...The Day the Earth Stood Still. I don't know if this film is considered a "remake" or a "re-imagining" of the classic 50s film. But I actually liked it. Of course, the opening scene was missing the Bernard Herrmann music that just gave a certain tenseness to the film. Then again, the original was a product of its time. So, what gives with the new film? A tad more on the violent side; the original Klaatu (Michael Rennie) wouldn't have harmed any life on Earth. Keeanu as "Klaatu" was a bit more serious. Then again, this new film reflects our contemporary and troubled world. We are on a road to self destruction and apparently the powers that be in the galaxy think it's time to eradicate our species. The 50s, with its nuclear fears, was really a naive time; the early 21st century is a fast-paced world where anything goes. Perhaps we are destroying the world little by little. With 2012 around the corner, are we on borrowed time? Will ETs come to earth around that year to see what the fruit of their labors have wrought?
Anyway, the film gave some food for thought. Of course, Gort is now G.O.R.T. "genetically organic robot" or some such thing. As my friends would say, "That's not our Gort!" And the classic line uttered by Klaatu was nowhere to be heard! Unless it was muffled when Dr. Helen Bronson made first contact with Klaatu, and the G.O.R.T went on a simple rampage before being told to halt.
Something was missing, IMHO, and that could have been a climatic speech at the end, such as in the original. But, alas, someone else wrote the script and developed the new storyline.
I got to see the film in an IMAX setting, which made all the difference in the world. It reminded me of the old Cinerama films. I must add that action films, sci-fi and epics should get the IMAX treatment.
Overall, it was an exciting cinema event. And with the technology in the SFX area, anything can be recreated. Amazing!! It is definitely a movie theatre film, unless you have a big screen and surround sound, and great big "tub of death" (aka: extra large popcorn w/butter, lots and lots of it, and a carbonated beverage.)
Klaatu barada niktu.
