The Day the Earth Stood Still

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Summary: The Day the Earth Stood Still
Review: This movie was made "way back in the day", when people demanded excellence.(Even in B movies) There is a PLOT here, a very thought provoking plot. It shows that although standards have slipped abysmally in the past 50 years or so, people have remained the same. No nudity, no swearing, no blood, no gore, just a good solid flick. The other thing that is missing is the sour taste in your mouth from watching the trash that is cranked out of the Hollywood "sausage factory" studios these days. This movie is a classic sci-fi standard.

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Summary: 8/14/03: Klaatu strikes again!
Review: I wonder whether there was a run on this movie after the great blackout of 2003? You could pretty much guess the ages of most Baby Boomers by whether we were going around muttering "Klaatu barada nikto" between August 14 and 16. It's humbling to be reminded, over fifty years after this movie was made, how helpless we are when deprived of our sources of artificial energy, and how vulnerable. And that's just one of many reasons why this movie is still timely.

Despite the fact that the Cold War and the nuclear arms race between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. are long over, this is a movie that has worn extremely well. For one thing, the black and white photography is beautiful, and the shots elegantly composed, and all that comes across extremely well on DVD. For another, the human story (or perhaps I should say, human-E.T. story) is quite emotionally engaging; the alien ambassador Klaatu is a thoroughly sympathetic character who engages your emotions almost immediately, and his friendship with the young son of the Patricia Neal character is charming. (Come to think of it, that relationship might have inspired the core story of Spielberg's E.T.) The special effects are fairly simple, but they work well enough to make the story believable; it's refreshing to see a science fiction movie that doesn't depend largely on CGI, explosions and chase scenes for its existence. And the use of the theremin in the score is brilliant. So many elements of science fiction movies that later became cliches were still quite original when this movie was made, and they became cliches later mainly because imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Anyway, great flick. If you're too young to remember it, don't miss it on DVD.

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Summary: Still holds up. . .
Review: This 50s classic stands the test of time. I just watched it again in 2003 and found it eerily foretelling of current events and as a metaphor for marginalized segments of society.

Michael Rennie, as the alien Klatu, is hunted by the U.S. government and finds help in single-parent mom, Patricia Neal. A variety of characters round out the movie: the famous professor who believes in the alien message; the politician with his hands tied; the suspicious neighbor; the boyfriend who would sell just about anyone up the river if it furthered his stature; the little boy who is the first real friend of the outsider; the working single-mother who rises above her fear and accepts a life-risking task.

With no real special effects but a good story line and excellent acting, this simple movie reminds us that not everyone who is different is evil or hostile. The alien could easily be a black male in Texas or a young gay man in Wyoming. But I'm sure the parallels would be lost on many viewers. The movie also reminds us that violence is not a solution; it is part of the problem. Klatu sadly comes to understand that humans seem to be prone to paranoia and suspicion and one wonders what he thinks as he departs leaving single-mom and her boy behind in a world bent on blowing itself up.

Even if you are not into looking at movies as metaphors, this film is highly recommended just to see that big budgets and color aren't necessary for great stories.

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Summary: Tony Craig
Review: As a 1950's SCFI nut. I love this movie, and its theme. Kudos to Robert Wise Director of this film. What a wonderful flick to grab some popcorn and enjoy!!

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Summary: More relevant now than it was in the 1950's
Review: A cautionary tale, showing the stupidity of the Earth's people in their inability to live in peace. It was a wake up call.If only it would happen for real.But much more than that,it also resonates with young boys who don't have a father. Rennie makes a perfect father figure, even to the brilliant scientist played by Sam Jaffe. This movie opened to me, as a young kid, the wonder of science, and left me with hope of finding a wise man that had some answers. I'm still looking.

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Summary: An All Time Classic........BRAND NEW! ! ! !
Review: Even if you have seen this all-time Great Sci-Fi Clasic a dozen times.....or a Hundred times, BUY this DVD! 'cause the digital improvements make it seem like you're seeing an entirely new movie. With the quality enhancements and the restoration of the tiny bits and pieces that T.V. has chopped out over the years, this Disc is a STEAL, ESPECIALLY at the ridiculously low price it is being offered.

If you haven't seen "The Day The Earth Stood Still" on DVD, you just haven't SEEN it(and BOY are you in for a REAL TREAT! ! !)

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Summary: An edition worthy of a classic!
Review: Two conditions are necessary if you want to see this film: 1) You have to be a sci-fi fan, or at least have an open mind to the genre. 2) You certainly cannot be one of those people who mock at dated special effects. If you meet these two requirements, then you certainly can enjoy "The Day the Earth stood still", one of the capital films made during the Cold War paranoia.

If you're reading this, then you must be a fan already. But just in case you never heard about it before, this is one of those genre pieces everyone knows, even if they've never seen it. It's about an alien visitor who comes to Washington DC in the early 1950's. He brings a message of peace and a warning to the human world, but he gets shot right away when he sets foot off his ship. After escaping the hospital, the alien (Klatuu), who looks exactly like a human, must pass himself as a citizen and stop his robot, Gort, from destroying the Earth in retaliation. In a time of paranoia, tense conflicts and stubborn world leaders (what else is new?), the message that Klatuu brings is, however, difficult to swallow: the only answer to mankind's rule of violence is totalitarism.

The debate about the message continues even today. It doesn't matter if you agree or not, it is as powerful today as it was during the Cold War. Unlike the giant insects movies of the 40's or the silly space serials, "The Day..." tried to make a serious statment using sci-fi form. It certainly suceeded, because the movie became a cult classic right away, and the robot Gort was to be one the most recognizable movie icons of all time. The special effects look silly today, but an intelligent script knows how to extract the juice out of the story and avoid the campy elements (mainly because there is very little action).

Now, Fox surely took a sweet time into releasing the film on DVD, but the edition is well worth the wait. The transfer is nearly spotless, both in video quality and sound. Apart from the special editions of "Psycho" and "Night of the Living Dead", I don't think I've ever seen a B&W restoration this good. I would like to know, however, why it's not in Widescreen format. Maybe somebody else can answer that for me. And the extras surely are great. The disc includes an audio commentary by director Robert Wise, as well a 1 hour documentary about the film and the cult that followed. This documentary includes interviews with the director and producer, among others (and what the heck is Joe Dante doing there anyway?). There's also tons of picture images, including the original posters. One more thing: among the trailers featured on the B-side there was the one from "5 million years BC" (you know, the cavemen movie starring Raquel Welch). Does that mean they're going to release that little jewel on DVD as well? I can't wait!

So, to end this extremely long review, "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is getting the DVD edition it deserves. It even has Spanish subtitles. Let's hope other cult classics are as lucky as this one.

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Summary: If you love Sci-Fi you have to own the DVD of this film
Review: This has to be on the list of all SciFi fans. It is a classic that has not lost a thing. Watch this, then Independece Day you'll have a great time.

I've been waiting for the DVD for years and the wait was worth it. The quality of this version is superb and the extras are fun. The restoration done on this release is striking. The VHS version and the film versions shown on the TV just don't make the grade.

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Summary: At Last!
Review: I have waited for this film to come out on DVD for quite some time, and I was ecstatic to learn that it was finally available. The quality of the transfer is excellent in every way and was worth the wait.

As a movie, this is a great film on a variety of levels. The preformance are of the best quality (a rarity in 50's scifi films) and the casting and mood are perfect. As a period piece it is simply one of the best films of the 50's, and certainly is the best science fiction film of the entire era. This movie is so well made that even today it has a seamless believability, in spite of the primative special effects.

The moral lesson contained here is both timeless and well expressed. (All World leaders today should have to view this filem at least once a year.) It is interesting that the U.S. military of the pre Korean war years took offense to the anti-war sentiments of the script and would not provide any assistance. All tanks, weapons and military equipment seen in this film were provided by the National Guard. Times have really changed, huh?

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Summary: Classic Science Fiction
Review: Science fiction doesn't get much better than this. Sure, the movie is a bit dated (it was filmed in 1951) but "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is still great science fiction. It delivers an important message for the times which, frankly, I'm surprised made it past the censor powers of the time. Still, the message got out and it no doubt contributed to the film winning a Golden Globe in 1952 for "Best Film Promoting International Understanding."

The special effects are fairly limited in this movie. Most everything comes from character development and their interactions -- a little different from recent science fiction movies. The score was the first to use this type of eerie sound that was later used widely among films of this genre.

If you enjoy science fiction, particularly classic science fiction, then you'll enjoy this movie. It ranks right up there with Forbidden Planet. "Klaatu barada nikto," one of the quotes from this film made it into several other movies. Several other quotes are good, too. Check out IMDb for a list.

If you don't much care for the genre, then you would do well to skip this film.

The DVD extras are worth checking out. Be sure to watch the "Movietone Newsreel" prior to the movie. It'll give you a better understanding of events that took place around the time this movies was released (1951). The commentary with directory Robert Wise had some interesting bits. Be sure that you're wide awake for the commentary -- otherwise you might doze off for parts (like I did). :)

Recommend: Yes
Watch again: Yes