Is the world ready for a remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still? Well they better get ready. Box Office Mojo is reporting that the film will hit theaters on May 9th 2008. Our friends at FirstShowing.net have confirmed the date with Fox, so it is happening.
The original 1951 Robert Wise film was considered one of the best Science Fiction films of all time (#7 on Arthur C Clarke’s List) and was debated for it’s religious symbolism and many interpretations. The movie told the story of a humanoid alien who comes to Earth to warn its leaders not to take their conflicts into space, or they will face lethal consequences. Bernard Herrmann score is also notable, partly because of its use of two theremins. The film is currently ranked #167 of all time on IMDb, with a 8.1 rating.
A remake has been rumored to be in development for a few years now. I believe I first heard rumblings back when War of the Worlds went into production. It will be interesting to see how this story will be handled in contemorary times, with good special effects. Will the charm be lost?
February 26th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
To NOT Use Samuel L. Jackson as Klattu and Ian McDiarmid as The Professor is an Injustice to Us Science Fictiion Fans. The Tour De Force (NO Pun Intended!) of Those Two Powerhouses would have given the Remake a Boost in Fuel Mixed with Asstitine! Keanu is Okay! But…Pure Science Fiction Requires Presence! Not Popularity! The Matrix is a Universe where Keanu can Feel at Home,and Kick Mr. Smith’s Holigramic Butt! But, When a Spokesperson from a Galaxie sent on a Mission to Warn Earth of Impending Destruction if it Continues to Fight Wars and the Threat of Thermonuclear Weapons is Present…Who BETTER to Convey That warning, Than Sammy Jackson? Shaft will Talk Square Business,and We BETTER Listen! And, Ian McDiarmid Looks Like a Professor of Building New Ideas out of Straw,and Has the Demeanor of a Yale Security Guard! WITH The Authority of using Deadly Force, FORGET The ‘Dark Side’! Just My Opinion,and I Thank You for allowing me to express it! I Hope The Remake is Better than I Think it’ll be! See You at The Movies! :o)
April 8th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
I would like to see a movie using modern themes i.e. the world literally stands still (dunno how!) and most people fly off into space, lost forever more. The ones who are left are mainly miners, people in basements,etc AND THEN WE SEE A REVERSE COLONISATION WITH SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR COUNTRIES - ESP. NEW ZEALAND, AUSSIE AND SOUTH AMERICA -MOVING UP AND SLOWLY REPOPULATING EUROPE AND THE REST OF THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE. THIS COULD BE FUN. AND THE SPECIAL EFFECTS COULD BE AMAZING. MARINA
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:21 pm
TRAILERS UP!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP1NVnLY_vU
i am a huge fan of the original. it was voted “culturally, historically, or historically significant” by the US National Film Registry in ‘95 and is rated by AFI as the 5th best sci-fi film of all time this year. why remake such an amazing classic?
i was excited when i heard they were going to re-create the film, but this remake is not about nuclear warfare bringing about the end of mankind as the original was.. it is about environmental issues ending life. i wonder how they’ll work with that.