The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

145 out of 152 people found the following review helpful:

utter rubbish

james calow from brighton. uk, 11th December, 2008

Just got back from the cinema- what a steaming pile of poo. Just get the original and enjoy, this new version is charmless, dull and has more green screen shots than the phantom menace.

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59 out of 62 people found the following review helpful:

like sci-fi, then watch it... !

A Customer from Bristol, 14th December, 2008

'fires lasers out of his wrists...' really!  If we're to be expected to have faith in these reviewers giving us a accurate account of what to expect from a movie, then we're expecting too much from this reviewer!! Early on in the movie it is made clear that the character Klaatu has the ability to manipulate electro-magnetic energy, such as elctricity, communication signals and following on from that the laser guidance devices that the military use in their weapon systems.  Not a feature of the original but a nice touch non the less, I won't go any further or it might be a spoiler. So, reviewers, just because you don't understand something, please don't spoil it for others.  Apart from this, it's always difficult to remake a movie for a new audience but there is always the possiblity that it might be good. I enjoyed the movie, I hope you do too.

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35 out of 38 people found the following review helpful:

The day the earth stood still

A Customer from Barking, 21st December, 2008

i just hope that this version of the film is as good as the one that starred Micheal Rennie i do hope so because even with the speical effects that they had years ago this film was really GOOD.As i have yet to see the new version of The day the earth stood still i have only given it a 3 star rating will change this if i think it is a better film.

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26 out of 30 people found the following review helpful:

*** May contain spoilers ***

try before you buy!

A Customer from Crawley,UK, 14th December, 2008

It seems Trading Standards have no control over being mugged at the movies, or mislead with false promises with all the hype. What hollywood has not grasped yep, is that Consumers have rights and are entitled to REFUNDS.

The 1951 movie was timeless and ripe for the CGI now available. This should have been a good/great movie.
Just because it has Keanu Reeves in it, does mot make it a Matrix grade movie.
Just because the 1951 movie was way ahead of its time (and both of its time - the cold war) does not mean that Hollywood can turn gold into lead.
This time the propaganda is 'Global Warming' versa 'Commies under the bed'.

So this story is a vehicle for whatever agenda you might have, from the Cold War to Global Warming.
On the plus side, the sub narratives are real good. Like little sketches in their own right. It still presents the view that the USA thinks it speaks for the rest of the world and that the UN is irrelevant. It does hold up some truths that you cannot ignore. I just wished it has a European director or pandered to the 90% of the brain dead yanks. Maybe the sub-narratives accommodate the ‘thinking American’ .
There are some nice touches where the robot turns into a swarm of nano-bot locus to wipe the world clean of the infestation of humanity. This represents a nice mental image to hold when you are stuck in an over developed town such as Gosport with failing infrastructure that really needs to be wiped off the planet. So when I am stuck in the 30min queue to leave the town(6miles) I san see the point of this movie.

This movie is a good vehicle to help those with eyes to see that our current path is not sustainable. Whilst I hate overt preaching, that this movies leaves you with is some questions for you to answer. Yes the movie could have been better but it seems the writes had a lot to get through. Whilst it is a long movie it is over in a flash.
If the price of a movie ticket is nothing then this movie is worth watching, if you are an environmentalist then see it.

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All foreplay no climax

Petrovtheblind from , 27th August, 2010

The film sets up a good premise with a few iffy bits. It is visually impressive and starts to bring you in with plenty of promise. Unfortunately it peaks about halfway through. The story goes nowhere with a cheesy brutally in your face anti-American messages; which I don't have a problem with, just the way it's done. The acting is as bad as the script but overall it's watch-able. Left me feeling like I'd watched a high budget kid's film without the fun

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original Gort was better!

cezzysblu from , 10th August, 2010

I remember the original and for me the awesome power of Gort is the moment his visor slowly opens and we see that entrancing silent light right before he unleashes it as a power beam.It is a chilling moment in cinema.
New Gort may be a lot bigger and his threat greater but this film lacks the chills of the original.

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Rubbish film and a letdown

chrisallendoteu from , 8th August, 2010

This film was rubbish, a bad story line, with pretty bad acting. It was painful to watch and a massive let down, if you like stereotypical american films about aliens then watch it !!

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Very disappointing

A Customer from derby, 7th August, 2010

Thought the movie looked good, and it started off ok, but nothing happened and then end was a very big let down. Was there actually much point in making the film at all?

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