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Summary: This is the BEST!
Review: I love this, first saw as a child, then not for a long time, but never fogot Michael Rennie's portrayal of a kindly friendly alien, trying to help and warn Earth's people of their impending destruction if they didnt mend their ways. And the unkindly way the Earth people treated him as per usual-shoot first, ask questions later-Why dont we ever learn? that's all.
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Summary: Sweet Sci Fi, but pan and scan
Review: This truly is a classic. It used to be that movies had to have a good storyline -this movie harkens us from a richer time.
This along with Forbidden Planet, and War of the Worlds stand as 1950's masterpieces.This is certainly a dvd worth owning, but one major drawback is the "Full Screen" pan and scan format. This movie deserves a Wide Screen edition.
Rating:
Summary: A classic in every way.
Review: Actually, so much has already been written about this movie there really isn't much I can add except to say it is one of the finest sci-fi flicks ever made. It has a timeless quality that continues to hold up, even in this age of computer graphics and special effects. It relies on solid acting performances and a great story line--rare to find these days. However, the special effects it does have are very well done. This movie more than rates its five stars.
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Summary: Entertainment -- not politics.
Review: It's a wonderfully entertaining movie, and best enjoyed if you ignore the political overtones (sure, they're there -- but I think most people overemphasize them. It's a good science fiction story, and it's best to just leave it at that).
Rennie is outstanding as Klaatu. The supporting cast is excellent, also.
[I do confess to being a bit puzzled by the philosophy of the federation of worlds Klaatu represents. They're completely opposed to violence, and they don't have any wars. To keep that status quo, they're prepared to kill a few billion earth people. Huh? But no matter, as I said it's just an entertaining story].
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Summary: Where's Gort when you need him?
Review: An outstanding movie! The folks at Fox deserve a lot of credit for their fine job on this DVD ... unlike the butcher job done by other companies on such classics (e.g., Image Entertainment's substandard 50th anniversary edition of "Invaders from Mars," or Sony's shameful treatment of the Godzilla genre). Right up there with "2001: A Space Odyssey" in the all-time scifi "best of" list.
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Summary: Go get 'em, Gort.
Review: *The Day the Earth Stood Still* seems especially interesting when viewed today, because what had obviously been a pro-United Nations picture can be read today as a pro-unilateral America movie viz. "preemptive actions" against rogue states like Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Syria, et al. In the Fifties, in the height of the Cold War, it was a sobering idea that an alien civilization, represented here by the dour Michael Rennie, would be Out There keeping their eyes on us, making sure we don't develop the capability for Weapons of Mass Destruction. Since nobody from Out There actually ever showed up in Real Life, the writers and director Robert Wise posit the subtext that the real caretakers would have to be the United Nations. 50 years later, the United STATES has assumed the role of caretaker, keeping watchful eyes on the madman leaders of rogue states. If they fail to comply, we simply send OUR "Gort" (meaning, the most precise and deadly military on the planet) to straighten up things. The great irony in all of this is that America, in its current position as Policeman of the World, finds itself at odds with the original caretaker, the U.N. -- Oh by the way, this movie is a classic that belongs in any sci-fi geek's library. (Non-lovers of sci-fi would enjoy it as well.) *The Day the Earth Stood Still* set the standard for all else that followed. The interior of the spaceship is a masterpiece of set design and imagination, and hardly looks dated. And even though Gort the Robot is rather lacking in personality, his splendid coat of chrome armor and imposing 8-foot height (a real-life glandular freak wore the robot-suit) more than make up for it. But the movie is more than simply a bunch of "firsts" -- it's also an engrossing diagnosis of the human condition. Once again, another great movie from the undervalued Robert Wise.
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Summary: A must buy
Review: I won't bore you with a rehashing of the plot. All I can comment is that the movie is a cerebral thriller with an ending speech by the lead character that literally creeps you out. So much for friendly aliens, they mean business.
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Summary: Remember back when nothing "happened" in movies?
Review: Watching this recently, it amazed me how little action there is in this movie, and yet it remains as captivating and enthralling as ever. There are none of the set pieces we have come to expect in modern genre films: no explosions, no gory deaths, one small chase scene. Tension is developed through character development and the wonderful performances of Patricia Neal and Michael Rennie, with some wonderful supporting work from Sam Jaffe and Frances Bavier (Mayberry's Aunt Bea!) There are very few special effects: the odd tank disappears in a glow of light, but other than that, this is a film driven by character development. Taut direction by Robert Wise, straightforward writing from Edmund North and impressive cinematography by Leo Tower create an intelligent, literate, adult science fiction film that appeals to all ages. Special mention must be made of Bernard Herrmann's haunting score. One of the first film scores to use Leon Theremin's eerie and eponymous electronic instrument, which unfortunately became a genre cliché, the music adds immeasurably to the tense and unsettling atmosphere. Modern audiences may find the film's message heavy handed and obvious, relying on 1950's atomic paranoia and the absolute power it brought. In fact, Klaatu's proffered peaceful solution borders on totalianarianism. But these are minor considerations considering this is a simple story stunningly told. The DVD contains many interesting extras of interest to film buffs and collectors, including a shooting script, extended discussions on the evolution of the film from idea to release, and an odd look at the people fascinated with collecting 1950's sci-fi film props and paraphernalia.
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Summary: A classic in science fiction
Review: Although there are numerous exceptions, in general, the 1950s were not a good era for movie making. And in the field of science fiction - in the pre-Star Wars era, a rather unrespected genre in the film community - the number of good films in that decade are even more rare. I can really think of only three: Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Thing from Another World and The Day the Earth Stood Still. The movie follows the arrival of a flying saucer in Washington D.C. Within are two occupants - the human-like Klaatu and his menacingly silent robot companion Gort. After escaping from a brief stay in government custody, Klaatu (whose face is known to very few) takes a room in a boarding house and observes humanity. Unlike most cinematic aliens, Klaatu is benevolent enough, a messenger who - in the Cold War world - is having trouble getting people to hear his message. It is also clear he represents aliens who are so far beyond humans technologically that if conflict did arise, Earth would not stand a chance; there would be clever contrivance to stop Klaatu's people. The Day the Earth Stood Still may seem a little dated (and occasionally preachy) but it is still a great movie. It also gives us probably the most well-known nonsense words in cinema: Klaatu Barada Nicto. What does it mean? You will need to watch the movie to see.
Rating:
Summary: A classic science fiction movie. Klaatu Barada Nikto!
Review: This is a film which withstands the test of time and which is, until our world puts aside war and conflict, timeless. Although it contains an anachronism or two (the Brits refer to the visitor's spacecraft as a "buzz bomb") this story is as relevant today as it was when it came out in the early 1950s. The basic theme of the film is simple: an ambassador from a nearby world (Venus? Mars? we never learn which) comes to Earth to speak to all of the leaders of the world, to send a warning. The warning is also simple: unless Earth puts aside its warlike ways, other planets will regard Earth as a threat, and this could lead to Earth's destruction. The alien visitor ("Klaatu") has little understanding of or sympathy with, the fact that Earth does not speak with one voice and is (at least in the film) unable to even cause its heads of state to sit down in one room together. The special effects in the film are no great shakes by modern standards, but the truly thought-provoking aspect of this film is the possible reaction of humanity to a sudden visit from an alien world, revealing that we are not alone. Patricia Neal and Michael Rennie (Klaatu) turn in bravura performances. This is a fine film which, despite being a product of the 1950s, is still very worthwhile, and excellent entertainment.
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