Philosophy
The remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still will have general theatrical release on December 12th. It is difficult to evaluate the film based on the trailer but one can infer, based on the small clip and some cinematic historical regularity, that the film in no way captures the spirit of the 1951 film and will no doubt be heavy on computer graphics to carry the bulk of the feel of the film. The 1951 film was characteristic of post war and emerging cold war depression feelings of a nuclear holocaust and a general sense of fear and fascination of alien life forms. The 57 year gap will offer a different perspective repleat with the latest technical gadgetry. I doubt that it will work. Sure, it may draw large, initial box office receipts but the film will have no long-lasting value. Historically, few "remakes" have equaled or excelled the original. Failures include Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and The War of the Worlds. The only exception I can recall was the second remake of King Kong [2005].
I wrote on December 18th, 2005 about King Kong [2005]:
I was fortunate to view the new King Kong [loosely based on Jean-Jacques Rousseau's panegyric on the Noble Savage] film yesterday afternoon and, though I am not in the employ of Universal Pictures or receive any remuneration, I strongly recommend this film from many levels. It is a faithful and enhanced remake of the classic film from the 1930's. The computer generated graphics, save for one scene, were not intrusive in the flow of the human drama. The creatures, for the most part, were proportional, moved in a fluid manner, and appeared to be accurately based on current knowledge. Kong was exceptionally represented...even though it took 1/3 of the film to get to him, but well worth the wait. The new and refined relationship between mighty Kong and Ann Darrow was deepened and quite relevant to the story. Many of the original scenes were reproduced and new ones added. High adventure and a love story too--tears were shed, as usual, at the end. The only complaint--158 minutes is a bit long, but upon reflection it is justified. The relevance of this film could be argued for many years.
But, like art,..."beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder".
The Day The Earth Stood Still shooting script [1951]
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- "king Kong": Additional Material
Ok, you will like this. Several years ago I discovered an unusual film clip of a so-called lost section from the 1933 King Kong. There was nothing contextual with the clip offering an explanation and the Internet revealed nothing. Shortly, the clip disappeared...
- "the Lost World" [1925]--silent Film Of Significance
This is the first film adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's [Sherlock Holmes] classic novel about a land where prehistoric creatures still roam. It stars Bessie Love, Lewis Stone, Wallace Beery, Lloyd Hughes, and Alma Bennett directed by Harry O....
Philosophy
"The Day The Earth Stood Still"--remake
1951
2008
2008
The remake of The Day The Earth Stood Still will have general theatrical release on December 12th. It is difficult to evaluate the film based on the trailer but one can infer, based on the small clip and some cinematic historical regularity, that the film in no way captures the spirit of the 1951 film and will no doubt be heavy on computer graphics to carry the bulk of the feel of the film. The 1951 film was characteristic of post war and emerging cold war depression feelings of a nuclear holocaust and a general sense of fear and fascination of alien life forms. The 57 year gap will offer a different perspective repleat with the latest technical gadgetry. I doubt that it will work. Sure, it may draw large, initial box office receipts but the film will have no long-lasting value. Historically, few "remakes" have equaled or excelled the original. Failures include Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and The War of the Worlds. The only exception I can recall was the second remake of King Kong [2005].
I wrote on December 18th, 2005 about King Kong [2005]:
I was fortunate to view the new King Kong [loosely based on Jean-Jacques Rousseau's panegyric on the Noble Savage] film yesterday afternoon and, though I am not in the employ of Universal Pictures or receive any remuneration, I strongly recommend this film from many levels. It is a faithful and enhanced remake of the classic film from the 1930's. The computer generated graphics, save for one scene, were not intrusive in the flow of the human drama. The creatures, for the most part, were proportional, moved in a fluid manner, and appeared to be accurately based on current knowledge. Kong was exceptionally represented...even though it took 1/3 of the film to get to him, but well worth the wait. The new and refined relationship between mighty Kong and Ann Darrow was deepened and quite relevant to the story. Many of the original scenes were reproduced and new ones added. High adventure and a love story too--tears were shed, as usual, at the end. The only complaint--158 minutes is a bit long, but upon reflection it is justified. The relevance of this film could be argued for many years.
But, like art,..."beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder".
The Day The Earth Stood Still shooting script [1951]
- Why Do You Know That?
Been a while since we've had one of these. It's the converse of "Auto Mechanics to Quantum Mechanics" where you provide everyone with those tidbits of useless knowledge you have stored away for no good reason. My contribution: King Kong is...
- Letterisme And The Letterists...a French Avant-garde Movement
Alain Satie, extrait de ecrit en prose The beat generation of Paris. "The group was a motley assortment of novelists, sound poets, painters, film-makers, revolutionaries, bohemians, alcoholics, petty criminals, lunatics, under-age girls and self-proclaimed...
- Chaplin Film Bought For £3.20 Fails At Auction
"Rare Charlie Chaplin film fails to sell" June 30th, 2011 BBC NEWS A rare Charlie Chaplin film bought for £3.20 on eBay has failed to sell at auction despite being expected to fetch "a significant six-figure sum". Charlie Chaplin in Zepped, thought...
- "king Kong": Additional Material
Ok, you will like this. Several years ago I discovered an unusual film clip of a so-called lost section from the 1933 King Kong. There was nothing contextual with the clip offering an explanation and the Internet revealed nothing. Shortly, the clip disappeared...
- "the Lost World" [1925]--silent Film Of Significance
This is the first film adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's [Sherlock Holmes] classic novel about a land where prehistoric creatures still roam. It stars Bessie Love, Lewis Stone, Wallace Beery, Lloyd Hughes, and Alma Bennett directed by Harry O....