Plot: What’s it about?
An object is shooting through space and is headed right for Earth, so the government brings in a panel of experts, led by Dr. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly). The current course will have the object hitting Manhattan, which means countless lives could be lost in the impact. But when the object doesn’t crash and instead lands, the risk doesn’t subside. The object turns out to be a space vessel and an alien emerges, which leads to a nervous gunman pulling his trigger. When the alien is taken to be tended to, it is discovered that he is Klaatu (Keanu Reeves), an alien with a dire message. He claims that Earth is about to be destroyed, as mankind’s treatment of the planet has to end. With the end of the world within sight, Dr. Benson tries to convince Klaatu that Earth deserves another chance, but will the alien be persuaded?
Yet again, we have an unwanted, unneeded remake of a classic movie, this time The Day the Earth Stood Still. How anyone could think a remake could improve upon the original, especially with Keanu Reeves on deck, I will never comprehend. I can see Reeves in some generic special effects extravaganza and all, but why sully the good name of a sci/fi classic in the process? As expected, this movie is all about special effects, CGI visuals, and popcorn thrills. Which would be fine, but when you evoke the name of a classic, you raise expectations. The Day the Earth Stood Still cannot hold a candle to the original, but even judged on its own merits, it fails to ignite much of a spark. If you don’t care about a competent plot, good acting, or other such concerns, then you’ll probably love the mindless parade of special effects. Otherwise, leave this shoddy remake on the shelf and check out a genuine sci/fi classic, the original The Day the Earth Stood Still.
Video: How does it look?
The Day the Earth Stood Still is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. This movie all style and no substance, so it was crucial that this transfer delivered. To that end, we have a gorgeous visual presentation that earns a full five stars. This is a pristine, flawless visual effort that is stunning to behold. The image is crystal clear and razor sharp from start to finish, one of those images that just pops right off the screen. The detail is impeccable and even the smallest visual touches spring to life, giving us a kind of three dimensional presence throughout. The movie itself is beyond bad, but this visual presentation is demo worthy and easily pulls in a perfect score.
Audio: How does it sound?
Not to be outdone by the visuals, this DTS HD 5.1 option provides of one of the best soundtracks I have heard on Blu-ray. This is simply a masterful presentation, one that hits all the right marks in all the right ways. The smallest audio cues come across in realistic, immersive fashion, while the bombastic moments will put your home theater to the test. The track is able to pull all of the audio potential from the material, from start to finish. This is one of the few soundtracks where I found myself admiring the audio as I watched, so this is impressive stuff. This release also includes Spanish and French language tracks, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Cantonese, Korean, and Mandarin.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The best of the supplements is a bonus disc that contains the original 1951 version of the movie, in 1080p high definition, no less. This Blu-ray disc does not have the extras from the stand alone release however. So while it is nice to have a good movie in this package, fans should stick to the 1951 classic’s solo edition, as the extras are quite worthwhile. As far as the supplements for the remake, screenwriter David Scarpa provides his audio comments. Scarpa covers a lot of ground, never going in depth per se, but relaying some decent information. He trails off as time passes, but still a solid session. I do wish more was covered in terms of why such a remake was needed, but whatever. There is also a BonusView mode with some special effects magic revealed, as well as a Build Your Own Gort option that lets you assemble a robot to call your own. A half hour featurette examines the big shoes the film needed to fill, but doesn’t seem to want to admit that the attempt failed. After all, the original remains a sci/fi classic, while this film is less than a year old and already mostly forgotten. This release also includes some deleted scenes, as well as a few other promotional featurettes. A third disc has a digital copy of the remake, for portable device use.
