Comments on eclectic / eccentric: Movie Review: The Day the Earth Stood Still

Anivad - Don't you just love how "creative differe...

2009-11-05T18:01:13.604-06:00

Anivad - Don't you just love how "creative differences" typically means audiences get the shaft?

Andi - Did you ever see the original?

Stacy - Hey, I like the wooden Keanu too. And he does it so well.

I saw this at the theater having not seen the orig...

2009-11-04T12:58:30.336-06:00

I saw this at the theater having not seen the original. I thought it was okay. But there is something about the wooden Keanu that I like. Maybe I need an intervention!

Yeah, I thought this one was pretty horrible. I sa...

2009-11-03T12:12:57.333-06:00

Yeah, I thought this one was pretty horrible. I saw it in the theater, and all I got out of it was a desire to see the original.

This was one of my pet peeves about the changes ma...

2009-11-03T06:42:24.644-06:00

This was one of my pet peeves about the changes made to an earlier draft of the TDTESS remake script, in which we saw a lot more things that helped convince Klaatu that the human race was worth saving.

Among others, there was a nice bit at the part where Klaatu kills the police trooper and walks away, only to notice that Helen and Jacob remain with the dying man trying desperately to comfort him, trying to save a complete stranger who had intended to hurt them.

Another bit - Klaatu at Professor Barnhardt's house in an extended scene, listening to the Bach music and being completely drawn in by it:

As Helen draws near, she sees that Klaatu's eyes are closed.
He's listening to the music, transported.

HELEN
It's Bach.

Klaatu looks at her.

KLAATU
I know.

HELEN
You've heard it before?

KLAATU
Not like this. Not with human ears.

He touches the names embossed on the leatherbound books on the shelves.

KLAATU (CONT'D)
It's not just the worst of mankind that we know. We've seen the best, too.

She stares at him, her eyes widening. She's caught a glimpse of something in him.

HELEN
You could have let us die without knowing anything. But you told me. Why?

For a moment, Klaatu doesn't answer. And then...

KLAATU
I don't know.

HELEN
Maybe some part of you wants to be talked out of this.

Overall, I like that draft much more than the final film. But there was the Writer's Guild Strike and apparently a lot of 'creative differences' among the filmmakers, so stuff got screwed up.

Here's the script if you're interested: http://www.whoaisnotme.net/scripts/TDTESS_xx_UD.pdf

Jen - Absolutely! Missy and Marie - I will have t...

2009-11-02T20:16:06.365-06:00

Jen - Absolutely!

Missy and Marie - I will have to see the original. It sounds like it's worth it.

Stephanie - Love your blog title too! I'm following you now too.

I thought this movie was mediocre. By the way, I'm...

2009-11-02T17:47:03.326-06:00

I thought this movie was mediocre. By the way, I'm a new follower. The title of your blog hooked me!

The original was AWESOME. It looks a little dated ...

2009-11-02T16:55:18.833-06:00

The original was AWESOME. It looks a little dated since the special effects aren't very special by today's standards but it's still a classic. :-)

Yes, watch the original. I have seen it a few tim...

2009-11-02T09:42:55.394-06:00

Yes, watch the original. I have seen it a few times. While I enjoyed it, it is what it is....a 1951 scary movie. :)

Yeah that's the problem with these movies - humans...

2009-11-02T09:21:33.187-06:00

Yeah that's the problem with these movies - humans always win even when they don't deserve it. If any alien species decided to destroy Earth for what ever reason I doubt they'd be swayed by seeing a few people showing that they love each other or what they are willing to sacrifice to survive.

Not to mention books/tv shows where the "aliens" talk about how resourceful humans are and how they'll fight to the death to protect what's theirs... as if people from another world wouldn't do the exact same thing to protect their own... right...

In the end it comes down to the arrogance of assuming humans are always right and no alien could ever be like us... which when you look at our history it's not all that surprising the movies would end up using the same ideas...