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*** Official THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (2008) Review Thread

post #1 of 6
12/12/08 at 9:51pm
Thread Starter 
The Good:

Jennifer Connelly had more screen time than I'd thought she would.
Keanu Reeve was born to play wooden-like Klatu.
Gort was kind of cool, and ominous.

The Bad:

Script was bad and devoid of interesting sci-fi concepts that might have salvaged the ending, which wasn't all that enthalling. But not as bad as The Happening, but close.

The Ugly:

Jaden Smith's acting. Yeesh!
Lack of any substantial character development made the film feel very superficial and light-weight.

I give the film 1.75 stars, or a grade of C-.
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post #2 of 6
12/13/08 at 3:34am

Re: *** Official THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (2008) Review Thread

This thread is now the Official Review Thread for "The Day the Earth Stood Still". Please post all HTF member reviews in this thread.

Any other comments, links to other reviews, or discussion items will be deleted from this thread without warning!

If you need to discuss those type of issues then I have designated an Official Discussion Thread.



Crawdaddy
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post #3 of 6
12/13/08 at 11:14pm

Re: *** Official THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (2008) Review Thread

IMO, the movie wasn't as bad some others have stated. It could've been much better and was a missed opportunity to update the storyline to the current world, but it was far from one of the worse films I have seen this year. The ending was not setup well and happened too quickly without the world knowing why Klaatu was there in the first place and the reasoning behind his final actions. Also, too much reliance on CGI and not enough on the human element of the storyline. Based on my IMAX viewing, I'll give the film a solid "C" grade.






Crawdaddy
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post #4 of 6
12/15/08 at 6:18pm

Re: *** Official THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (2008) Review Thread

Up to this point, I thought 10,000 BC was the worst movie of the year. I don't think anything will be worse that TDTESS.
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post #5 of 6
12/16/08 at 6:19am

Re: *** Official THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (2008) Review Thread

I enjoyed the first two-thirds. That's about it. It meandered then stumbled to a finish. I don't think the relationship between Connelly and Smith was believeable and I never bought that Klaatu would stop the destruction because of what he experienced with them. It was a lame excuse for "plot point II."
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post #6 of 6
12/16/08 at 2:55pm

Re: *** Official THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (2008) Review Thread

I agree with Patrick's general assessments and felt the script was the film's gravest problem. I liked much about the film, what it thought it was and what it tried to be, but the weak script kept getting in the way.

Jennifer Connelly is a master at soulful brooding and teetering on the edge of tears - she was the perfect image of humanity pleading for itself. Keanu was simple and well cast. The CGI was lacking and to have relied so heavily on it to ratchet up what should have been a far more personal, intimate and deep seeded plea for life and our ability to change was a shame.

I enjoyed it and would watch it again. I do, however, feel they could have kept the original 'war' driven impetus and been equally as relevant as the Wise classic.

Finally, I have read/heard complaints about the environmental theme. I would suggest that, 10, 15 or 20 years down the road, this film and others like it will be heralded for exploring the dangers to the environment as theme. Time may not unfairly reward films like TDTESS given its shortcomings, but I have a sneaking suspician they will be remembered as a whole, along with Happy Feet and others, for bringing such serious messages to the fore through the power and magic of film.
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