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Summary: thoughts on klaatu's show of force
Review: Just bought the DVD and find it a great deal--lots of extras--includ a long documentary featurette on second side of disc--another viewer had problems with the visitors' forceful ultimatum with the leaders of our planet--how timely--I think the visitors represent a higher power holding us (especially the U.S., thus why they land in Washington)accountable for our actions--The US has used nuclear weapons, and like our beef with Iraq, the aliens are worried we will eventually use them against other planets--perhaps the aliens are no better than we are--just a reflection--and that is the whole point--take all of us to the Hague if you can find any superpower willing to submit itself to an International Court of Justice--not happening--we wouldn't go unless you forced us to--sad but I think it is true--you decide--peace
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Summary: The DVD of The Day the Earth Stood Still
Review: I have just watched TDTESS in DVD format. All I can say is "WOW"! I first saw this movie in the 1950s and have watched it numerous times since. It is one of my all time favorites although I never joined the "cult".The movie has been reworked for this DVD and is crystal clear - a few isolated flecks, but these are extremely minor. The sound is Stereo (I assume electronically synthesized) or Mono, and very "clean". The extras (interviews, posters, etc.) are well done, informative and actually add to the enjoyment of the film. If you know the film -- watch the interviews first -- so you can look for some of the moments they discuss as the film progresses. (Although they very nicely cut in the scenes being discussed during each interview.) The discussion about the music was especially interesting to me. To sum up: If you have always been frustrated by not being able to secure a pristine copy of The Day the Earth Stood Still -- THIS IS IT. Kudos to those who put it together. Richard T. Montross
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Summary: Commentary
Review: This movie is clearly one of the best of all time. If anyone finds it boring it is because you are boring. This is not to put anyone down. It is just a statement of fact. Consider this:
You find this movie boring because it does not amuse you or keep you entertained. Does this not suggest something to you?
You need someone else to give you thoughts to think or emotions to feel, you need someone to tell you what to feel and how to do it. Sad really, isn't it?
This movie does not work for you because it makes you think on your own.
I have been thinking about this movie for many years and I have loved it for many years. The understated yet powerful scenes are really quite fantastic. It is the simplicity that makes it so complex. Figure that one out? :-)
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Summary: Only one thing was missing
Review: As I have looked on the extras, only one thing was missing. Did you know that TDTESS was also a LUX radio production. I caught this years ago on SCIFI.com's Seeing Ear Theater. It would have been neat to see that included as an audio extra like the Vault Disney DVD's had done with Old Yeller, Swiss Family Robinson and Pollyanna. They have audio tracks of the story books, commercials , etc. This isn't a complaint just a wish for a truly rare extra. I'm just so glad its on DVD with Robert Wise and Nicolas Meyer doing commentary. Mr. Wise now really has a chance for making sure his thoughts and recollections are preserved for posterity as Star Trek TMP directors cut did. I hope he gets to do this for Sand Pebbles and Sound of Music before this great man passes on.
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Summary: it' about time
Review: finally it has come to dvd..this dvd was done very will with commentary by robert wise and nicholas meyer...the print was restored and you can't get much better..the audio is stero but not bad...extras are good...so if you haven't gotten this movie yet this is the best time yet..well worth the price...
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Summary: 2 kinds of people
Review: There are two kinds of people in this world:
1. Those who upon hearing the words: "Gort, Klaatu barada nikto," return a blank or puzzled expression, and
2. Those who upon hearing the same phrase respond with a knowing smile.
This DVD is for both kinds of people.
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Summary: Simply one of the best films ever made
Review: This gem of a film is not only one of the best in its class but one of the best films ever made, period. The film speaks for itself and either you understand it or you don't. Buy and enjoy.
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Summary: Classic Wise film finally on DVD
Review: Robert Wise has had a storied career. He began as an editor working for Orson Welles on Citizen Kane and eventually moved on to director and producer. Because his themes vary he, like Michael Curtiz, isn't seen as a "auteur" or author of his films. The French auteur theory overlooked the fact that film is very much a collaborative medium. It also overlooked the fact that an artist plays with a variety of themes regardless of whether or not they are personal. Day is an example of what Wise has always done best; his forte was creating intelligent, enjoyable films that straddled the line between the old guard of Hollywood and the new, more message orientated films. Day, based on the short story Farewell To The Master (with a wicked twist not spelled out in the final film but twisted around with a touch of irony). Klattu arrives on Earth with both a warning and a greeting; if you intend to join the community of space be prepared to leave your agression behind. While the deft screenplay is occasionally heavy handed (not unusual for a 50's science fiction film), it's, on the whole, a brilliant look at humanity from the outside in. The suggestion that Klattu is a Christ-like figure here to sermonize on humanity's faults and providing humanity with the choice of salvation or damnation could have been overkill in another director's hands. Wise's intelligent direction highlights the strongest aspects of the well written script. Klattu is attacked, hunted down and killed because he threatens the very essence of our freedom. His message that freedom, any freedom, comes with costs and limitations is lost on the rest of the world initially. The cast including the marvelous Michael Rennie (Hollywood never did figure out what to do with this terrific talent), talented Patricia Neal and B-Movie stalwart Hugh O'Brien bring the story to life with minimal fuss (no elaborate special effects sequences or props except for the ship and Gort). The commentary by director Robert Wise and writer/director Nicholas Meyer (a bit of trivia--both directors made Star Trek films as well)is informative. Meyer's hyperactive commentary works well against Wise's more laconic observations. My only complaint is that Meyer could have kept his questions directed more towards the making of the film. Then, again, since it's 50 years later, Wise does point out he doesn't remember a lot about the making of the film. Possibly the most interesting observations come from director Joe Dante who puts the film's importance into perspective. Most science fiction films from the 50's that use real cities and backgrounds help ground these types of films in reality making them a bit more believable than films set in the future. The crisp, black and white images reproduced on the DVD bring the film to life after a long purgatory of poor video transfers. The transfer here is about the best I've seen (although the laserdisc was very close). In fact, the print is so well restored on DVD that the wires holding Patricia Neal when Gort (Lock Martin) picks her up are in evidence. Perhaps the contrast should have been a bit darker there...There are a few analog artifacts on the mono soundtrack--it sounds a bit too flat for my tastes but, on the whole, the transfer is splendid. It's nice to finally have this seminal and important film finally available on DVD. If you don't like dual sided discs, you'll find it annoying to have to flip it over for most of the supplements (the documentary is on side B). I don't imagine that you'll be flipping it over that often as the documentary is servicible but unimaginative in the way it's put together. It's more of the talking heads variety documentary. Still, it's nice to have the comments from the producer & director (although screenwriter Edmund North who deserves a lot of praise for his intelligent script must no longer be alive. Still, couldn't they have found his wife or someone else that was involved to comment from his perspective?). All told Day is a class act and much improved over the Laserdisc because of the extras(and a huge leap over the video edition)that came out in 1993. One surprise is that I didn't know that the film had picked up a 1951 Golden Globe for Best Picture.
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Summary: Classic SciFi
Review: I would like to praise Fox for a first rate job of putting this DVD together. It has an abundence of added features and the restoration is excellent. I notice that most reviewers praise this movie and rightly so. When you consider this movie was made more than 50 years ago it is all the more amazing. A two star critic asked why only one visitor was sent, why to Washington, why not just the US and Russia as emissaries, why a robot to destroy, why threats if they don't change their ways... Well if you study what was happening in the world in 1951, it was only 5 years since World War II ended with Allies and Axis from many countries, and the US was becoming involved in Korea. The US was considered the strongest nation by most and with a eye to settle all international disputes. And even if other countries didn't think it the US did. Therefore that would explain why the visitor came to US. Where did you think the US capitol was? I think Great Britain, France, and many other countries would be offended as to why you think the US and Russia need be the only emissaries. As for one man, with a robot like Gort why would you need more back up? Don't say Klaatu Barrata Nikto and just see what happens. Not to mention if more than one visitor came then they might accidently impart a dissension amongst themselves. That certainly wouldn't help their cause. Just use KISS, Keep it simple stupid would be the best way to show their resolve to their message. Are you disappointed that it wasn't a woman? PC or political correct ideas were not an issue in 1951 so let's not go there. Makes me wish I had a time machine. Espouting quotes from Lincoln and others has no place in critiquing this SciFi movie. You can poke fun at most movies of the 50s but here it is undeserved. I doubt you caught this on Mystery Theater 3000. This was unlike B movies of the period and well ahead of its time. Trying to analyze the message beyond "beware of the powers you carelessly use to war on one another" is fruitless. Did you miss putting us in the same position of Earth going to another planet so that we might not do the same thing? What would happened if you sent representatives of the UN to another planet to tell them to stop using weapons of mass destruction. Would they give them one message in total agreement. Watched a UN vote lately? Have you somehow missed the news and the message we are giving Iraq today? I hope you now realize the message in this classic movie is timeless and one to be treasured.
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Summary: Classic Movie!
Review: This is one of the original science fiction movies that you
will always remember. A space ship lands to deliver a warning to earthlings and the alien is killed by a soldier. The alien's robot goes on a spree of destruction. Michael Rennie plays the role of an alien who infiltrates earth life. His playing of this
role was outstanding.The role of the Einstein type scientest. Patricia Neal is also outstanding. This movie has very few special effects because it was made in the early 1950's.This movie definitely carries itself. Be sure to buy the new DVD of
this film. You will enjoy this classic.
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