The Day the Earth Stood Still: 3-Disc Special Edition | Jacquie Kubin reviews, Blu-ray, Action, Sci-fi | DONNE TEMPO
The Day the Earth Stood Still: 3-Disc Special Edition
The Day the Earth Stood Still: 3-Disc Special Edition (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, $39.99) Director Robert Wise’s The Day The Earth Stood Still remakes a 1951 classic film, and not necessarily for the better.
In Wise’s corner however is the fact that the original movie offered a very real portrayal of the era, including the fears of a populace fearful of the red menace of communism.
However, watching the original black and white film, what struck me was how well the director provided a place and time for the movie that allowed it to stand up as a quality film almost 60 years after its debut.
The story is simple, though not so simply told. Putting the viewer into the characters vision, we find ourselves asking how we would react to a visitor who has traveled light years to bring us a message? Would it be in fear and distrust, or would we find the courage to ask questions, learn and, as things could look bleak for the existence of the human race under such a circumstance, be able to verbally and emotionally defend our lives and ourselves.
The original film asked the then timely question of whether we, as a people, could put aside our race for atom bomb supremacy if it means saving the world?
Wise has updated that fear to ask, are we able to change how we live if means saving our environmental world.
Wise offers some biblical analogies including the scourge of a plague of locusts and the story of Noah’s ark that could have led to a better film if he had allowed those themes to develop instead of concentrating on the Army’s chase for Kutow.
But alas the film was never allowed to expand its theme beyond alien lands, alien is chased, alien learns that humans are not all bad, alien leaves.
It seems almost that Wise’s film plays as a redemption epic for the human race, which at present still remains fairly unredeemable from an environmental and ecological position.
The goods: Wise’s film is worth watching but only if you are going to take the time to enjoy the original. Luckily this set includes a beautiful, remastered version of the black and white classic. And it is a wonderful lesson in Sci-fi filmmaking. The plot, pacing, multiple story lines and character development coupled with classic cinematography that provides a deep palate of texture to a black and white film. It has over years since I saw the original film however it belongs in any film library. And for that I thank Mr. Wise for tackling this story, as that film makes the Blu-ray set.
The bads: Budget, time, editing… something led Wise’s film to not truly expand on the emotion of an alien landing event beyond the emotion of fear. Our leading lady never shows admiration or respect for Klaatu. We don’t learn about other supporting characters enough to get a feeling for their role.
John Cleese as Professor Barnhart is never given the chance to show us his chops and while in the original film, Barnhart is a small appearance; the actor does well to provide the viewer with an intimate look at the whole situation through his eyes.
More goods: Keanu Reeves remains great to look at and his always stoic demeanor makes him a really excellent alien. And while I really appreciate the quality film making and story line of the original film, definitely one of the Goods of this package and reason enough to purchase, the special effects in the remake are pretty cool.
More bads: Keanu Reeves always stoic demeanor as an aliens make me, the film fan, worry that this actor may never be able to break out of the mold.
The mandatory extras: Let's get the featurettes out of the way, which are mainly culled from the 3 disc DVD Special Edition of the movie. They include a 30 minute behind the scenes look, an interesting hub bub with scientists in the documentary style "Watching the Skies: In search of Extraterrestrial Life" and "The Day the Earth Was "Green."
This brief but painstaking info nugget looks at how this film production was made as environmentally friendly as possible down to dirtying boots with real mud, use of biofuels and choices for costume cleaning.
Some other treats are immediately activated while watching the film through the use of the colored buttons on the Blu-ray's remote.
Push the green button for an optional commentary track from screenwriter David Scarpa. His sparse bursts of information make for a bit of a dry experience but he ultimately explains his motives behind the remake and the choices made to deviate from the original.
Hit the yellow button for storyboards in a pop up window or the blue button for the more impressive picture-in-picture highlighting for previz animation for scenes, raw special effects and artwork. I'll take the blue pill Morpheus, I mean button.
Above and beyond: Build Your Own Gort offers entrance into special effects giant Weta Digital's workshop to virtually assemble your own Genetically Organized Robotic Technology bot. Make choices for a head, body and appendages while a serious musical score booms in the background. Click finished and watch him break down into specks of nanocreatures and crack your screen. Keep doing it to see how far the screen will crack or stop and take two aspirin.
— By Jacquie Kubin