Klaatu Barada Ixnay

"This botched remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still seriously dishonors the seriously fine 1951 sci-fi landmark on which it's based," says Variety 's Todd McCarthy in a review that was posted yesterday morning. "One of the new film's many sins is its lack of any primal, defining imagery. The script by David Scarpa (The Last Castle) rotely retains key elements from the original without giving them any interesting twists. So many other, potentially more exciting roads could have been taken" -- but alas, have not been.


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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on December 11, 2008 at 12:13 PM

comment #1

The Winchester Author Profile Page says ...

Wells, are you under embargo for the film? I thought you saw it the other night.

Posted by The Winchester Author Profile Page at December 11, 2008 1:19 PM

comment #2

Cadavra Author Profile Page says ...

Was anyone seriously expecting it to be any good? Hell, the trailer makes it look like INDEPENDENCE DAY 2.

Posted by Cadavra Author Profile Page at December 11, 2008 1:26 PM

comment #3

MikeSchaeferSF Author Profile Page says ...

Jeff, "Klaatu Barada Ixnay" is one of your best headlines EVER.

Posted by MikeSchaeferSF Author Profile Page at December 11, 2008 1:32 PM

comment #4

gruver1 Author Profile Page says ...

Yes, I'm under embargo until tomorrow, but I can quote any review that's out there, which is all I did here.

Posted by gruver1 Author Profile Page at December 11, 2008 2:14 PM

comment #5

calraigh Author Profile Page says ...

I saw it yesterday in Dublin where there are preview screenings on the hour, every hour and everybody walked out of it with the default ''wtf?!'' look on their faces.
It's such a strangely flat film, with no sense of what it's actually about that I'm not sure calling it simply ''bad'' quite covers it. However I have to say, I loved Gort's entrance, it's the only redeeming feature of the whole sorry affair. That and Jennifer Connelly's astounding work at making a semi-believable character out of reactive close-ups and the absolute nothingisms she's required to say. Keanu on the other hand, was biologically designed to play a fake human. Which says everything there is to say about him and the film.

Posted by calraigh Author Profile Page at December 11, 2008 2:45 PM

comment #6

Chase Kahn Author Profile Page says ...

So Dread Central can post a review, but you can't talk about it? huh...

Posted by Chase Kahn Author Profile Page at December 11, 2008 3:03 PM

comment #7

berg Author Profile Page says ...

I saw this film in an IMAX version and it is the worst transfer of a film to the IMAX format I have ever seen ... the night shots looked blurry like a video camcorder was used to shoot the footage ... plus the fact the film is soooo stupid as to defy belief ... K Bates looked positively embarrassed to be in it ... on an unrelated note has anyone noticed that E Marsan's character in Happy-Go-Lucky seems to be a version of the David Thewlis character from Naked? "666 Poppy, 666. En Ra Ha, watch the mirrors."

Posted by berg Author Profile Page at December 11, 2008 3:15 PM

comment #8

Josh Massey Author Profile Page says ...

Day is going to be significantly bigger than $36 million - there hasn't been a wide release guys wanted to see since Bond (four weeks ago).

Posted by Josh Massey Author Profile Page at December 11, 2008 4:22 PM

comment #9

bmcintire Author Profile Page says ...

Given that 29 reviews are now up on Rotten Tomatoes, I would say the embargo has pretty much dissolved. And it's currently at 85% negative - shocking!

Posted by bmcintire Author Profile Page at December 11, 2008 4:27 PM

comment #10

NC Gary Author Profile Page says ...

Normally I'd see anything with the Goddess Jennifer Connelly in it, but this looks so bad I guess I'll have to stay home and watch Reservation Road on HBO again.

Posted by NC Gary Author Profile Page at December 11, 2008 4:43 PM

comment #11

moviemaniac2002 Author Profile Page says ...

When studios declare their miserable remakes of
classics as a "re-invention" or "re-imagining"
.....the actual English definition of those phrases
are...."We're going to use a high powered vacuum
cleaner to literally suck out everything of value
in the original material....then replace it with a
staggering amount of bad ideas, indifferent actors
poorly directed, and slather all of it thoroughly with
a thick oily coating of CGI."

Posted by moviemaniac2002 Author Profile Page at December 11, 2008 6:06 PM

comment #12

corey3rd Author Profile Page says ...

almost tempted by Jon Hamm being in the film. But Don Draper in scope isn't enough to overcome the dreadful buzz.

Posted by corey3rd Author Profile Page at December 11, 2008 7:18 PM

comment #13

The Winchester Author Profile Page says ...

Sorry, Wells, I wasn't asking about the embargo to be a dick. I was just curious as to what you thought of the film and wondered if you could talk about it yet. Although, I have a feeling you didn't care for it, because when you're under embargo and really like something, you say it anyway.

(I also feel you didn't care for it simply because it's a freakin' remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still starring Keanu Reeves)

Posted by The Winchester Author Profile Page at December 12, 2008 1:15 AM

comment #14

janee Author Profile Page says ...

Si vous etes interesses par le dossier, ou desirez en savoir plus, contactez-moi par mail, et je vous mettrai en contact.
Best regards,Jane, CEO of high availability computing

Posted by janee Author Profile Page at May 19, 2011 4:05 AM

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