The Day the Earth Stood Still

[RogerFGay]

If you're paying close attention, you may have heard there could be a remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still out next year, with Keanu Reeves as Klaatu, Jennifer Connelly as Helen - other rumors Will Smith's son (The Pursuit of Happyness) as the kid, and some role possibly for Kathy Bates.

To prepare, you'll all want to get a copy of the classic, all time great 1951 version directed by Robert Wise and starring the alien looking Michael Rennie (Reeves has a similar alien look, but is unfortunately not unknown like Michael Rennie at the time -- made it seem like he could have come from outer space).

You can also read <a href="http://thenostalgialeague.com/olmag/bates.html">the original short story</a> upon which the movie is loosely based. It's a different story than the 1951 movie to be sure, but Klaatu is in it and the robot, originally named Gnut (instead of Gort).

Armed with all this knowledge, you will be fully qualified to complain about the remake. :noggin:

[TeenageRepublican]

What? Why are they remaking this? It's a classic! I've always thought it would be funny if Carpenter, when he spoke in a different tongue to the robot when he blowing stuff, really said "STOP! YOU F***ING IDIOT!"

[RogerFGay]

Maybe they're remaking it because Tom Cruise got away with remaking The War of the Worlds. I don't mind if they do some remakes of the classics as long as someone who can do sci-fi really well continues to take Azimov seriously. I really thought Azimov had to wait for the special effects technology available today.

Remains to be seen if this remake with Keanu Reeves will be any good. It's tough to remake a classic. But Reeves has enough pull that they can have whatever budget is needed - whether that helps or hurts. A big share of the original budget went into making the flying saucer.

[Jack_Savage]

I remember going to the movies when it first came out. Fascinating adventure. I think a bag of popcorn was a dime.

[EveningStar]

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

Coming this December 12.

Keanu Reeves takes over the Klaatu role from Michael Rennie.

Extended clip (this may get pulled) (http://www.cinematical.com/2008/09/15/watch-this-seven-minutes-of-the-day-the-earth-stood-still/)

IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970416/)

Official movie site (http://www.thedaytheearthstoodstillmovie.com/)

Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_the_Earth_Stood_Still_(2008_film))

[EveningStar]

...The Cold War-era film delivered a message opposing nuclear warfare and urging mankind to cease violence.

For the 2008 film, director Scott Derrikson opted to send an environmental message.

Reeves plays Klaatu, an alien who descends on earth to warn humans about destroying the planet.

"If the earth dies, you die," Klaatu tells Helen, played by Connelly. "If you die, the earth survives."
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/base-earth-film-2161938

[EveningStar]

Thread at Free Republic. (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2086865/posts)