On December 12th, 2008, 20th Century Fox will be releasing their remake of the 1951 classic SF film The Day The Earth Stood Still. (Click the pic to go to the TDTESSTWTOMD webpage.)
The new version stars Keeanu Reeves and will benefit(?) from 57 years of film-making advances.
57 years is enough time for two generations to have passed since Michael Renne starred in the original.
That’s more than enough time to guarantee that the audience going to see this remake is unlikely to even be aware that it is a remake, and certainly more than enough time for anyone who has seen the original to forget how utterly fantastic and spot on it was. Not just for its own time, but for all time.
That is why it is so very important for those of us who have seen and do remember the original to make sure that anyone who goes to see the remake will have seen the original BEFORE they do.
Nivair Gabriel, writing on IO9, explains some of the many reasons why:
There is no reason to remake something that is absolutely perfect.
Remakes insinuate that there was something deficient about the original movie, that it’s somehow necessary to update the film for today’s audiences. The vast majority of the cinema-going crowd will watch the version with the actors they know in an instant, and never bother to rent the first one.
We might be afraid of terrorists now instead of communists, but we still haven’t managed to end nuclear proliferation and create lasting worldwide peace. I think there’s still quite a lot to The Day the Earth Stood Still’s message that we might pose a threat to the rest of the universe if we can’t get a grip on our violent tendencies; and I think Klaatu’s non-destructive way of shocking humanity into action is even more brilliant today.
Michael Rennie’s alien, by the way, is an example of a truly flawless and understated performance; anyone who thinks that Keanu Reeves can show that up should stop reading now to go smack their head against a wall a few times. I don’t want to see any current child actor try to replace Bobby Benson; Billy Gray’s adorable portrayal of The Most Fifties Boy Ever will warm my heart for all time.
The Day the Earth Stood Still is a treasure; it’s one of the best films we humans have ever managed to produce. It was fabulous in 1951 and it’s only matured with age, like the finest sci-fi-themed wine in all the world. The movie packs a huge amount of vision about human identity and aspirations — in fact, it’s almost impossible to believe it was made eighteen years before we Earthlings reached the moon. So why in the name of everything beautiful would a person want to taint those waters with a totally unnecessary rehash?
The viewing public has a right to be exposed to the original before they see the remake; they have a right to judge the two side by side – BEFORE the computer-generated dazzle has a chance to influence them. They have a right to view these films in their historical order, to be free from hype and marketing blitz before they are asked to choose which one they prefer.
The only fair and decent way to give the original the credit it is due is for everyone who has ever seen it to pledge that they will get at least one other person to watch the film before December 12th, 2008.
That is why I have declared December 10th, 2008 to be THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL TO WATCH THE ORIGINAL MOVIE DAY day.
I have added a page to my website that provides all of the necessary links – no need to rent or purchase a DVD, no need to schedule a special viewing. Just grab your friends, siblings and significant others, sit them down in front of the ‘puter and watch.
I’ve also added links to the original story Farewell to the Master by Harry Bates, the original soundtrack, movie posters and even model kits based on the original film.
If you would like to keep track of how many people you’ve gotten to watch the film, post a message in the comments of this post.
I’ve already done my bit – I got Karen, my wife, to sit still through the whole thing. She likes super hero movies better than SF ones, but she enjoyed every minute of it. Her comment – why are they bothering to remake it?
Visit the webpage, stick 12.10.08 on your calendar and get others to watch!
You’ve also have the radio play on your site, it is also wonderful.
I don’t know for sure, but I wonder if the remake idea came up like this:
Studio Executive: I like your Mysterious-Aliens-come-to-Earth-and-cause trouble script, but maybe we should make it less ambiguous. How about if they have a spokesman tell us to stop being violent barbarians or else?
Writer: Sounds a bit too much like The Day The Earth Stood Still.
Executive: Are the rights available?*
I’ve heard stories that suggest that’s what happened with I, Robot and Starship Troopers.
I’m going to gush about TDTESS on my blog, any day now, and agree that everyone should watch the original. But to play Devil’s Advocate for a moment there’s a couple of problems with getting people to watch it:
1. It’s Black and White. You don’t need to tell me that some of the most interesting films have been in B&W, but no matter how many times I chain people in front of The Seven Samurai or Duck Soup or Casablanca or Dracula or even Clerks, it turns off youngsters. Which leads me to;
2. You and I say “Classic”. Some people hear “Old”, and get “obselete” and “dead” vibes from it. (Maybe we should say “influential” and “seminal”.)
3. Finally, and this is mainly a problem with watching it with me, I talk all over it saying things like I don’t see why if they can turn off the electricity (including killing diesel engines it seems) everywhere except hospitals and planes in flight without stopping all chemical reactions and coincidentally all life on Earth, they can’t just break into every radio program. I don’t expect the science to be any better in the remake** but some of it just drags me out of the film.
As I said, everyone should see it, especially if they’re seeing the remake. On the other hand, as a December film, I may find I can get the biggest audience between Christmas and New Year when people are at a loose end (and may want to get away from theirs families for the evening).
* Or more likely “The Day The Earth Stood What?” or for an outside bet “Did that make a profit?”
** Although I do expect them to be making 21st century science mistakes rather than 1950s errors.
Looking for something to write today, hmmm?
I agree, kids see B&W and dismiss whatever it is out of hand.
Makes me wonder what they’re teaching in film school about the use of lighting; there’s just no way possible to utilize those stark, contrasty elements into a color picture (and the original filmmakers recognized this: check out OZ and watch for the change in focus from the B&W to the color scenes – sharp and crisp for B&W, soft and fuzzy for the color).
I bet if I said ‘Zelig’ – 99% of the audience would say ‘who?’.
Perhaps the only film that breaks this rule would be Dawn of the Dead (original) – but the youngsters will even throw that one over in favor of 28 Days or Mall of the Dead.
If you say ‘seminal’, they think ‘edumacation’ and will dismiss it even more quickly than something tagged with ‘classic’.
I’m hoping lots of people will watch the original between now and 12/12 – but more than anything I want them to know that the remake IS NOT the original – whether they watch it or not. If Heinlein’s estate had ballyhooed the fact that Verhoeven’s movie WAS NOTHING LIKE THE BOOK, I wouldn’t have to deal with kids who REFUSE TO READ the book because they think its going to be as awful as the movie!
The only positive thing I can think of to say about the idea of a remake is at least they didn’t get Tom Cruise as Klaatu. Cripes, wasn’t Pierce Brosnan available?
[…] Crotchety Old Fan has a heartfelt rant about the Day the Earth Stood Still remake. The viewing public has a right to be exposed to the […]
Er. . . “crotchetyoldfan”?
“Science Fiction For Old Farts”?
Really???
OMG!! I thought I was the only one left on the planet!!
I love the original TDTESS. It is on my own personal list of “All Time Greatest Films” (science fiction or otherwise).
I own the DVD, and watch it whenever the mood strikes.
Have already convinced two non-sf friends to watch it, and they both said that they enjoyed it. So I have done my part.
For myself, although I am not a big KR fan (although I do admire his work – I find him a solid, naturalistic actor (no splinters-in-the-mouth from scenery-chewing for him!) I find myself looking forward to the remake with hopeful anticipation.
It has been a long, dry spell as far as decent sf films go – I hope this one will break the drought.
Moonlighter1 – welcome!
No, you’re not the only classics lover on the planet. There are still a few of us who know good science fiction when we see it.
Thanks for doing your bit – but please keep spreading the word.
You’ll note (and others should as well) that I didn’t attack the re-make – all I said was “please see the original first”.
[…] head over to the The Crotchety Old Fan website, and let him know that I’ve done my part to keep the original alive. I can’t say I […]
thank you, thank you, thank you for a great film
I already watched the remake of the movie. the story was very simple yet you can easily understand what the movie is all about.. its one of the great movies for this month.
Chris,
Chris,
are you referring to the remake or to the original?
The original is waaaay better than the remake. I for one wish they would have just left it alone.
Thanks for stopping by!
You aren’t the only one. I could have – maybe – stood a true-to-the-script re-do, but that’s about as far as I’m willing to go.
I dont even think I could have stood that.
I really think they could have done so much with it, but they didnt.
I think one of the biggest disappointments for me was all of the cg. Even the helicopters were cg. I understand that advancements in technology are great, but it just isnt good enough yet for me.
Excelent movie, my wife and I are going to see the remake in an hour; but I can already tell it’ll fall short in making an impact like the original.
As a Newbie, I am always looking online for articles that can help me get further ahead. Thanks a million!
I trust you would not have reservations if I posted a part of this on my univeristy blog?