Ironically, sci-fi fans can be surprisingly conservative in their views, especially when it comes to their much-loved films and books, and probably never more so than with re-makes, or re-imagining in Hollywood marketing speak. THE INVASION is a recent case in point where a sci-fi ‘classic’ was ignored by audiences because it was a remake, when it was, in fact, a well-made movie that fully captured the original intent of the story but in a modern context. The same fate seems to have befallen THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL.
There is a nostalgic element involved in comparing the new and old versions, which can be a bit myopic. Production values have rocketed in the passing decades and although story has often suffered at the expense of special effects, core message, and feel, of the original is still in this new version. I suspect that this new version was actually aimed at the younger multiplex goers, than the old school sci-fi fans, but that doesn’t make it any less valid, and possibly a whole lot more entertaining.
There is no denying it is a spectacular film to watch, bringing back memories of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS and even MEN IN BLACK, and to show how times have moved on TDTESS features Will Smith’s son Jaden. As I have already said, special effects don’t make a movie good, just as a good cast doesn’t guarantee success – and this has a good cast including Keanu Reeves (perfect as the humanoid Klaatu), Jennifer Connelly, John Hamm (Mad Men), John Cleese and Kathy Bates – because as anyone with an ounce of common sense will tell you, it’s all about the story. And this is a good, and relevant, story.
Klaatu, a humanoid alien, arrives on Earth as a harbinger of death. Sent by an alien species and accompanied by Gort, a giant robot with a Cylon eye, he has just one mission: seek redemption for sins committed against the Earth. With the clock ticking, and alien warships landing across the globe, civilisation has just a few hours to prove it can change or face total destruction! Threatened with imminent annihilation, determined professor Helen Benson (Connelly) and her stepson, Jacob (Jaden Smith) find themselves embroiled in the alien’s plan and fast become the world’s only hope to stave off apocalyptic obliteration. With the future of Earth hanging in the balance will they be able to save mankind in time?
My only real criticism of the film is it is all a bit too gung-ho American, but it was obviously primarily made for a US popcorn audience, but if you can overlook that, then it is a quite entertaining.
Of course, movies like this should be seen on a big screen with full surround sound, but with the costs of, Blu-ray players, large HDTVs and video projectors dropping all the time having a home cinema is becoming easier and easier, and with some of the screens in converted multiplexes getting smaller the boundaries are blurring.
The Blu-ray, and DVD, have some great special features that are actually worth watching including:
Watching the Skies: In Search of Extraterrestrial Life – scientists talk about possible real world scenarios for first contact with aliens
The Day the Earth Was “Green” – Fox’s first green production; details from this environmentally conscious set
Re-Imagining “The Day” – a look at the making of this re-imagined version of the film
And on the Blu-ray; Build Your Own Gort, an interactive feature for viewers to create their own unique Gort using elements from early Gort designs, which unfortunately can’t be saved. There is also a digital copy so you can watch it on a portable device such as a PSP or iPod.
THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL is out now on DVD and Blu-ray from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and is available from major retailers including Amazon