Archive for December, 2008
Movie Review: The Day the Earth Stood Still
December 30th, 2008 | 
Author: This is a remake of a 1951 movie by the same name.
While lying on the ground, Klaatu orders Gort to stop, and is then taken by the military to a hospital from which he later escapes in order to learn more about this planet called Earth and its human inhabitants. He meets Helen Benson (Patricia Neal) and her son Billy (Billy Gray); takes Klaatu on a tour of Washington, DC; and finally stops in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Klaatu reads the words uttered by Lincoln many years ago and realizes that there might be hope for Earth.
When they begin to suspect the alien man, he reveals himself, along with the news that Gort is a member of a race of super-robot enforcers invented to keep the peace of the galaxy and will destroy the Earth if provoked. Klaatu is pursued and shot and killed by the military. Before Klaatu dies, he tells Helen to go to Gort, and say the words “Klaatu barada nikto.” If she does not, Klaatu tells her Gort will destroy the Earth. Helen makes her way to the ship and finds Gort. As the robot moves towards her, she repeats the phrase over and over. The robot picks her up and takes her into the ship. It then retrieves Klaatu’s body and, through their alien science, resurrects Klaatu.
The 2008 remake about an alien and his indestructible robot will star Keanu Reeves as Klaatu, Jennifer Connelly as Helen Benson, Jaden Smith as Jacob, and Kathy Bates. Gort was created using SFX.
The remake tried to remain true to the original movie. It actually did remain truer to the short story upon which the 1951 movie is based. However, the alien weaponry was upgraded. In addition to a city going dark, and a very brief look at the new Gort, the film trailer shows a cloud of black smoke, capable of rapid movement and disintegrating matter on contact.
Keanu Reeves was his plastic self in this movie. I really don’t think he has another personna. Otherwise, a decent Sci Fi thriller. I recommend seeing the 1951 version first and then you can do your own comparison. Again, not Christmas themed, but released at Christmas. Did they just run late in editing or were they hoping to get an Academy Award nomination? Perhaps Gort could be nominated for best supporting actor.
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Movie Review: Valkyrie
Once the fodder for gossip as brassy as a Wagner horn solo, the behind-the-scenes operatics that delayed the release of Valkyrie are quickly forgotten the minute Tom Cruise gets down to the business of plotting to kill Adolf Hitler. Cruise plays Col. Claus von Stauffenberg, a Good German famous to his countrymen for his resistance to the Nazi mandate but less known among Americans. Trained as a loyal soldier, the well-bred officer’s disgust at his Führer’s leadership deepened following severe wounds suffered during battle in Tunisia, where he lost a hand and an eye. And the assassination plan and subsequent government transition that Stauffenberg devised, with help from a network of dissident army officers and political leaders, was an audacious blend of suspenseful daring and wonkish political strategy.
History confirms, of course, that the July 20, 1944, operation failed when a bomb planted in Hitler’s presence did too little damage; the Nazi leader survived with minor scratches, army loyalists quelled the coup, and Stauffenberg suffered the consequences, along with scores of others.
This movie had gotten terrible reviews, therefore, I went mainly to be able to criticize it like everyone else. I had no level of expectation. It was, at least, watchable. Again, why this was released at Christmas is beyond me other than they either wanted to get it out of the way or had some glimmer of hope that someone or the movie itself would be nominated for the Academy Awards this year.
It was interesting from its historical perspective. While Cruise is aging well and looks the part of an adult, his still cherubic voice detracts as it has in most every movie he’s been in since Risky Business. For the most part, every movie he’s been in except the Mission Impossibles have been busts.
Since I had not expections, it was better than I thought it would be. Cruise wasn’t totally plastic. Certainly not a holiday theme, but would hold off seeing it til it comes to HBO or network TV.
Rating: 0.5 out of 5
Movie Review: Doubt
Doubt is a fictional drama, starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman, about a mid-1960s confrontation between an imperious Bronx nun in charge of a parochial school and a liberal priest she is convinced has behaved improperly with a student.
I only went to see this as it has been touted as a possible for Best Picture. The acting by both Streep and Hoffman are superb. Streep is at her best, including facial expressions and body language. One must pay attention to the dialog as every word is important.
I don’t understand why this was a Christmas release other than it was Winter in the movie. It is not a light-hearted, feel-good type movie, but for sheer quality of acting, it is a must see.
Rating: 4.7 out of 5