggressor and I am sooo tired of hearing that of our nation and our soldiers (being a soldier myself). Also this looks frighteningly like it is gonna be an ad campaign for environmentalism. Wah wah. The earth is heating up as a natural course of events. Sure we should do as much to mitigate it as we can, but geez, if this movie came out before the election, it would violate advertizing and campaign regulations in favor of Barack Obama. They are making Klaatu a Democrat I am afraid. No offense to Democrats. The only anticipation I have is to see a modern Gort. Sounds interesting, but again Dicey. Hope they pull out a miracle and dont screw the whole thing up. Blessings to all
RSH

It reminds me of "Close Encounters of the Third KInd"! *BAH!"
Darth Rock

I grew up seeing the original 1951 TDTESS as reruns on TV thoughout my childhood and still from time to time stop to watch it late at night on TCM. The original was and is so 'on point' that I too am leary of a remake. I'll be there in Dec. to see this with the hope that they do the original justice. I've enjoyed just about everything Keanu Reeves has done and again can only hope he does not slaughter the role of Klaatu. Seeing the trailer gives me goosebumps everytime. I pray my high hopes for this film will not be dashed. As far as a modern 'Gort'... there's not much to improve upon there... the 1951 Gort was perfect. If they screw that up, then all is truly lost!
http://myspace.com/suenote Susan

Dear Darth Rock, I agree wholeheartedly with your post...I do hope that Keanu does a great job as Klaatu...but I have the DVD of Michael Rennie and I think the fact that he was an "unknown" at the time of filming leant a bit to the "supernatural" element of it, don't you???
Darth Rock

>Susan Yes... I have to agree, that Michael Rennie's 'unknown' element as a star did add to the mystery and suspense of the original...