I finally did see the new version several months ago and I will admit to liking it more than I thought I would. If there were no prior version of The Day the Earth Stood Still, I'd chalk this one up as a reasonably entertaining but forgettable SF movie that I wouldn't pay to see in a theater but could tolerate on the TV or feel that I've not utterly wasted one of my Netflix slots.

What I liked about it -
1. The rationale for Klaatu's mission, IMO, was a bit more logical. If Earth-like worlds are as common as hen's teeth then it makes a kind of sense that the few that exist would be zealously defended (even from their native species).

The solution to human stupidity still seems a bit draconian. The aliens couldn't have intervened sooner? And why does it take John Cleese to make Klaatu realize that his people had overcome a similar crisis on their world?

2. The idea that aliens took human DNA then made clones to infiltrate human society was good.

3. Keanu's robot-like delivery actually worked for me in the beginning when he was becoming used to his human body. Unfortunately, Keanu doesn't have the range to show how he grew into that body.

That said, the movie doesn't hold a candle to the original which took the time/effort to establish Rennie as a real person. And, while the logic has never held up well for me, the reason for Klaatu's visit gave us a chance to explore the paranoia that characterized the era. "Climate change" may be more topical than the Cold War at the moment but it was just a plot device on which to hang explosions and car chases not a real theme.

And, come on! They couldn't have figured out a way to incorporate "Klaatu barada nikto" somewhere?

Well then it's settled. I'll have to see it soon. :)

hell yes! see the original!

Yes I recommend it.
Very ahead of its time in 1952.

"Mr Carpenter" the alien played by Michael Rennie has a lot of Christ like symbolism. It was the first serious sci-fi movie of the era.

Manuel wrote: "Im glad you enjoyed it Shannon.
Im curious, have you ever seen the original?

"

No, I haven't. Do you recommend it?

Im glad you enjoyed it Shannon.
Im curious, have you ever seen the original?

I really enjoyed this film. Jaden Smith was mighty annoying, but Reeves was perfect. I kind of like the idea that humans don't deserve to live on this planet because of how we (mis)treat it. ;-)

The only good thing about this film is that Universal released Robert Wise's original in high definition...and did an outstanding remaster! To hear Bernard Herrmann's double theramin score in lossless audio is pure delight:)

I only just found this thread I was curious to see what people thought of this movie.

Nothing too surprising.
I saw it through Netflix a few months ago.
I dont usually start a movie hoping it stinks, I always try to give it the benefit of doubt, perhaps something good or entertaining will emerge to justify my expense and or time in viewing it?

In this case the movie failed on all counts.
Total waste of time.
I dont blame it all on Keanu. He isnt the best actor in the world, but not even his wooden acting was the worse thing about this turkey.

i saw it a few days ago, and hate to be a dissenter with the general opinion here, but i didn't think it was that bad (and yes i have seen the original)

it's not a great movie...and maybe there's no great subtlety in the message, but for what it is, it isn't that bad of a movie and i kind of liked it

the only part that i really didn't like is that the kid's really annoying

i also suspect there's got to be a "director's cut" around somewhere with a little more focus on some of the other characters

i think it's just one of those hollywood movies with an identity crisis and couldn't figure out what kind of movie it was suppose to be

the only thing i found interesting about this movie is the fact that Kathy Bates, as Secretary of State is the highest level government agent we see. both the president and the vice president are hiding out in a bunker in a mountain somewhere. a far cry from Independence Day where the president is flying a fighter plane - standing with 'his' people, facing the danger together and all that. i found that an interesting hollywood view on current American politics.

I put this on my Netflix queue only because (however painful it may be) I want to compare it to the original masterpiece.

I don't know if it was in this thread or elsewhere but someone was questioning the need for remakes. IMO, a remake can be as good or better than the original if its makers give a d**n about it. The original "Day the Earth Stood Still" raised all sorts of questions that a remake could have explored. Like, just what kind of society did Klaatu come from? How could they claim the mantle of civilization when their only response to aggression was genocide? Isn't there a middle ground? - Confining the offending race to their planet, for example?

And if you are going to fundamentally alter the storyline, as I understand the remake does by having the aliens want to destroy us because we're not very good conservators of the planet, what kind of response is destroying humanity? Wouldn't a bunch of crusading do-gooders at least begin by making us act better before escalating things? And, really, at least in the original the alien confederation was potentially threatened by human expansion into space; which alien world is threatened in the new version? It doesn't make sense to me...

best not to, KD.

I don't even want to think about this one...

We almost went to the new movie since it is in the IMAX but did not end up going after hearing all the reviews. I am glad we skipped it.

Great episode from the original TZ Jim! A one-man powerhouse performance from Mickey Rooney. Yes, once upon a time ideas were more important than SPFX...

Thanks, Sandi. From the previews I saw, I suspected that Hollywood would go ga-ga over special effects & miss the point of the movie, which was so superbly done in the first one.

I watched an old Twilight Zone a couple of days ago. The entire 30 minutes was filmed in one small room on a very slim budget, but it was interesting & moving. It was 'Big' with Mickey Rooney (not sure of the exact title). He's a washed up jockey who wants to be 'big'. Fantastic. It was the acting that made it. Now it seems to be special effects. They just don't do it for me as well.

yeah, rob said about as much on another list. i don't see why films like this are re-made...

My husband & I went to see "The Day the Earth Stood Still" today. We give it four thumbs down. Keanu Reeves was perfect as the alien thanks to his wooden acting, but everyone else was under utilized. It needed much more character development and more sincerity in the relationships. I never saw the original, but I was able to predict everything that was going to happen before it happened. It used one science fiction cliche after another instead of creating a real script.

Save your money, don't see this movie. I wish I had listened to the critics, but I do like to support science fiction films. The critics have a tendency to pan SF movies in general.

BTW, the preview for the new Terminator movie and "Wolverine" look wonderful. The preview for the new Star Trek movie looks really cheesy. It might end up being worse than "Star Trek: The Motion Picture".