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The Day the Earth Stood Still

The Day the Earth Stood Still

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $11.24
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Awesome.
Review: 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' is an awesome science fiction movie about intelligent and friendly aliens visiting the Earth. Sadly, the human beings don't react in the same manner. Check it out, one of the greats of science fiction cinema.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A half-century has not dulled its impact!
Review: With no major stars, Robert Wise's film is as timely and relevant today as it was when it premiered in 1951. The literate script, the crisp B & W cinematography, the wondrous Washington locations, an influential Bernard Herrmann and an outstanding cast combine to make this a masterpiece of the cinema.

Michael Rennie is flawless as the alien on a mission to a planet in deep internal chaos: the EARTH. Pre-Oscar winner Patricia Neal plays a non-stereotypical female lead: she is strong and does not cringe in the face of danger, never becoming a "screaming Mimi." Frizzy-haired Sam Jaffe again assays a role that he practically patented: the all-knowing scientist. Young Billy Gray, later to be one of Robert Young's "Father Knows Best" brood, is believable as a kid fascinated by "Mr. Carpenter". And Fox contract player Hugh Marlowe (he was one of the cast of the classic "All About Eve") does well as Neal's despicable cad of a boyfriend. Even Frances Bavier ("Aunt Bee" of "The Andy Griffith Show") has a small role.

Director Wise also populated his crowd scenes with African-Americans and other minorities, certainly a true reflection of America than most films of the era. For that, he can be considered a visionary in more ways than one.

Also, the use of then-popular radio personalities as Drew Pearson and H.V. Kaltenborn adds an air of authenticity to the science fiction trappings of the storyline.

It is no wonder that this film makes the top 100 of many a movie list.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of The All Time Great Science Fiction Movies
Review: This has to be my favorite sci fi movie. I have watched it again and again. I never get bored with it. The premise of this story is simple enough and perhaps even predictable, yet it has the elements of a great fable that can be retold over and over. This anniversary edition is excellent, the images are sharp and the spooky black and white contrasts are presented crisp and clear. The sound is superb. The special features only enhance the overall package. Highly recommended. The price is right and if you miss out on this one you will regret it.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Day the Earth Stood Still
Review: This flm still gives me the chills - even though I first saw it (at the age of 11) when it was first broadcast on network TV (Saturday Night @ the Movies, 1962).

Michael Rennie's performance and demeanor are superb; along with the threat of his invincible robot and the portrayal of America's paramoia in the face of a hostile cold-war political environment.

Don't waste your time with this film if you're looking for special effects - they're minimal (and the film is B/W).

However, if you're looking for the ambiance of the 50's, and are perhaps interested in the political climate that led to the Kennedy era of the early 60's, sit back and enjoy this one.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Superb Sci-Fi Action!!
Review: Although not an "action packed" movie by today's standards, it cannot be compared to others, and is actually a leader of its kind in the science fiction genre.

Michael Rennie stars as the humanoid who arrives on Earth with his Robot to warn the Earth to cease its violence. Now there's a concept to grab on to. When a nervous soldier shoots Rennie, and the companion Robot does terror to the nation's capitol, we have the makings of some really interesting action.

Patricia Neal, in one of her interesting roles, is fine, and I can remember seeing this movie as a youngster and wondering "What if..." I can still wonder, too, as you might when you see this movie. Highly recommended!!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: too preachy, liberal mindset
Review: I know im going to get back lash on this one. I was surprised how close this movie is to the modern hollywood liberal mindset.
First of all if Michael Rennies character was so intelligent and so aware of our violent ways why would he walk off the ship and point an unknown object at our military. And the "stop the violence in the world" philosophy is just ignorant. There will always be evil people in this world. Only God can be the ultimate judge. I felt like rooting for the military after awhile.If people wont listen to there creatoe why would we listen to Klaatu.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: AT THE TOP OF THE GAME IN SCIFI
Review: Also ahead of its time with great messages, teachings and acting. The DVD comes with extras that make this a great purchase.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A "B" Movie with "A+" Ideas
Review: "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is a nifty little science fiction film from 1951, low-budget and starkly designed, that I'm sure was not meant to be anything major when released, but has since become to be considered one of the greatest of its genre.

Directed with a spare, documentary-like style by Robert Wise (who would go on to direct such major motion pictures as "The Sound of Music" and "West Side Story"), the film tells the story of a lone visitor (with his robot Gort) to Earth, who comes to warn the inhabitants of this planet against the irresponsible use of atomic power. This movie should be required viewing today, especially by members of our own government, as U.S. policy seems to be shifting ever more toward doing whatever the hell we want and the effects of our actions on world relations be damned. Sadly, the earthlings in the film behave all too predictably (and realistically), instantly assuming the visitors have come to inflict harm and dealing with the situation through excessive military force. Sound familiar?

It's a quick 90-minute film that smartly keeps its plot basic; it knows not to overstretch its modest bounds. Michael Rennie is appropriately otherworldly as Klaatu, the humanoid alien, and Patricia Neal appears in an early role as one of the only level-headed people in Washington D.C.

A terrific and thoughtful movie.

Trivia: Patricia Neal's character is instructed late in the film to say the words "Klaatu, Barada, Nikto" to Gort to prevent him from going on a destructive rampage. George Lucas borrowed these three words and gave them as names to three of Jabba the Hutt's henchman in "Return of the Jedi." A case of one sci-fi film offering homage to another.

Grade: A-

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Earth never really stood still in this.
Review: In fact the only thing that really stayed still in this movie was the robot. He ended up moving in the end though. Much attention has been called to this movie's message. Human beings are paranoid, easily scared, and very very violent. This is all true. To a visitor from outer space, earthlings would look pretty foolish indeed. Of course an alien that sells two diamonds to an eight year old boy for two dollars can't be that bright either.

There are however many things to learn in this movie. One is that Aunt Bea only has one dress and hair style. As a matter of fact for her part in the movie, she probably walked right off the Mayberry set, did her parts, and went right back again.

Also, for you Marilyn Monroe fans, you will see actors from her early movies. Check out the little weakling dude who smokes cigarettes through the little holder. You will recognize him as the desk clerk of the McKinley hotel in 'Don't Bother to Knock'. How about the jilted boyfriend who finally calls the army to nab our alien friend? Surely you'll recognize him from Marilyn Monroe's 'As Young as you Feel'. The most obvious though is the professor. Who wouldn't immediately recognize him as 'Herr Doctor' in the great Marilyn film 'The Asphault Jungle?'. Of course none of this should be surprising since it was a 20th Century Fox release.

Some questions do abound in this movie though that are left to be answered. A spaceship that lands in Washington D.C. and has a robot that can destroy weapons at will is guarded by only two soldiers with an alien on the loose? The alien can escape from a heavily guarded hospital room, but cannot escape in the dark while running out of a taxi? What Big & Tall store did he go to to buy his suit. I mean c'mon that was one long lanky dude. Did he go to the store in a hospital gown?

The moral of this movie is as timeless as ever. People are too stupid to rule themselves. So when we are offered a race of Killer Police Robots, we should take advantage of the opportunity. Hey the aliens don't have all the answers, but they live in peace. I think Marilyn Monroe should have been the leading lady now that I think about it. I'd watch this movie more often if she was in it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best Science-fi movie of all time
Review: There will never be a movie of this magnitude in science fiction. From the acting, message, and alligories it is by far the best written story and acting since science fiction became part of the movie industry. The only other movie that comes close is Blade Runner. Yes, cover your ears I do not include 2001 because I have always felt 2001 was somewhat pretencious it its message and style. If you have not seen it you must!!!! It is truly a masterpiece. I never get tired of seeing it over and over again. To me the message goes beyond the obvious. To me it is a message that there MUST be something better than us out there in space. If not, it surely is a waste of the universe.


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