Sadly Over-hyped

Best movie ever!

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

A lot of people don't like this film. Even I thought that casting Keanu Reeves as someone from outer space was a little redundant. But, it was on and I was bored so I started watching. And, kept watching; and, at bed time I recorded the rest.It is not the same movie as the original. That is a good thing. The original movie was great for its time; however, the old plot set in modern times would look uber-dumb. Also, I have to doubt that the authorities would've reacted so cartoonishly militaristic as they are depicted, in this day and age; but, maybe I'm an optimist.So, instead of turning off the world's power, the aliens bring metal-eating robots that threaten to devour us all. We are on the brink of destruction, as they mention once or twice. The deaths from these creatures gives the film a very different feel than the original.Bates and Cleese do well in their performances. As always, Reeves plays stunned well. If you don't expect the original and you don't question things very hard, this is not a bad movie.

Just as the reboot of "Cape Fear" reconfigured the entire film adaptation of John D. Macdonald's seminal novel, so does this one, starring Jennifer Connelly and Keanu Reeves creatively flesh-out the set pieces depicted in the classic 1951 rendition with Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal.It isn't merely a matter of enhanced computer generated special effects: Keanu Reeves delicately walks a thespian tightrope between terrifying godlike powers and an overriding mission dedicated to persuading an earth on a collision course with its own self perpetuating doom---to help itself before it is too late.As a matter of taste, any work of art may be alternately extolled or parodied; "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is no exception. However, as a devotee of world peace and a believer in the ability of united enlightened irenic and compassionate human beings, I was heartened by this cinematic presentation. I think that Michael Rennie and those who produced the 1951 version might also be cheered---especially in light of the Hitleresque antics of Vladimir Putin, Assad and Kim Il and others in our times. No well intentioned effort to eradicate rampant, destructive, vengeful, revanchist maniacal demagogues- is a waste of time. I believe that this 2008 envisioning of the earlier movie reaches a much wider audience, which may keep the salient themes simmering.

As a rule of thumb, never do a remake, especially when you are fiddling with a classic. Yet, director Scott Derrickson felt the urge to do so and tamper with the 1951 classic.The reason why I decided to watch the 2008 remake was solely because of Jennifer Connelly starring in it. I am not hyped about Keanu Reeves, as his acting tends to be generic and the same movie after movie.Story-wise, then "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is entertaining enough, especially if you are not familiar with the 1951 classic. But I am just weighed Down by an overwhelming sensation that the movie was very unnecessary to have remade.The effects in the movie were good, obviously better than the original, needless to say. And luckily it is not all flash and bright colors, as many Sci-Fi movies of recent date tend to be.The movie had a good cast, which at least helped lift the movie experience up a bit, a list that includes Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, John Cleese, John Hamm, Kyle Chandler and Keanu Reeves."The Day the Earth Stood Still" is a mediocre movie and a remake that shouldn't particularly have seen the light of day, because it didn't revolutionize the movie industry or the Sci-Fi genre. And most importantly, the 1951 classic should not have been tampered with in an unnecessary remake. This 2008 remake didn't make the Earth stand still at all.

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.