Revision as of 01:23, 17 April 2023 editTheMovieGuy (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users18,296 edits →CastTags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 10:32, 28 December 2024 edit undoJoeyconnick (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Page movers, IP block exemptions, Pending changes reviewers71,369 editsm MOS:SUFFIXDASHTag: Visual edit | ||
(71 intermediate revisions by 50 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|2008 film by Scott Derrickson}} | {{Short description|2008 film by Scott Derrickson}} | ||
{{Use American English|date= |
{{Use American English|date=February 2024}} | ||
{{Use mdy dates|date= |
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}} | ||
{{Infobox film | {{Infobox film | ||
⚫ | |||
| image = The Day the Earth Stood Still.jpg | | image = The Day the Earth Stood Still.jpg | ||
| alt = A large crowd of people look up at the sky to see a glowing planet approach them, with the poster's text reading "12.12.08 IS THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL". | | alt = A large crowd of people look up at the sky to see a glowing planet approach them, with the poster's text reading "12.12.08 IS THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL". | ||
Line 10: | Line 9: | ||
| screenplay = ] | | screenplay = ] | ||
| based_on = {{based on|'']''|]{{efn|The 1951 film is based on the 1940 short story "]" by ]}}}} | | based_on = {{based on|'']''|]{{efn|The 1951 film is based on the 1940 short story "]" by ]}}}} | ||
| |
| producer = {{Plainlist| | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
Line 24: | Line 23: | ||
}} | }} | ||
| cinematography = ] | | cinematography = ] | ||
| editing = |
| editing = Wayne Wahrman | ||
| music = ] | | music = ] | ||
| production_companies = {{Plainlist| | | production_companies = {{Plainlist| | ||
Line 33: | Line 32: | ||
| distributor = 20th Century Fox | | distributor = 20th Century Fox | ||
| released = {{Film date|2008|12|12}} | | released = {{Film date|2008|12|12}} | ||
| runtime = 103 minutes<!-- Theatrical runtime: 103:29 --><ref>{{cite web | url= |
| runtime = 103 minutes<!-- Theatrical runtime: 103:29 --><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/day-earth-stood-still-film-0 | title=''The Day the Earth Stood Still'' (12A) | work=] | date=November 19, 2008 | access-date=September 21, 2016 | archive-date=February 11, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211235412/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/day-earth-stood-still-film-0 | url-status=live }}</ref> | ||
| country = United States | | country = United States | ||
| language = English | | language = English | ||
Line 40: | Line 39: | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''''The Day the Earth Stood Still''''' is a 2008 American ] serving as |
'''''The Day the Earth Stood Still''''' is a 2008 American ] serving as remake of the 1951 film ], which, in turn, was based on the 1940 short story "]"). Directed by ] from a screenplay by ], it stars ] as ], an alien sent to try to change human behavior in an effort to save Earth from ]; this version replaces the ]–era theme of potential ] with the contemporary issue of negative ]. It co-stars ], ], ], ], and ]. | ||
''The Day the Earth Stood Still'' was originally scheduled for release on May 9, 2008, but was released on a roll-out schedule beginning December 12, 2008, screening in both conventional and ] theaters.<ref name="Alpha">{{cite news|title=20th Century Fox Stops the World to Beam The Day The Earth Stood Still into Deep Space|work=]|format=Press release|date=December 9, 2008|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/20th-Century-Fox-Stops-World/story.aspx?guid=%7B17100299-BD39-4BA0-AB98-98D6A5F033AE%7D|access-date=December 9, 2008}}</ref><ref name="IMAX">{{cite news|title=The Day the Earth Stood Still: The IMAX Experience |format=Website announcement |date=December 9, 2008 |url=http://www.imax.com/ImaxWeb/filmDetail.do?type=comingSoon&movieID=code__.__483 |access-date=December 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205140647/http://www.imax.com/ImaxWeb/filmDetail.do?type=comingSoon&movieID=code__.__483 |archive-date=December 5, 2008 }}</ref> |
''The Day the Earth Stood Still'' was originally scheduled for release on May 9, 2008, but was released on a roll-out schedule beginning December 12, 2008, screening in both conventional and ] theaters.<ref name="Alpha">{{cite news|title=20th Century Fox Stops the World to Beam The Day The Earth Stood Still into Deep Space|work=]|format=Press release|date=December 9, 2008|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/20th-Century-Fox-Stops-World/story.aspx?guid=%7B17100299-BD39-4BA0-AB98-98D6A5F033AE%7D|access-date=December 9, 2008|archive-date=December 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218220553/http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/20th-Century-Fox-Stops-World/story.aspx?guid=%7B17100299-BD39-4BA0-AB98-98D6A5F033AE%7D|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="IMAX">{{cite news|title=The Day the Earth Stood Still: The IMAX Experience |format=Website announcement |date=December 9, 2008 |url=http://www.imax.com/ImaxWeb/filmDetail.do?type=comingSoon&movieID=code__.__483 |access-date=December 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205140647/http://www.imax.com/ImaxWeb/filmDetail.do?type=comingSoon&movieID=code__.__483 |archive-date=December 5, 2008 }}</ref> It was met with generally negative reviews from critics but was a financial success, grossing over $233 million worldwide. | ||
==Plot== | ==Plot== | ||
<!-- Per ], plot summaries for feature film articles should be between 400 and 700 words. --> | |||
<!-- Do not put any personal interpretation of the film's title here --> | |||
In 1928, a solitary mountaineer exploring the ] in ] encounters a glowing sphere. He loses consciousness and when he wakes, the sphere |
In 1928, a solitary mountaineer exploring the ] in ] encounters a glowing sphere. He loses consciousness and when he wakes, the sphere is gone and there is a scar on his hand. | ||
⚫ | In the present day, a rapidly moving object is detected beyond ]'s orbit and forecast to impact and destroy all life on ]. The U.S. government hastily assembles a group of scientists, including Helen Benson and her friend Michael Granier, to develop a survival plan. The object suddenly slows down and descends in ], revealing itself to be a large spherical spaceship. Helen and the scientists quickly arrive at the scene along with military forces. An ] emerges and Helen moves forward to greet it, but amidst the confusion, the alien is shot. A gigantic humanoid robot appears and temporarily disables everything in the vicinity by emitting a high-pitched noise before the wounded alien voices the command "]" to shut down the robot's defensive response. | ||
In the present day, a rapidly moving object is detected beyond ]'s orbit and forecast to impact ]. It is moving at 30,000 kilometers per second, fast enough that its impact would destroy all life on ]. The ] hastily assembles a group of scientists, including Helen Benson and her friend Michael Granier, to develop a survival plan. | |||
The scientists take the alien away in a laboratory where they learn that the alien's exterior skin is a ] space suit, composed of ]-like material covering a human-like being. After the bullet is extracted during surgery, the being quickly ages into ], who looks like the mountaineer from 1928. Klaatu informs ] Regina Jackson that he is a representative from a group of planetary civilizations, sent to talk to the leaders of Earth about saving the planet from ].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Avenging nature: the role of nature in modern and contemporary art and literature |date=2020 |publisher=Lexington Books |isbn=978-1-7936-2144-3 |editor-last=Valls Oyarzun |editor-first=Eduardo |series=Ecocritical theory and practice |location=Lanham Boulder NewYork London |chapter=Chapter 13: Ecocritical Archaelogies of Global Ecocide in Twenty-First-Centurty Post-Apocalyptic Films |editor-last2=Gualberto Valverde |editor-first2=Rebeca |editor-last3=Malla García |editor-first3=Noelia |editor-last4=Colom Jiménez |editor-first4=María |editor-last5=Cordero Sánchez |editor-first5=Rebeca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shermer |first=Michael |title=Reel Life: The Day the Earth Stood Still |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/review-day-the-earth-stood-still/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=Scientific American |language=en |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629173611/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/review-day-the-earth-stood-still/ |url-status=live }}</ref> When Jackson instead sends him to be interrogated, Klaatu escapes and reconnects with Helen and her stepson, Jacob, telling them that he must finish his mission to "save the Earth". | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | The presence of the sphere and other smaller spheres that begin to appear all over the world cause widespread panic. The military launches a ] on the sphere, but is thwarted by the robot. The military takes a weapons-free approach, cautiously enclosing the robot, soon nicknamed "]" (Genetically Organized Robotic Technology), and transporting it to the ] underground facility in Virginia. | ||
The alien's exterior is found to be a ] space suit, composed of ]-like material covering a human-like being. After the bullet is extracted during surgery, the being quickly ages into ], who looks like the mountaineer from 1928. Klaatu informs ] Regina Jackson that he is a representative of a group of civilizations, sent to talk to the leaders of Earth about saving the planet. When Jackson instead sends him to be interrogated, Klaatu escapes and reconnects with Helen and her stepson, Jacob, telling them that he must finish his mission to "save the Earth". | |||
⚫ | Klaatu meets with another alien, Mr. Wu, who has lived on Earth for years. Wu tells Klaatu that the humans are destructive, stubborn, and unwilling to change, which matches Klaatu's experiences. However, Mr. Wu also tells Klaatu that he intends to remain on Earth, as he has grown to love these people. Klaatu orders the smaller spheres to collect specimens of animal species, to preserve them for later reintroduction to the Earth. He clarifies for Helen that he means to save the Earth from destruction by humankind. | ||
⚫ | The presence of the sphere and other smaller spheres that begin to appear all over the world cause widespread panic. The military launches a ] on the |
||
⚫ | Hoping to persuade Klaatu to change his mind about humanity, Helen takes him to Professor Barnhardt, a ] winner. They discuss how Klaatu's race went through drastic, collaborative evolution to prevent the demise of their planet. Barnhardt pleads that Earth is at the same precipice, and humanity should be given a chance to understand that it, too, must change. While the adults are talking, Jacob calls the authorities to come and arrest Klaatu. | ||
⚫ | Klaatu meets with another alien, Mr. Wu, who has lived on Earth for |
||
⚫ | Hoping to persuade Klaatu to change his mind about humanity, Helen takes him to |
||
While the military is examining GORT, the robot transforms into a swarm of winged insect-like ] that self-replicate as they ]. The swarm soon devours the entire facility, emerging above ground to continue feeding. | While the military is examining GORT, the robot transforms into a swarm of winged insect-like ] that self-replicate as they ]. The swarm soon devours the entire facility, emerging above ground to continue feeding. | ||
The military captures Helen while Klaatu and Jacob escape on foot. As they travel, Klaatu learns more about humanity through Jacob. When Jacob contacts Helen and arranges to meet at his father's grave, the Secretary sends her to try to change Klaatu's mind. At the grave, Jacob is heartbroken that Klaatu cannot resurrect his long-dead father. As Helen and Jacob |
The military captures Helen while Klaatu and Jacob escape on foot. As they travel, Klaatu learns more about humanity through Jacob. When Jacob contacts Helen and arranges to meet at his father's grave, the Secretary sends her to try to change Klaatu's mind. At the grave, Jacob is heartbroken that Klaatu cannot resurrect his long-dead father. As Helen and Jacob reunite, Klaatu's cumulative observations of humans convince him to stop the swarm. | ||
Granier drives them to the Central Park sphere, but the swarm has reached massive proportions. Klaatu trudges through the swarm to the sphere, touching it moments before his own body is consumed. The sphere deactivates the swarm, saving humanity, but |
Granier drives them to the Central Park sphere, but the swarm has reached massive proportions. Klaatu trudges through the swarm to the sphere, touching it moments before his own body is consumed. The sphere deactivates the swarm, saving humanity, but also shutting down all electronics on Earth as the giant sphere leaves the Earth. | ||
==Cast== | ==Cast== | ||
* ] as ], an alien messenger in human form. Reeves dislikes remakes but was impressed by the script, which he deemed a ]. He enjoyed the original film as a child and became fonder of it as an adult when he understood how relevant it was.<ref name="empire2">{{cite news|title=Keanu Barada Nikto|author=Damon Wise|date=December 2008|work=]|pages=143–149}}</ref> Reeves acknowledged his Klaatu is "inverted" from the original, starting "sinister and tough" but becoming "more human", whereas the original was "more human than human" before revealing his "big stick" in his ending speech.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-ca-reeves7-2008dec07,0,5124632.story|title=Keanu Reeves' freaky flights of fancy|author=Dennis Lim|date=December 7, 2008|work=]|access-date=December 6, 2008}}</ref> He compared the remake's Klaatu to the wrathful God who ] the world in the ], but is gentle and forgiving by the time of the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2008/12/06/day-the-earth-stood-still-preview/|title=Day the Earth Stood Still - Preview|author=Steve Biodrowsk|date=December 6, 2008|work=]|access-date=December 8, 2008}}</ref> He spent many weeks revising the script, trying to make Klaatu's transition from alien in human form to one who appreciates their emotions and beliefs subtle and nuanced.<ref name="notes2">{{cite web|url=http://thedaytheearthstoodstillmovie.com/downloads/Complete_Notes.pdf|title=Production notes|publisher=]|access-date=November 21, 2008}}</ref> Derrickson, the director, said that although Reeves would not use actions "that are highly unusual or highly quirky," he nevertheless "keeps you aware of the fact that this being you're walking through this movie with is not a human being".<ref name="mtvtrailer2">{{cite news|url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/07/04/the-day-the-earth-stood-still-trailer-is-here/|title='The Day The Earth Stood Still' Trailer Is Here!|author=Shawn Adler|date=July 4, 2008|work=] Movies Blog|access-date=July 5, 2008}}</ref> At Reeves' insistence, the line "]" was added to the script after initially being omitted.<ref name="anatomy2">{{cite news|url=http://www.scifi.co.uk/blog/films/on-set-day-the-earth-stood-sti/|title=On Set: Day The Earth Stood Still|author=Cindy White|date=November 17, 2008|work=]|access-date=November 17, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110728185920/http://www.scifi.co.uk/blog/films/on-set-day-the-earth-stood-sti/|archive-date=July 28, 2011}}</ref> The line was recorded many times, and it was decided to combine two recordings: one where Reeves said it normally and a reversed version where he said the line backward, creating an "alien" effect.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=62682|title=Q&A: More Earth Spoilers|date=December 10, 2008|work=]|access-date=December 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210210207/http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=62682|archive-date=December 10, 2008}} {{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> | * ] as ], an alien messenger in human form. Reeves dislikes remakes, but was impressed by the script, which he deemed a ]. He enjoyed the original film as a child and became fonder of it as an adult when he understood how relevant it was.<ref name="empire2">{{cite news|title=Keanu Barada Nikto|author=Damon Wise|date=December 2008|work=]|pages=143–149}}</ref> Reeves acknowledged his Klaatu is "inverted" from the original, starting "sinister and tough", but becoming "more human", whereas the original was "more human than human" before revealing his "big stick" in his ending speech.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-ca-reeves7-2008dec07,0,5124632.story|title=Keanu Reeves' freaky flights of fancy|author=Dennis Lim|date=December 7, 2008|work=]|access-date=December 6, 2008|archive-date=December 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209054837/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-ca-reeves7-2008dec07,0,5124632.story|url-status=live}}</ref> He compared the remake's Klaatu to the wrathful God who ] the world in the ], but is gentle and forgiving by the time of the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2008/12/06/day-the-earth-stood-still-preview/|title=Day the Earth Stood Still - Preview|author=Steve Biodrowsk|date=December 6, 2008|work=]|access-date=December 8, 2008|archive-date=September 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925173237/http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2008/12/06/day-the-earth-stood-still-preview/|url-status=live}}</ref> He spent many weeks revising the script, trying to make Klaatu's transition from alien in human form to one who appreciates their emotions and beliefs subtle and nuanced.<ref name="notes2">{{cite web|url=http://thedaytheearthstoodstillmovie.com/downloads/Complete_Notes.pdf|title=Production notes|publisher=]|access-date=November 21, 2008|archive-date=August 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806095620/http://thedaytheearthstoodstillmovie.com/downloads/Complete_Notes.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Derrickson, the director, said that although Reeves would not use actions "that are highly unusual or highly quirky," he nevertheless "keeps you aware of the fact that this being you're walking through this movie with is not a human being".<ref name="mtvtrailer2">{{cite news|url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/07/04/the-day-the-earth-stood-still-trailer-is-here/|title='The Day The Earth Stood Still' Trailer Is Here!|author=Shawn Adler|date=July 4, 2008|work=] Movies Blog|access-date=July 5, 2008|archive-date=August 28, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828035133/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/07/04/the-day-the-earth-stood-still-trailer-is-here/|url-status=dead}}</ref> At Reeves' insistence, the line "]" was added to the script after initially being omitted.<ref name="anatomy2">{{cite news|url=http://www.scifi.co.uk/blog/films/on-set-day-the-earth-stood-sti/|title=On Set: Day The Earth Stood Still|author=Cindy White|date=November 17, 2008|work=]|access-date=November 17, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110728185920/http://www.scifi.co.uk/blog/films/on-set-day-the-earth-stood-sti/|archive-date=July 28, 2011}}</ref> The line was recorded many times, and it was decided to combine two recordings: one where Reeves said it normally and a reversed version where he said the line backward, creating an "alien" effect.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=62682|title=Q&A: More Earth Spoilers|date=December 10, 2008|work=]|access-date=December 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210210207/http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=62682|archive-date=December 10, 2008}} {{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> | ||
* ] as Helen Benson, an ] at ], who is recruited by the government to study Klaatu. Connelly was Derrickson's first choice for the part.<ref name="mtvtrailer2" /> She is a fan of the original film and felt ]'s original portrayal of Helen was "fabulous," but trusted the filmmakers with their reinterpretation of the story and of Helen, who was a secretary in the original.<ref name="anatomy2" /> Connelly emphasized that Helen is amazed when she meets Klaatu, as she never believed she would encounter a sentient alien like him after speculating on extraterrestrial life for so long.<ref name="notes2" /> Connelly was dedicated to understanding her scientific jargon, with ] stating she did "everything short of writing a NASA grant application."<ref name="shostak2">{{cite news|url=http://www.livescience.com/space/081208-shostak-daythe.html|title=On the Set of ''The Day the Earth Stood Still''|author=Seth Shostak|author-link=Seth Shostak|date=December 8, 2008|work=LiveScience|access-date=December 8, 2008|publisher=]}}</ref> | * ] as Helen Benson, an ] at ], who is recruited by the government to study Klaatu. Connelly was Derrickson's first choice for the part.<ref name="mtvtrailer2" /> She is a fan of the original film and felt ]'s original portrayal of Helen was "fabulous," but trusted the filmmakers with their reinterpretation of the story and of Helen, who was a secretary in the original.<ref name="anatomy2" /> Connelly emphasized that Helen is amazed when she meets Klaatu, as she never believed she would encounter a sentient alien like him after speculating on extraterrestrial life for so long.<ref name="notes2" /> Connelly was dedicated to understanding her scientific jargon, with ] stating she did "everything short of writing a NASA grant application."<ref name="shostak2">{{cite news|url=http://www.livescience.com/space/081208-shostak-daythe.html|title=On the Set of ''The Day the Earth Stood Still''|author=Seth Shostak|author-link=Seth Shostak|date=December 8, 2008|work=LiveScience|access-date=December 8, 2008|publisher=]|archive-date=August 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811104629/https://www.livescience.com/space|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
* ] as Jacob Benson, Helen's eight-year old stepson. Jacob replaces the character of Bobby (Billy Gray) in the original, and his relationship with Helen was written as a microcosm of how Klaatu comes to see humanity—the alien sees their cold and distant relationship as normal human behavior, and their reconciliation forces him to change his mind. Smith said he found Jacob difficult to play because he felt the character "opposite" to his personality. Smith had met Reeves before on the set of the '']'' sequels, which featured his mother, ].<ref name="notes2" /> | * ] as Jacob Benson, Helen's eight-year old stepson. Jacob replaces the character of Bobby (Billy Gray) in the original, and his relationship with Helen was written as a microcosm of how Klaatu comes to see humanity—the alien sees their cold and distant relationship as normal human behavior, and their reconciliation forces him to change his mind. Smith said he found Jacob difficult to play because he felt the character "opposite" to his personality. Smith had met Reeves before on the set of the '']'' sequels, which featured his mother, ].<ref name="notes2" /> | ||
* ] as Professor Karl Barnhardt, a ]-winning physicist, who specializes in the evolutionary basis of ]. Helen takes Klaatu to him to further change his mind. The role was the most difficult to cast, and eventually the filmmakers decided to approach Cleese, noting "Who would you rather make the argument for mankind than John Cleese?"<ref name="setqaa2">{{cite news|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=50605|title=The Day the Earth Stood Still Set Visit Q & A|author=Ryan Rotten|date=November 17, 2008|work=ComingSoon.net|access-date=November 17, 2008|archive-date=March 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316012911/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=50605|url-status=dead}}</ref> Stoff, a producer, had met Cleese a few times beforehand and had noted his intellect.<ref name="notes2" /> The actor was surprised the filmmakers were interested in him, and decided playing a dramatic role would be easier than to play a comedic one at his age. He was often reminded to speed up his dialogue so that Reeves would not appear in synchronicity with normal human speech patterns.<ref name="empire2" /> Cleese said he is not interested in extraterrestrial life because he often philosophizes about the purpose of life and why humans are distracted by trivial matters.<ref name="notes2" /> Cleese spoke about portraying abilities outside his own experience in the scene in which Klaatu corrects a complex mathematical formula Barnhardt has written on a blackboard: "The trouble is, I had to be able to write the equation, because Barnhardt has been working on it for 60 years. I learned to carefully copy things down that mean nothing to me at all. In '']'', I spoke a lot of Russian without having any idea what it means."<ref name="notes2" /> The crew enjoyed working with Cleese and were sad when he finished filming his part.<ref name="setqaa2" /> | * ] as Professor Karl Barnhardt, a ]-winning physicist, who specializes in the evolutionary basis of ]. Helen takes Klaatu to him to further change his mind. The role was the most difficult to cast, and eventually the filmmakers decided to approach Cleese, noting "Who would you rather make the argument for mankind than John Cleese?"<ref name="setqaa2">{{cite news|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=50605|title=The Day the Earth Stood Still Set Visit Q & A|author=Ryan Rotten|date=November 17, 2008|work=ComingSoon.net|access-date=November 17, 2008|archive-date=March 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316012911/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=50605|url-status=dead}}</ref> Stoff, a producer, had met Cleese a few times beforehand and had noted his intellect.<ref name="notes2" /> The actor was surprised the filmmakers were interested in him, and decided playing a dramatic role would be easier than to play a comedic one at his age. He was often reminded to speed up his dialogue so that Reeves would not appear in synchronicity with normal human speech patterns.<ref name="empire2" /> Cleese said he is not interested in extraterrestrial life because he often philosophizes about the purpose of life and why humans are distracted by trivial matters.<ref name="notes2" /> Cleese spoke about portraying abilities outside his own experience in the scene in which Klaatu corrects a complex mathematical formula Barnhardt has written on a blackboard: "The trouble is, I had to be able to write the equation, because Barnhardt has been working on it for 60 years. I learned to carefully copy things down that mean nothing to me at all. In '']'', I spoke a lot of Russian without having any idea what it means."<ref name="notes2" /> The crew enjoyed working with Cleese and were sad when he finished filming his part.<ref name="setqaa2" /> | ||
* ] as Michael Granier, a NASA official, who recruits Helen into his scientific team investigating Klaatu. Granier is fascinated by Klaatu, but is torn between his official obligation to detain the alien and protect his country.<ref name="notes2" /> Hamm acknowledged science fiction was a ] when the original film was made, and that it used science fiction to make topical issues more approachable. |
* ] as Michael Granier, a NASA official, who recruits Helen into his scientific team investigating Klaatu. Granier is fascinated by Klaatu, but is torn between his official obligation to detain the alien and protect his country.<ref name="notes2" /> Hamm acknowledged science fiction was a ] when the original film was made, and that it used science fiction to make topical issues more approachable. He had the same feelings for this remake.<ref name="setqaa2" /> Originally, his character was French and named Michel.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/NE9Ag9diGlagbg|title=Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly Prepare Us for The Day the Earth Stood Still!|author=Paulington James Christensen|date=November 17, 2008|work=MovieWeb|access-date=November 17, 2008|archive-date=March 24, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324224246/http://www.movieweb.com/news/NE9Ag9diGlagbg|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although he is interested in math and science, Hamm found his technical dialogue difficult and had to film his lines repeatedly.<ref name="notes2" /> | ||
* ] as Regina Jackson, the ]. Bates had only two weeks to film her scenes, so she often requested Derrickson act out her lines so she |
* ] as Regina Jackson, the ]. Bates had only two weeks to film her scenes, so she often requested Derrickson act out her lines so she could directly understand his aims for her dialogue.<ref name="notes2" /> | ||
* ] as John Driscoll | * ] as John Driscoll | ||
* ] as Colonel Addelman | * ] as Colonel Addelman | ||
Line 82: | Line 79: | ||
===Development=== | ===Development=== | ||
In 1994, ] and ] had produced the successful ] film '']'' (1994). Stoff was at an office at the studio when he saw a poster for the 1951 film '']'', which made him ponder a remake with Reeves as Klaatu.<ref name=setqaa>{{cite news|author=Ryan Rotten|title=The Day the Earth Stood Still Set Visit Q & A|work=ComingSoon.net|date=November 17, 2008|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=50605|access-date=November 17, 2008|archive-date=March 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316012911/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=50605|url-status=dead}}</ref> | In 1994, ] and ] had produced the successful ] film '']'' (1994). Stoff was at an office at the studio when he saw a poster for the 1951 film '']'', which made him ponder a remake with Reeves as Klaatu.<ref name=setqaa>{{cite news|author=Ryan Rotten|title=The Day the Earth Stood Still Set Visit Q & A|work=ComingSoon.net|date=November 17, 2008|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=50605|access-date=November 17, 2008|archive-date=March 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316012911/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=50605|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
By the time ] started writing a draft of the script in 2005,<ref name=tf/> ] was in charge of Fox and felt a responsibility to remake the film.<ref name=setqaa/> Scarpa felt everything about the original film was still relevant, but changed the allegory from nuclear war to environmental damage because "the specifics of we now have the capability to destroy ourselves have changed."<ref name=notes>{{cite web|title=Production notes|publisher=]|url=http://www.whoaisnotme.net/articles/2008_11xx_day.htm|access-date=October 8, 2014}}</ref> Scarpa noted the recent events of ] in 2005 informed his mindset when writing the screenplay.<ref name=tf>{{cite news|author=Matt Mueller|title=Excellent adventure, or bogus journey?|work=]|date=December 2008|pages=68–72}}</ref> He scrapped Klaatu's speech at the conclusion of the story because "audiences today are willing to tolerate that. People don't want to be preached to about the environment. We tried to avoid having our alien looking out over the garbage in the lake and crying a silent tear ]'' ads]."<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Scott Brown|title=The Looming Deluge of Eco-Disaster Flicks|magazine=]|date=November 25, 2008|url=https://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/16-12/pl_brown|access-date=November 25, 2008}}</ref> | By the time ] started writing a draft of the script in 2005,<ref name=tf/> ] was in charge of Fox and felt a responsibility to remake the film.<ref name=setqaa/> Scarpa felt everything about the original film was still relevant, but changed the allegory from nuclear war to environmental damage because "the specifics of we now have the capability to destroy ourselves have changed."<ref name=notes>{{cite web|title=Production notes|publisher=]|url=http://www.whoaisnotme.net/articles/2008_11xx_day.htm|access-date=October 8, 2014|archive-date=October 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012225358/http://www.whoaisnotme.net/articles/2008_11xx_day.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Scarpa noted the recent events of ] in 2005 informed his mindset when writing the screenplay.<ref name=tf>{{cite news|author=Matt Mueller|title=Excellent adventure, or bogus journey?|work=]|date=December 2008|pages=68–72}}</ref> He scrapped Klaatu's speech at the conclusion of the story because "audiences today are willing to tolerate that. People don't want to be preached to about the environment. We tried to avoid having our alien looking out over the garbage in the lake and crying a silent tear ]'' ads]."<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Scott Brown|title=The Looming Deluge of Eco-Disaster Flicks|magazine=]|date=November 25, 2008|url=https://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/16-12/pl_brown|access-date=November 25, 2008}}</ref> | ||
Director ] admired the original film's director ], whom he met as a film student.<ref name=notes/> He generally dislikes remakes, but he enjoyed the script, which he decided was a retelling of the story and not a true remake.<ref name="empire">{{cite news|title=Keanu Barada Nikto|author=Damon Wise|date=December 2008|work=]|pages=143–149}}</ref> He also explained that ''The Day the Earth Stood Still'' is not a widely seen classic film, unlike '']'' (1939), which he would not bother remaking.<ref name=tf/> Derrickson's benchmark was ]'s ] of '']'' (1956). Klaatu was made more menacing than in the original, because the director felt he had to symbolize the more complex era of the 2000s.<ref>{{cite news|author=Alistair Harkness |title=Director Scott Derrickson tells why he agreed to reinvent ''The Day The Earth Stood Still'' for the modern era |work=] |date=December 5, 2008 |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/Director-Scott-Derrickson-tells-.4764624.jp |access-date=December 5, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206103413/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/Director-Scott-Derrickson-tells-.4764624.jp |archive-date=December 6, 2008 }}</ref> There was debate over whether to have Klaatu land in ], as in the original; but Derrickson chose New York City because he liked the geometry of Klaatu's sphere landing in ].<ref name=setvisit>{{cite news|author=Ryan Rotten|title=Set Visit: The Day the Earth Stood Still|work=ComingSoon.net|date=November 17, 2008|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=50220|access-date=November 17, 2008|archive-date=December 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201080712/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=50220|url-status=dead}}</ref> Derrickson also did not write in Gort's original backstory, which was already absent from the script he read. He already thought the script was a good adaptation and didn't want the negative connotations of ] from the original film.<ref>{{cite news|author=George Rousch|title=Exclusive Interview: 1-1 With Day The Earth Stood Still Director Scott Derrickson|work=Latino Review|date=December 9, 2008|url=http://www.latinoreview.com/news/exclusive-interview-1-1-with-day-the-earth-stood-still-director-scott-derrickson-5833|access-date=December 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211022052/http://www.latinoreview.com/news/exclusive-interview-1-1-with-day-the-earth-stood-still-director-scott-derrickson-5833 <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archive-date=December 11, 2008}}</ref> | Director ] admired the original film's director, ], whom he met as a film student.<ref name=notes/> He generally dislikes remakes, but he enjoyed the script, which he decided was a retelling of the story and not a true remake.<ref name="empire">{{cite news|title=Keanu Barada Nikto|author=Damon Wise|date=December 2008|work=]|pages=143–149}}</ref> He also explained that ''The Day the Earth Stood Still'' is not a widely seen classic film, unlike '']'' (1939), which he would not bother remaking.<ref name=tf/> Derrickson's benchmark was ]'s ] of '']'' (1956). Klaatu was made more menacing than in the original, because the director felt he had to symbolize the more complex era of the 2000s.<ref>{{cite news|author=Alistair Harkness |title=Director Scott Derrickson tells why he agreed to reinvent ''The Day The Earth Stood Still'' for the modern era |work=] |date=December 5, 2008 |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/Director-Scott-Derrickson-tells-.4764624.jp |access-date=December 5, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206103413/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/Director-Scott-Derrickson-tells-.4764624.jp |archive-date=December 6, 2008 }}</ref> There was debate over whether to have Klaatu land in ], as in the original; but Derrickson chose New York City because he liked the geometry of Klaatu's sphere landing in ].<ref name=setvisit>{{cite news|author=Ryan Rotten|title=Set Visit: The Day the Earth Stood Still|work=ComingSoon.net|date=November 17, 2008|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=50220|access-date=November 17, 2008|archive-date=December 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201080712/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=50220|url-status=dead}}</ref> Derrickson also did not write in Gort's original backstory, which was already absent from the script he read. He already thought the script was a good adaptation and didn't want the negative connotations of ] from the original film.<ref>{{cite news|author=George Rousch|title=Exclusive Interview: 1-1 With Day The Earth Stood Still Director Scott Derrickson|work=Latino Review|date=December 9, 2008|url=http://www.latinoreview.com/news/exclusive-interview-1-1-with-day-the-earth-stood-still-director-scott-derrickson-5833|access-date=December 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211022052/http://www.latinoreview.com/news/exclusive-interview-1-1-with-day-the-earth-stood-still-director-scott-derrickson-5833 <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archive-date=December 11, 2008}}</ref> | ||
Astronomer ] served as scientific consultant on the film, reviewed the script several times for errors, gave suggestions for making the scientists appear less dry, and noted that they would refer to one another on a first-name basis. He said, "Real scientists don't describe an object entering the solar system as 'notable for the fact that it was not moving in an ], but moving at nearly three times ten to the seventh meters per second.' More likely, they would say that there was 'a goddamned rock headed our way!'"<ref name=shostak>{{cite news|author=Seth Shostak|author-link=Seth Shostak|title=On the Set of ''The Day the Earth Stood Still''|work=Space.com|publisher=]|date=December 8, 2008|url=http://www.space.com/6205-seth-shostak-set-day-earth-stood.html|access-date=December 8, 2008}}</ref> | Astronomer ] served as scientific consultant on the film, reviewed the script several times for errors, gave suggestions for making the scientists appear less dry, and noted that they would refer to one another on a first-name basis. He said, "Real scientists don't describe an object entering the solar system as 'notable for the fact that it was not moving in an ], but moving at nearly three times ten to the seventh meters per second.' More likely, they would say that there was 'a goddamned rock headed our way!'"<ref name=shostak>{{cite news|author=Seth Shostak|author-link=Seth Shostak|title=On the Set of ''The Day the Earth Stood Still''|work=Space.com|publisher=]|date=December 8, 2008|url=http://www.space.com/6205-seth-shostak-set-day-earth-stood.html|access-date=December 8, 2008|archive-date=August 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814234543/http://www.space.com/6205-seth-shostak-set-day-earth-stood.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
===Filming=== | ===Filming=== | ||
Filming took place from December 12, 2007, to March 19, 2008, at ],<ref name=setvisit/><ref>{{cite news|title=Film Production Chart |work=] |url=https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=chart_film_prod_d&dept=Film&recordid=1117786658 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002222537/http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=chart_film_prod_d&dept=Film&recordid=1117786658 |archive-date=October 2, 2008 |access-date=July 5, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite news|author=Glen Schaefer|title=Sun shines on Day Earth Stood Still set|work=]|date=December 14, 2008|url=http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=1074042|access-date=December 14, 2008}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> The film was originally scheduled for release on May 9, 2008, but |
Filming took place from December 12, 2007, to March 19, 2008, at ],<ref name=setvisit/><ref>{{cite news|title=Film Production Chart |work=] |url=https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=chart_film_prod_d&dept=Film&recordid=1117786658 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002222537/http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=chart_film_prod_d&dept=Film&recordid=1117786658 |archive-date=October 2, 2008 |access-date=July 5, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite news|author=Glen Schaefer|title=Sun shines on Day Earth Stood Still set|work=]|date=December 14, 2008|url=http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=1074042|access-date=December 14, 2008}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> The film was originally scheduled for release on May 9, 2008, but was delayed until December 12, 2008, because filming commenced later than scheduled.<ref>{{cite news | author=Pamela McClintock | title='Transformers' sequel sets 2009 date | url=https://variety.com/2007/film/features/transformers-sequel-sets-2009-date-2-1117972852/ | work=] | date=September 26, 2007 | access-date=October 5, 2007 | archive-date=October 11, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011204325/http://variety.com/article/VR1117972852.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 | url-status=live }}</ref> By the time preproduction started, Scarpa had written 40 drafts of the script.<ref name=tf/> The film was mostly shot on sets, because it was winter in Vancouver.<ref name=notes/> | ||
Derrickson was fascinated by color schemes. He chose blue-green and orange as the primary colors for ''The Day the Earth Stood Still''. The missile silo converted by the military for experimenting on ] emphasized gray and orange, which was inspired by an image of lava flowing through a gray field. Derrickson opted to shoot on traditional film, and rendered the colors in post-production to make them more subtle, for realism.<ref name=notes/> | Derrickson was fascinated by color schemes. He chose blue-green and orange as the primary colors for ''The Day the Earth Stood Still''. The missile silo converted by the military for experimenting on ] emphasized gray and orange, which was inspired by an image of lava flowing through a gray field. Derrickson opted to shoot on traditional film, and rendered the colors in ] to make them more subtle, for realism.<ref name=notes/> | ||
To film Barnhardt and Klaatu writing equations on a blackboard, ] sums were drawn by Marco Peloso from the ] and William Hiscock of ] in faint pencil marks. Keanu Reeves and John Cleese drew over these in chalk.<ref name=shostak/> | To film Barnhardt and Klaatu writing equations on a blackboard, ] sums were drawn by Marco Peloso from the ] and William Hiscock of ] in faint pencil marks. Keanu Reeves and John Cleese drew over these in chalk.<ref name=shostak/> | ||
As Fox had a mandate to become a carbon neutral company by 2011, ''The Day the Earth Stood Still''{{'}}s production had an environmentally friendly regimen. "Whether it was because of this movie thematically or it was an accident of time, there were certain things production-wise we've been doing and been asked to do and so on," said Erwin Stoff.<ref name=setqaa/> To |
As Fox had a mandate to become a carbon neutral company by 2011, ''The Day the Earth Stood Still''{{'}}s production had an environmentally friendly regimen. "Whether it was because of this movie thematically or it was an accident of time, there were certain things production-wise we've been doing and been asked to do and so on," said Erwin Stoff.<ref name=setqaa/> To save paper, concept art, location stills and costume tests were posted on a website created by the production for crew members to reference. Costumes were kept for future Fox productions or given to homeless shelters rather than thrown away. Hybrid vehicles were used, and crew members had orders to turn off their car engines if they sat in their vehicles for more than three minutes.<ref name=notes/> | ||
=== |
===Visual effects=== | ||
] and, behind him, the new biological spaceship resembling an orb]] | ] and, behind him, the new biological spaceship resembling an orb]] | ||
⚫ | ] created the majority of the visual effects, with additional work by ] and ]. The machines of Klaatu's people have a biological basis rather than a mechanical one, as Derrickson theorized that their mastery of ecology would demonstrate their level of sophistication.<ref name=notes/> Derrickson deemed a modern audience would find the original's ] amusingly obsolete and unique to the original's milieu.<ref name=setvisit/> The director also noted that the original ''The Day the Earth Stood Still'' had influenced many films, so his technicians needed to bring new ideas to the remake.<ref name=setqaa/> | ||
⚫ | The visual effects team approached the new spacecraft's design as inter-dimensional portals resembling orbs. The script specified the inside of the orbs as a "white limbo-y thing", but visual effects consultant Jeff Okun explained this was considered too "cheesy".<ref name=setvisit/> Derrickson felt not showing the inside of the ship, unlike the original, would make the audience more curious.<ref name=notes/> As well as computer-generated spheres—such as Klaatu's {{convert|300|ft|adj=on}} ship, or a {{convert|3000|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} orb that rises from the sea—{{convert|700|lb|adj=on}} spheres, {{convert|9|ft}} in diameter, were sculpted by Custom Plastics, which built spheres for Disney theme parks. The spheres were split in two to make transportation easier. It was difficult placing lights inside them without making them melt. The visual-effects team looked at natural objects, including water droplets and the surfaces of ] and ] for the spheres' texture.<ref name=notes/> | ||
⚫ | ] created the majority of the effects, with additional work by ] and ]. The machines of Klaatu's people have a biological basis rather than a mechanical one, as Derrickson theorized that their mastery of ecology would demonstrate their level of sophistication.<ref name=notes/> Derrickson deemed a modern audience would find the original's ] amusingly obsolete and unique to the original's milieu.<ref name=setvisit/> The director also noted that the original ''The Day the Earth Stood Still'' had influenced many films, so his technicians needed to bring new ideas to the remake.<ref name=setqaa/> | ||
⚫ | Derrickson emphasized a ]-like relationship between the sphere, Klaatu, and Gort.<ref name=setqaa/> Klaatu is initially depicted as a radiant focus of sentient light. He is then depicted as a {{convert|7|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} gray "walking womb" shape which finally takes on a completely human appearance. The filmmakers conceived the transitional form, because they pondered the idea of humans mistaking space suits for alien skin. Computer-generated imagery and practical effects achieved the transformation.<ref name=notes/> Todd Masters ('']'') directed the creation of the alien form, using thermal plastic and silicone.<ref name=setvisit/> | ||
⚫ | The effects team approached the new spacecraft's design as inter-dimensional portals resembling orbs. The script |
||
⚫ | The script described Gort as ] by the time the director signed on, although it did not specify Gort's appearance.<ref>{{cite news|author=Heather Newgen|title=Making the Earth Stand Still|work=ComingSoon.net|date=December 10, 2008|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=50987|access-date=December 10, 2008|archive-date=December 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210233044/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=50987|url-status=dead}}</ref> The 15th draft of the script<ref name=tf/> had depicted the robot as a four-legged "]" that stands upright after firing its weapon beam.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aintitcool.com/node/36336|title=No Gort!! No "Klaatu Barada Nikto"!! Uncapie Goes Postal On THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL Remake Script!!|work=]|access-date=July 5, 2008|archive-date=July 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725034222/http://www.aintitcool.com/node/36336|url-status=live}}</ref> Okun explained there were many more "horrific" or "amazing" concepts, but it made sense that the robot would assume a familiar human shape. He cited the ] from the 1968 film '']'' as an inspiration for Gort's texture, noting "it's a simple shape, it has no emotion it just simply is",<ref name=empire/> which makes Gort more frightening because the audience cannot tell what he is thinking. The animators estimated the computer-generated robot as {{convert|28|ft}} tall, whereas in the original he was played by {{convert|7|ft|7|in|m|adj=mid|-tall}} ].<ref name=notes/> Gort's computer model was programmed to reflect light, and the filmmakers spent time on ] sessions to guide the performance. An actor wore weights on his hands and feet, allowing the animators to bring a sense of weight and power to Gort.<ref name=notes/> His destructive capabilities were based on ] swarms, although the idea of metal-eating insects goes back to ]'s 1933 poem "Metropolitan Nightmare".<ref name=tf/> | ||
⚫ | Derrickson emphasized a ]-like relationship between the sphere, Klaatu, and Gort.<ref name=setqaa/> Klaatu is initially depicted as a radiant focus of sentient light. He is then depicted as a {{convert|7|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} gray "walking womb" shape which finally takes on a completely human appearance. The filmmakers conceived the transitional form because they pondered the idea of humans mistaking space suits for alien skin. Computer-generated imagery and practical effects achieved the transformation.<ref name=notes/> Todd Masters ('']'') directed the creation of the alien form, using thermal plastic and silicone.<ref name=setvisit/> | ||
The script described Gort as ] by the time the director signed on, although it did not specify Gort's appearance.<ref>{{cite news|author=Heather Newgen|title=Making the Earth Stand Still|work=ComingSoon.net|date=December 10, 2008|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=50987|access-date=December 10, 2008|archive-date=December 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210233044/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=50987|url-status=dead}}</ref> The 15th draft of the script<ref name=tf/> had depicted the robot as a four-legged "]" that stands upright after firing its weapon beam.<ref> | |||
{{cite news|url=https://www.aintitcool.com/node/36336|title=No Gort!! No "Klaatu Barada Nikto"!! Uncapie Goes Postal On THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL Remake Script!!|work=]|access-date=July 5, 2008}} | |||
⚫ | </ref> Okun explained there were many more "horrific" or "amazing" concepts, but it made sense that the robot would assume a familiar human shape. He cited the ] from the 1968 film '']'' as an inspiration for Gort's texture, noting "it's a simple shape, it has no emotion it just simply is",<ref name=empire/> which makes Gort more frightening because the audience cannot tell what he is thinking. The animators estimated the computer-generated robot as {{convert|28|ft}} tall, whereas in the original he was played by |
||
==Music== | ==Music== | ||
Line 133: | Line 127: | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''''The Day the Earth Stood Still: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack''''' was |
'''''The Day the Earth Stood Still: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack''''' was conducted and orchestrated by ]. ] was brought in to compose the score after Derrickson heard his work on '']'' (2005) and '']'' (2006). Instead of imitating the ] by ], Bates decided to try to convey the new film's updated message,{{Citation needed|date=August 2018}} assuming that many people would not even realize it was a remake.{{Citation needed|date=August 2018}} Bates said,{{Citation needed|date=August 2018}} "People revere an original property and feel that it's sacred, but frankly, there's a good story to be retold, as it applies to the climate of the world now. If that's something beyond the scope of a person's ability to take in, on a new level, without necessarily using the original as a criterion for whether or not they're going to enjoy it, then they probably shouldn't bother themselves with it." The origins for the sound on the new score came from Bates attending the filming of a few scenes with Reeves and Smith. When he returned to ], he created a sound loop on his ] to which Derrickson responded, "I think that's the score!", when it was played for him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2008/12/31/at-the-precipace-we-change-tyler-bates-music-to-make-the-earth-stand-still |title=Tyler Bates on Score Day the Earth Stood Still |author=Larson, Randall |date=December 31, 2008 |work=Cinefantastique |access-date=May 7, 2009 |archive-date=January 2, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102082018/http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2008/12/31/at-the-precipace-we-change-tyler-bates-music-to-make-the-earth-stand-still/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Bates utilized the ], which Herrmann used heavily in the original film's score. Bates and the theremin player he hired used the instrument primarily as sound effect, especially during Klaatu's surgery.<ref>{{cite news|author=Patrick Lee |title=Q&A: Earth's Director |work=] |date=December 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210225204805/https://www.webcitation.org/5tnf4pWtY?url=https://www.eons.com/groups/topic/1381108-Q-amp-A-Earth-s-Director-SciFi-Wire- |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |url=http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=62756 |access-date=December 12, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A short segment from Bach's ''Goldberg Variations'', not included in the film's soundtrack release, is also heard in the background of the Professor's home when Klaatu visits him.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Day the Earth Stood Still - Soundtrack|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970416/soundtrack|website=]|access-date=March 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213170955/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970416/soundtrack|archive-date=December 13, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Sandow|first1=Greg|title=The day the|url=https://www.artsjournal.com/sandow/2008/12/the_day_the.html|website=Arts Journal Blog|access-date=March 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010043626/https://www.artsjournal.com/sandow/2008/12/the_day_the.html|archive-date=October 10, 2016|date=December 19, 2008|author-link1=Greg Sandow|quote=In the background, on the scientist’s stereo, we hear a recording of the Goldberg Variations}}</ref> | ||
==Release== | ==Release== | ||
Line 139: | Line 133: | ||
===Home media=== | ===Home media=== | ||
''The Day the Earth Stood Still'' was released by ] on ] and ] on April 7, 2009, almost four months after its release and only five days after its theater run ended. Bonus features include commentary with Scarpa along with a ] showing the |
''The Day the Earth Stood Still'' was released by ] on ] and ] on April 7, 2009, almost four months after its release and only five days after its theater run ended. Bonus features include commentary with Scarpa along with a ] showing the visual effects footage, ], and photos. It also includes several featurettes: "Build Your Own Gort", "Re-Imagining The Day", "Unleashing Gort", "Watching the Skies: In Search of Extraterrestrial Life", and "The Day the Earth was Green." Also included were three still galleries and the film's trailer. Packaged with the film on a separate disc, is the original ]. The Blu-ray release features a ] motion code.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?id=4098&show=review |title=The Day the Earth Stood still blu-ray Review |last=Liebman |first=Martin |date=April 8, 2009 |access-date=April 27, 2009 |work=Blu-Ray.com |archive-date=April 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412115457/http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?id=4098&show=review |url-status=live }}</ref> | ||
According to data by '']'', it came in first for rentals during its first and second weeks.<ref name="mojo" /> For the first week of its release it was ranked first in Blu-ray sales, and second on the regular DVD sales chart, behind '']'', totaling $14,650,377 (not including Blu-ray).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/TDESS.php |title=The Day the Earth Stood Still |work=The Numbers website |access-date=April 27, 2009}}</ref> | According to data by '']'', it came in first for rentals during its first and second weeks.<ref name="mojo" /> For the first week of its release it was ranked first in Blu-ray sales, and second on the regular DVD sales chart, behind '']'', totaling $14,650,377 (not including Blu-ray).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/TDESS.php |title=The Day the Earth Stood Still |work=The Numbers website |access-date=April 27, 2009 |archive-date=April 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403123212/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/TDESS.php |url-status=live }}</ref> | ||
==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
===Box office=== | ===Box office=== | ||
''The Day the Earth Stood Still'' opened in North America on December 12, 2008. During that opening weekend, and despite poor response from critics, |
''The Day the Earth Stood Still'' opened in North America on December 12, 2008. During that opening weekend, and despite poor response from critics, it reached the #1 spot, grossing $30,480,153 from 3,560 theaters with an $8,562 average per theater.<ref name="mojo" /> Out of its opening weekend income, 12% was from IMAX; it was "the highest IMAX share yet for a two-dimensional title".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2522&p=.htm |title='The Day the Earth' Stalls |last=Gray |first=Brandon |date=December 15, 2008 |work=] |access-date=May 6, 2009 |archive-date=May 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505014922/http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2522&p=.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2008, it was the 27th-highest-grossing film during its opening weekend but 40th for the entire year. It stayed in the top 10 for its first four weeks in theaters,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/day_the_earth_stood_still/numbers.php |title=The Day the Earth Stood Still Box Office Summary |work=] |access-date=April 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221170025/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/day_the_earth_stood_still/numbers.php <!--Added by H3llBot--> |archive-date=February 21, 2009}}</ref> and ended up grossing $79,366,978 domestically and $153,726,881 in foreign markets, a total of $233,093,859.<ref name="mojo">{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=daytheearthstoodstill08.htm |title=The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) |work=Box Office Mojo |access-date=April 20, 2009 |archive-date=August 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820054732/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=daytheearthstoodstill08.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> | ||
===Critical response=== | ===Critical response=== | ||
] | ] | ||
Based on 195 reviews collected by ], only 21% of them were positive, with an average rating of 4.2/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Heavy on special effects, but without a coherent story at its base, ''The Day the Earth Stood Still'' is subpar re-imagining of the 1951 science-fiction classic".<ref name="tomatoes">{{cite web | title= The Day the Earth Stood Still | work= ] | url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/day_the_earth_stood_still/ | access-date= May 10, 2020 | archive-date= June 23, 2020 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200623015117/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/day_the_earth_stood_still | url-status= live }}</ref> On ], the film has a score of 40 out of 100 based on reviews from 34 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web |title= The Day the Earth Stood Still |url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-day-the-earth-stood-still |website= ] |access-date= May 10, 2020 |archive-date= October 24, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201024124217/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-day-the-earth-stood-still |url-status= live }}</ref> Audiences polled by ] gave the film an average grade of "C−" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemascore.com/|title=Find CinemaScore|format=Type "Day The Earth Stood Still, The" in the search box|publisher=]|access-date=May 18, 2021|archive-date=January 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102130540/https://www.cinemascore.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
Bruce Paterson of the ] gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, writing that the generally poor reception for the film was "a sad fate for a surprisingly sincere tribute to Robert Wise's 1951 classic."<ref>{{cite journal | url= http://cinephilia.net.au/show_review.php?reviewid=3874&movieid=4049 | title= The Big Screen | journal= Cinephilia | access-date= December 31, 2008 | archive-date= July 6, 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110706123235/http://cinephilia.net.au/show_review.php?reviewid=3874&movieid=4049 | url-status= live }}</ref> Kenneth Turan of the '']'' "congratulated" Keanu Reeves's performance and wrote in his review, "This contemporary remake of the science-fiction classic knew what it was doing when it cast Keanu Reeves, the movies' greatest stone face since ]."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/reviews/la-et-day12-2008dec12,0,233515.story | title=Review: 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' - Los Angeles Times | work=] | date=December 12, 2008 | access-date=December 14, 2008 | first=Kenneth | last=Turan | archive-date=August 11, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811104740/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-dec-12-et-day12-story.html | url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
] of the '']'' was not impressed with Reeves' performance, commenting, "Even Klaatu looks bored and distracted, much as he did back when we knew him as Neo."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/movies/12stil.html | title=Review: 'The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) - It's All Over Earthlings (Don't Flee to New Jersey)' - New York Times | work=] | date=December 12, 2008 | access-date=December 14, 2008 | first=A. O. | last=Scott | archive-date=December 14, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081214230226/http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/movies/12stil.html | url-status=live }}</ref> William Arnold of the '']'' gave the film a B minus and wrote, "It's a decent enough stab at being what the old movie was to its time, following the same basic plot, full of respectful references to its model, updated with a gallery of fairly imaginative special effects."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.seattlepi.com/movies/391758_earthstood12q.html | title='The Day the Earth Stood Still:' Timing gives sci-fi remake a fighting chance | publisher=Seattle Post-Intelligencer | access-date=December 14, 2008 | date=December 11, 2008 | first1=William | last1=Arnold | archive-date=February 16, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216160225/https://www.seattlepi.com/ae/movies/article/The-Day-the-Earth-Stood-Still-Timing-gives-1294523.php | url-status=live }}</ref> ] of the '']'' gave the film two stars and noted that the film had "taken its title so seriously that the plot stands still along with it", but also stated that it was "an expensive, good-looking film that is well-made by Scott Derrickson".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20081210%2FREVIEWS%2F812109993 | title=The Day the Earth Stood Still Review - Roger Ebert | publisher=] | date=December 10, 2008 | access-date=December 14, 2008 | archive-date=March 11, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311095541/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20081210%2FREVIEWS%2F812109993 | url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
===Accolades=== | ===Accolades=== | ||
Line 158: | Line 154: | ||
At the 2009 ], the film was nominated for Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel, but lost the award to '']''.<ref>{{cite web |date= February 1, 2010 |last= O'Neil |first= Tom |title= Razzie Award nominations: Can Sandra Bullock win worst AND best actress? |work= ] |url= http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2010/01/razzie-awards-razzies-nominations-7594106284-news-story-article.html#more | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100324130603/http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2010/01/razzie-awards-razzies-nominations-7594106284-news-story-article.html| archive-date= 24 March 2010 | url-status= dead |access-date= May 10, 2020 }}</ref> | At the 2009 ], the film was nominated for Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel, but lost the award to '']''.<ref>{{cite web |date= February 1, 2010 |last= O'Neil |first= Tom |title= Razzie Award nominations: Can Sandra Bullock win worst AND best actress? |work= ] |url= http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2010/01/razzie-awards-razzies-nominations-7594106284-news-story-article.html#more | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100324130603/http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2010/01/razzie-awards-razzies-nominations-7594106284-news-story-article.html| archive-date= 24 March 2010 | url-status= dead |access-date= May 10, 2020 }}</ref> | ||
The film was nominated in the category of |
The film was nominated in the category of Best Single Visual Effect of the Year at the ] but lost to '']''.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.visualeffectssociety.com/ayear/7th-annual-ves-awards |title= 7th Annual VES Awards |work= visual effects society |access-date= December 21, 2017 |archive-date= July 21, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190721005412/https://www.visualeffectssociety.com/ayear/7th-annual-ves-awards |url-status= live }}</ref> The film was also nominated for ] at the ] and ] won ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.saturnawards.org/nominations.html |title=Nominations for the 35th Annual Saturn Awards |publisher=] |access-date=March 17, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221234527/http://www.saturnawards.org/nominations.html |archive-date=February 21, 2012}}</ref> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Line 173: | Line 170: | ||
* {{Official website|http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/the-day-the-earth-stood-still}} | * {{Official website|http://www.foxmovies.com/movies/the-day-the-earth-stood-still}} | ||
* {{IMDb title|0970416}} | * {{IMDb title|0970416}} | ||
⚫ | * {{TCMDb title|id=669485|title=The Day the Earth Stood Still}} | ||
* {{Allmovie title|414716}} | |||
* {{tcmdb title|id=669485|title=The Day the Earth Stood Still}} | |||
* {{AFI film|64615}} | * {{AFI film|64615}} | ||
* {{Mojo title|daytheearthstoodstill08}} | * {{Mojo title|daytheearthstoodstill08}} | ||
{{Navboxes | |||
|title=''The Day the Earth Stood Still'' | |||
|list= | |||
{{The Day the Earth Stood Still}} | {{The Day the Earth Stood Still}} | ||
{{Keanu Reeves}} | |||
{{Scott Derrickson}} | {{Scott Derrickson}} | ||
}} | |||
{{Authority control}} | {{Authority control}} | ||
{{Portal bar|Film|United States|Speculative fiction|Science fiction|Earth|Environment|2000s}} | {{Portal bar|Film|United States|Speculative fiction|Science fiction|Earth|Environment|2000s}} | ||
Line 192: | Line 183: | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
Line 210: | Line 201: | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
Line 216: | Line 209: | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] |
Latest revision as of 10:32, 28 December 2024
2008 film by Scott Derrickson
The Day the Earth Stood Still | |
---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Scott Derrickson |
Screenplay by | David Scarpa |
Based on | The Day the Earth Stood Still by Edmund H. North |
Produced by | |
Starring | |
Cinematography | David Tattersall |
Edited by | Wayne Wahrman |
Music by | Tyler Bates |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 103 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $80 million |
Box office | $233.1 million |
The Day the Earth Stood Still is a 2008 American science fiction film serving as remake of the 1951 film of the same name, which, in turn, was based on the 1940 short story "Farewell to the Master"). Directed by Scott Derrickson from a screenplay by David Scarpa, it stars Keanu Reeves as Klaatu, an alien sent to try to change human behavior in an effort to save Earth from environmental degradation; this version replaces the Cold War–era theme of potential nuclear warfare with the contemporary issue of negative human impact on the environment. It co-stars Jennifer Connelly, Jaden Smith, John Cleese, Jon Hamm, and Kathy Bates.
The Day the Earth Stood Still was originally scheduled for release on May 9, 2008, but was released on a roll-out schedule beginning December 12, 2008, screening in both conventional and IMAX theaters. It was met with generally negative reviews from critics but was a financial success, grossing over $233 million worldwide.
Plot
In 1928, a solitary mountaineer exploring the Karakoram mountains in India encounters a glowing sphere. He loses consciousness and when he wakes, the sphere is gone and there is a scar on his hand.
In the present day, a rapidly moving object is detected beyond Jupiter's orbit and forecast to impact and destroy all life on Earth. The U.S. government hastily assembles a group of scientists, including Helen Benson and her friend Michael Granier, to develop a survival plan. The object suddenly slows down and descends in Manhattan, revealing itself to be a large spherical spaceship. Helen and the scientists quickly arrive at the scene along with military forces. An alien emerges and Helen moves forward to greet it, but amidst the confusion, the alien is shot. A gigantic humanoid robot appears and temporarily disables everything in the vicinity by emitting a high-pitched noise before the wounded alien voices the command "Klaatu barada nikto" to shut down the robot's defensive response.
The scientists take the alien away in a laboratory where they learn that the alien's exterior skin is a bioengineered space suit, composed of placenta-like material covering a human-like being. After the bullet is extracted during surgery, the being quickly ages into Klaatu, who looks like the mountaineer from 1928. Klaatu informs Secretary of Defense Regina Jackson that he is a representative from a group of planetary civilizations, sent to talk to the leaders of Earth about saving the planet from ecocide. When Jackson instead sends him to be interrogated, Klaatu escapes and reconnects with Helen and her stepson, Jacob, telling them that he must finish his mission to "save the Earth".
The presence of the sphere and other smaller spheres that begin to appear all over the world cause widespread panic. The military launches a drone attack on the sphere, but is thwarted by the robot. The military takes a weapons-free approach, cautiously enclosing the robot, soon nicknamed "GORT" (Genetically Organized Robotic Technology), and transporting it to the Mount Weather underground facility in Virginia.
Klaatu meets with another alien, Mr. Wu, who has lived on Earth for years. Wu tells Klaatu that the humans are destructive, stubborn, and unwilling to change, which matches Klaatu's experiences. However, Mr. Wu also tells Klaatu that he intends to remain on Earth, as he has grown to love these people. Klaatu orders the smaller spheres to collect specimens of animal species, to preserve them for later reintroduction to the Earth. He clarifies for Helen that he means to save the Earth from destruction by humankind.
Hoping to persuade Klaatu to change his mind about humanity, Helen takes him to Professor Barnhardt, a Nobel Prize winner. They discuss how Klaatu's race went through drastic, collaborative evolution to prevent the demise of their planet. Barnhardt pleads that Earth is at the same precipice, and humanity should be given a chance to understand that it, too, must change. While the adults are talking, Jacob calls the authorities to come and arrest Klaatu.
While the military is examining GORT, the robot transforms into a swarm of winged insect-like nano-machines that self-replicate as they consume every man-made object in their path. The swarm soon devours the entire facility, emerging above ground to continue feeding.
The military captures Helen while Klaatu and Jacob escape on foot. As they travel, Klaatu learns more about humanity through Jacob. When Jacob contacts Helen and arranges to meet at his father's grave, the Secretary sends her to try to change Klaatu's mind. At the grave, Jacob is heartbroken that Klaatu cannot resurrect his long-dead father. As Helen and Jacob reunite, Klaatu's cumulative observations of humans convince him to stop the swarm.
Granier drives them to the Central Park sphere, but the swarm has reached massive proportions. Klaatu trudges through the swarm to the sphere, touching it moments before his own body is consumed. The sphere deactivates the swarm, saving humanity, but also shutting down all electronics on Earth as the giant sphere leaves the Earth.
Cast
- Keanu Reeves as Klaatu, an alien messenger in human form. Reeves dislikes remakes, but was impressed by the script, which he deemed a reimagining. He enjoyed the original film as a child and became fonder of it as an adult when he understood how relevant it was. Reeves acknowledged his Klaatu is "inverted" from the original, starting "sinister and tough", but becoming "more human", whereas the original was "more human than human" before revealing his "big stick" in his ending speech. He compared the remake's Klaatu to the wrathful God who floods the world in the Old Testament, but is gentle and forgiving by the time of the New Testament. He spent many weeks revising the script, trying to make Klaatu's transition from alien in human form to one who appreciates their emotions and beliefs subtle and nuanced. Derrickson, the director, said that although Reeves would not use actions "that are highly unusual or highly quirky," he nevertheless "keeps you aware of the fact that this being you're walking through this movie with is not a human being". At Reeves' insistence, the line "Klaatu barada nikto" was added to the script after initially being omitted. The line was recorded many times, and it was decided to combine two recordings: one where Reeves said it normally and a reversed version where he said the line backward, creating an "alien" effect.
- Jennifer Connelly as Helen Benson, an astrobiologist at Princeton University, who is recruited by the government to study Klaatu. Connelly was Derrickson's first choice for the part. She is a fan of the original film and felt Patricia Neal's original portrayal of Helen was "fabulous," but trusted the filmmakers with their reinterpretation of the story and of Helen, who was a secretary in the original. Connelly emphasized that Helen is amazed when she meets Klaatu, as she never believed she would encounter a sentient alien like him after speculating on extraterrestrial life for so long. Connelly was dedicated to understanding her scientific jargon, with Seth Shostak stating she did "everything short of writing a NASA grant application."
- Jaden Smith as Jacob Benson, Helen's eight-year old stepson. Jacob replaces the character of Bobby (Billy Gray) in the original, and his relationship with Helen was written as a microcosm of how Klaatu comes to see humanity—the alien sees their cold and distant relationship as normal human behavior, and their reconciliation forces him to change his mind. Smith said he found Jacob difficult to play because he felt the character "opposite" to his personality. Smith had met Reeves before on the set of the Matrix sequels, which featured his mother, Jada Pinkett-Smith.
- John Cleese as Professor Karl Barnhardt, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, who specializes in the evolutionary basis of altruism. Helen takes Klaatu to him to further change his mind. The role was the most difficult to cast, and eventually the filmmakers decided to approach Cleese, noting "Who would you rather make the argument for mankind than John Cleese?" Stoff, a producer, had met Cleese a few times beforehand and had noted his intellect. The actor was surprised the filmmakers were interested in him, and decided playing a dramatic role would be easier than to play a comedic one at his age. He was often reminded to speed up his dialogue so that Reeves would not appear in synchronicity with normal human speech patterns. Cleese said he is not interested in extraterrestrial life because he often philosophizes about the purpose of life and why humans are distracted by trivial matters. Cleese spoke about portraying abilities outside his own experience in the scene in which Klaatu corrects a complex mathematical formula Barnhardt has written on a blackboard: "The trouble is, I had to be able to write the equation, because Barnhardt has been working on it for 60 years. I learned to carefully copy things down that mean nothing to me at all. In A Fish Called Wanda, I spoke a lot of Russian without having any idea what it means." The crew enjoyed working with Cleese and were sad when he finished filming his part.
- Jon Hamm as Michael Granier, a NASA official, who recruits Helen into his scientific team investigating Klaatu. Granier is fascinated by Klaatu, but is torn between his official obligation to detain the alien and protect his country. Hamm acknowledged science fiction was a niche genre when the original film was made, and that it used science fiction to make topical issues more approachable. He had the same feelings for this remake. Originally, his character was French and named Michel. Although he is interested in math and science, Hamm found his technical dialogue difficult and had to film his lines repeatedly.
- Kathy Bates as Regina Jackson, the United States Secretary of Defense. Bates had only two weeks to film her scenes, so she often requested Derrickson act out her lines so she could directly understand his aims for her dialogue.
- Kyle Chandler as John Driscoll
- Robert Knepper as Colonel Addelman
- James Hong as Mr. Wu, an alien living in the United States
- John Rothman as Dr. Myron
- Brandon T. Jackson as Target Tech
Production
Development
In 1994, 20th Century Fox and Erwin Stoff had produced the successful Keanu Reeves film Speed (1994). Stoff was at an office at the studio when he saw a poster for the 1951 film The Day the Earth Stood Still, which made him ponder a remake with Reeves as Klaatu. By the time David Scarpa started writing a draft of the script in 2005, Thomas Rothman was in charge of Fox and felt a responsibility to remake the film. Scarpa felt everything about the original film was still relevant, but changed the allegory from nuclear war to environmental damage because "the specifics of we now have the capability to destroy ourselves have changed." Scarpa noted the recent events of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 informed his mindset when writing the screenplay. He scrapped Klaatu's speech at the conclusion of the story because "audiences today are willing to tolerate that. People don't want to be preached to about the environment. We tried to avoid having our alien looking out over the garbage in the lake and crying a silent tear ."
Director Scott Derrickson admired the original film's director, Robert Wise, whom he met as a film student. He generally dislikes remakes, but he enjoyed the script, which he decided was a retelling of the story and not a true remake. He also explained that The Day the Earth Stood Still is not a widely seen classic film, unlike The Wizard of Oz (1939), which he would not bother remaking. Derrickson's benchmark was Philip Kaufman's 1978 remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). Klaatu was made more menacing than in the original, because the director felt he had to symbolize the more complex era of the 2000s. There was debate over whether to have Klaatu land in Washington, D.C., as in the original; but Derrickson chose New York City because he liked the geometry of Klaatu's sphere landing in Central Park. Derrickson also did not write in Gort's original backstory, which was already absent from the script he read. He already thought the script was a good adaptation and didn't want the negative connotations of fascism from the original film.
Astronomer Seth Shostak served as scientific consultant on the film, reviewed the script several times for errors, gave suggestions for making the scientists appear less dry, and noted that they would refer to one another on a first-name basis. He said, "Real scientists don't describe an object entering the solar system as 'notable for the fact that it was not moving in an asteroidal ellipse, but moving at nearly three times ten to the seventh meters per second.' More likely, they would say that there was 'a goddamned rock headed our way!'"
Filming
Filming took place from December 12, 2007, to March 19, 2008, at Vancouver Film Studios, Vancouver Forum, Deer Lake, Jericho Park, and Simon Fraser University. The film was originally scheduled for release on May 9, 2008, but was delayed until December 12, 2008, because filming commenced later than scheduled. By the time preproduction started, Scarpa had written 40 drafts of the script. The film was mostly shot on sets, because it was winter in Vancouver.
Derrickson was fascinated by color schemes. He chose blue-green and orange as the primary colors for The Day the Earth Stood Still. The missile silo converted by the military for experimenting on Gort emphasized gray and orange, which was inspired by an image of lava flowing through a gray field. Derrickson opted to shoot on traditional film, and rendered the colors in post-production to make them more subtle, for realism.
To film Barnhardt and Klaatu writing equations on a blackboard, general relativity sums were drawn by Marco Peloso from the University of Minnesota and William Hiscock of Montana State University in faint pencil marks. Keanu Reeves and John Cleese drew over these in chalk.
As Fox had a mandate to become a carbon neutral company by 2011, The Day the Earth Stood Still's production had an environmentally friendly regimen. "Whether it was because of this movie thematically or it was an accident of time, there were certain things production-wise we've been doing and been asked to do and so on," said Erwin Stoff. To save paper, concept art, location stills and costume tests were posted on a website created by the production for crew members to reference. Costumes were kept for future Fox productions or given to homeless shelters rather than thrown away. Hybrid vehicles were used, and crew members had orders to turn off their car engines if they sat in their vehicles for more than three minutes.
Visual effects
Weta Digital created the majority of the visual effects, with additional work by Cinesite and Flash Film Works. The machines of Klaatu's people have a biological basis rather than a mechanical one, as Derrickson theorized that their mastery of ecology would demonstrate their level of sophistication. Derrickson deemed a modern audience would find the original's flying saucer amusingly obsolete and unique to the original's milieu. The director also noted that the original The Day the Earth Stood Still had influenced many films, so his technicians needed to bring new ideas to the remake.
The visual effects team approached the new spacecraft's design as inter-dimensional portals resembling orbs. The script specified the inside of the orbs as a "white limbo-y thing", but visual effects consultant Jeff Okun explained this was considered too "cheesy". Derrickson felt not showing the inside of the ship, unlike the original, would make the audience more curious. As well as computer-generated spheres—such as Klaatu's 300-foot (91 m) ship, or a 3,000-foot-tall (910 m) orb that rises from the sea—700-pound (320 kg) spheres, 9 feet (2.7 m) in diameter, were sculpted by Custom Plastics, which built spheres for Disney theme parks. The spheres were split in two to make transportation easier. It was difficult placing lights inside them without making them melt. The visual-effects team looked at natural objects, including water droplets and the surfaces of Jupiter and Saturn for the spheres' texture.
Derrickson emphasized a Trinity-like relationship between the sphere, Klaatu, and Gort. Klaatu is initially depicted as a radiant focus of sentient light. He is then depicted as a 7-foot-tall (2.1 m) gray "walking womb" shape which finally takes on a completely human appearance. The filmmakers conceived the transitional form, because they pondered the idea of humans mistaking space suits for alien skin. Computer-generated imagery and practical effects achieved the transformation. Todd Masters (Slither) directed the creation of the alien form, using thermal plastic and silicone.
The script described Gort as nanotechnology by the time the director signed on, although it did not specify Gort's appearance. The 15th draft of the script had depicted the robot as a four-legged "Totem" that stands upright after firing its weapon beam. Okun explained there were many more "horrific" or "amazing" concepts, but it made sense that the robot would assume a familiar human shape. He cited the Monolith from the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey as an inspiration for Gort's texture, noting "it's a simple shape, it has no emotion it just simply is", which makes Gort more frightening because the audience cannot tell what he is thinking. The animators estimated the computer-generated robot as 28 feet (8.5 m) tall, whereas in the original he was played by 7-foot-7-inch-tall (2.31 m) Lock Martin. Gort's computer model was programmed to reflect light, and the filmmakers spent time on motion-capture sessions to guide the performance. An actor wore weights on his hands and feet, allowing the animators to bring a sense of weight and power to Gort. His destructive capabilities were based on locust swarms, although the idea of metal-eating insects goes back to Stephen Vincent Benét's 1933 poem "Metropolitan Nightmare".
Music
This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
The Day the Earth Stood Still: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | |
---|---|
Soundtrack album by Tyler Bates | |
Released | December 16, 2008 (2008-12-16) |
Length | 52:43 |
Label | Varèse Sarabande |
The Day the Earth Stood Still: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was conducted and orchestrated by Timothy Williams. Tyler Bates was brought in to compose the score after Derrickson heard his work on The Devil's Rejects (2005) and Slither (2006). Instead of imitating the original score by Bernard Herrmann, Bates decided to try to convey the new film's updated message, assuming that many people would not even realize it was a remake. Bates said, "People revere an original property and feel that it's sacred, but frankly, there's a good story to be retold, as it applies to the climate of the world now. If that's something beyond the scope of a person's ability to take in, on a new level, without necessarily using the original as a criterion for whether or not they're going to enjoy it, then they probably shouldn't bother themselves with it." The origins for the sound on the new score came from Bates attending the filming of a few scenes with Reeves and Smith. When he returned to Los Angeles, he created a sound loop on his GuitarViol to which Derrickson responded, "I think that's the score!", when it was played for him. Bates utilized the theremin, which Herrmann used heavily in the original film's score. Bates and the theremin player he hired used the instrument primarily as sound effect, especially during Klaatu's surgery. A short segment from Bach's Goldberg Variations, not included in the film's soundtrack release, is also heard in the background of the Professor's home when Klaatu visits him.
Release
On the film's December 12, 2008 release, the Deep Space Communications Network at Cape Canaveral was to transmit the film to Alpha Centauri.
Home media
The Day the Earth Stood Still was released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment on DVD and Blu-ray on April 7, 2009, almost four months after its release and only five days after its theater run ended. Bonus features include commentary with Scarpa along with a picture-in-picture showing the visual effects footage, concept art, and photos. It also includes several featurettes: "Build Your Own Gort", "Re-Imagining The Day", "Unleashing Gort", "Watching the Skies: In Search of Extraterrestrial Life", and "The Day the Earth was Green." Also included were three still galleries and the film's trailer. Packaged with the film on a separate disc, is the original 1951 film. The Blu-ray release features a D-BOX motion code.
According to data by Home Media Magazine, it came in first for rentals during its first and second weeks. For the first week of its release it was ranked first in Blu-ray sales, and second on the regular DVD sales chart, behind Bedtime Stories, totaling $14,650,377 (not including Blu-ray).
Reception
Box office
The Day the Earth Stood Still opened in North America on December 12, 2008. During that opening weekend, and despite poor response from critics, it reached the #1 spot, grossing $30,480,153 from 3,560 theaters with an $8,562 average per theater. Out of its opening weekend income, 12% was from IMAX; it was "the highest IMAX share yet for a two-dimensional title". In 2008, it was the 27th-highest-grossing film during its opening weekend but 40th for the entire year. It stayed in the top 10 for its first four weeks in theaters, and ended up grossing $79,366,978 domestically and $153,726,881 in foreign markets, a total of $233,093,859.
Critical response
Based on 195 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, only 21% of them were positive, with an average rating of 4.2/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Heavy on special effects, but without a coherent story at its base, The Day the Earth Stood Still is subpar re-imagining of the 1951 science-fiction classic". On Metacritic, the film has a score of 40 out of 100 based on reviews from 34 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C−" on an A+ to F scale.
Bruce Paterson of the Australian Film Critics Association gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, writing that the generally poor reception for the film was "a sad fate for a surprisingly sincere tribute to Robert Wise's 1951 classic." Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times "congratulated" Keanu Reeves's performance and wrote in his review, "This contemporary remake of the science-fiction classic knew what it was doing when it cast Keanu Reeves, the movies' greatest stone face since Buster Keaton."
A. O. Scott of the New York Times was not impressed with Reeves' performance, commenting, "Even Klaatu looks bored and distracted, much as he did back when we knew him as Neo." William Arnold of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer gave the film a B minus and wrote, "It's a decent enough stab at being what the old movie was to its time, following the same basic plot, full of respectful references to its model, updated with a gallery of fairly imaginative special effects." Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film two stars and noted that the film had "taken its title so seriously that the plot stands still along with it", but also stated that it was "an expensive, good-looking film that is well-made by Scott Derrickson".
Accolades
Before its release, The Day the Earth Stood Still was nominated at the 13th Satellite Awards for the Satellite Awards for Best Visual Effects and Best Sound.
At the 2009 Razzie Awards, the film was nominated for Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel, but lost the award to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
The film was nominated in the category of Best Single Visual Effect of the Year at the 7th Visual Effects Society Awards but lost to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The film was also nominated for Best Science Fiction Film at the Saturn Awards and Jaden Smith won Best Performance by a Younger Actor.
See also
- The Day the Earth Stopped: A mockbuster released the same year.
Notes
- The 1951 film is based on the 1940 short story "Farewell to the Master" by Harry Bates
References
- "The Day the Earth Stood Still (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. November 19, 2008. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
- ^ "The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on August 20, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2009.
- ^ "20th Century Fox Stops the World to Beam The Day The Earth Stood Still into Deep Space" (Press release). MarketWatch. December 9, 2008. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved December 9, 2008.
- "The Day the Earth Stood Still: The IMAX Experience". December 9, 2008. Archived from the original (Website announcement) on December 5, 2008. Retrieved December 9, 2008.
- Valls Oyarzun, Eduardo; Gualberto Valverde, Rebeca; Malla García, Noelia; Colom Jiménez, María; Cordero Sánchez, Rebeca, eds. (2020). "Chapter 13: Ecocritical Archaelogies of Global Ecocide in Twenty-First-Centurty Post-Apocalyptic Films". Avenging nature: the role of nature in modern and contemporary art and literature. Ecocritical theory and practice. Lanham Boulder NewYork London: Lexington Books. ISBN 978-1-7936-2144-3.
- Shermer, Michael. "Reel Life: The Day the Earth Stood Still". Scientific American. Archived from the original on June 29, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
- ^ Damon Wise (December 2008). "Keanu Barada Nikto". Empire. pp. 143–149.
- Dennis Lim (December 7, 2008). "Keanu Reeves' freaky flights of fancy". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 9, 2008. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
- Steve Biodrowsk (December 6, 2008). "Day the Earth Stood Still - Preview". Cinefantastique. Archived from the original on September 25, 2009. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
- ^ "Production notes" (PDF). 20th Century Fox. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 6, 2009. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
- ^ Shawn Adler (July 4, 2008). "'The Day The Earth Stood Still' Trailer Is Here!". MTV Movies Blog. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
- ^ Cindy White (November 17, 2008). "On Set: Day The Earth Stood Still". SCI FI Wire. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2008.
- "Q&A: More Earth Spoilers". SCI FI Wire. December 10, 2008. Archived from the original on December 10, 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2008. Alt URL
- Seth Shostak (December 8, 2008). "On the Set of The Day the Earth Stood Still". LiveScience. Imaginova. Archived from the original on August 11, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
- ^ Ryan Rotten (November 17, 2008). "The Day the Earth Stood Still Set Visit Q & A". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on March 16, 2009. Retrieved November 17, 2008.
- Paulington James Christensen (November 17, 2008). "Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly Prepare Us for The Day the Earth Stood Still!". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on March 24, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2008.
- ^ Ryan Rotten (November 17, 2008). "The Day the Earth Stood Still Set Visit Q & A". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on March 16, 2009. Retrieved November 17, 2008.
- ^ Matt Mueller (December 2008). "Excellent adventure, or bogus journey?". Total Film. pp. 68–72.
- ^ "Production notes". 20th Century Fox. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
- Scott Brown (November 25, 2008). "The Looming Deluge of Eco-Disaster Flicks". Wired. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
- ^ Damon Wise (December 2008). "Keanu Barada Nikto". Empire. pp. 143–149.
- Alistair Harkness (December 5, 2008). "Director Scott Derrickson tells why he agreed to reinvent The Day The Earth Stood Still for the modern era". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
- ^ Ryan Rotten (November 17, 2008). "Set Visit: The Day the Earth Stood Still". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved November 17, 2008.
- George Rousch (December 9, 2008). "Exclusive Interview: 1-1 With Day The Earth Stood Still Director Scott Derrickson". Latino Review. Archived from the original on December 11, 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
- ^ Seth Shostak (December 8, 2008). "On the Set of The Day the Earth Stood Still". Space.com. Imaginova. Archived from the original on August 14, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
- "Film Production Chart". Variety. Archived from the original on October 2, 2008. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
- Glen Schaefer (December 14, 2008). "Sun shines on Day Earth Stood Still set". National Post. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
- Pamela McClintock (September 26, 2007). "'Transformers' sequel sets 2009 date". Variety. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved October 5, 2007.
- Heather Newgen (December 10, 2008). "Making the Earth Stand Still". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on December 10, 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
- "No Gort!! No "Klaatu Barada Nikto"!! Uncapie Goes Postal On THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL Remake Script!!". Ain't It Cool News. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
- Larson, Randall (December 31, 2008). "Tyler Bates on Score Day the Earth Stood Still". Cinefantastique. Archived from the original on January 2, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
- Patrick Lee (December 12, 2008). "Q&A: Earth's Director". Syfy. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- "The Day the Earth Stood Still - Soundtrack". IMDb. Archived from the original on December 13, 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
- Sandow, Greg (December 19, 2008). "The day the". Arts Journal Blog. Archived from the original on October 10, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
In the background, on the scientist's stereo, we hear a recording of the Goldberg Variations
- Liebman, Martin (April 8, 2009). "The Day the Earth Stood still blu-ray Review". Blu-Ray.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2009. Retrieved April 27, 2009.
- "The Day the Earth Stood Still". The Numbers website. Archived from the original on April 3, 2009. Retrieved April 27, 2009.
- Gray, Brandon (December 15, 2008). "'The Day the Earth' Stalls". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on May 5, 2009. Retrieved May 6, 2009.
- "The Day the Earth Stood Still Box Office Summary". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved April 21, 2009.
- "The Day the Earth Stood Still". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
- "The Day the Earth Stood Still". Metacritic. Archived from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
- "Find CinemaScore" (Type "Day The Earth Stood Still, The" in the search box). CinemaScore. Archived from the original on January 2, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
- "The Big Screen". Cinephilia. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved December 31, 2008.
- Turan, Kenneth (December 12, 2008). "Review: 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 11, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
- Scott, A. O. (December 12, 2008). "Review: 'The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) - It's All Over Earthlings (Don't Flee to New Jersey)' - New York Times". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 14, 2008. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
- Arnold, William (December 11, 2008). "'The Day the Earth Stood Still:' Timing gives sci-fi remake a fighting chance". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
- "The Day the Earth Stood Still Review - Roger Ebert". Chicago Sun-Times. December 10, 2008. Archived from the original on March 11, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
- Gregg Kilday (November 30, 2008). "Int'l Press Academy announces nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
- O'Neil, Tom (February 1, 2010). "Razzie Award nominations: Can Sandra Bullock win worst AND best actress?". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 24, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
- "7th Annual VES Awards". visual effects society. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
- "Nominations for the 35th Annual Saturn Awards". Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films. Archived from the original on February 21, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
External links
- Official website
- The Day the Earth Stood Still at IMDb
- The Day the Earth Stood Still at the TCM Movie Database
- The Day the Earth Stood Still at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
- The Day the Earth Stood Still at Box Office Mojo
The Day the Earth Stood Still | |
---|---|
Short story | |
Film adaptations |
Films directed by Scott Derrickson | |
---|---|
| |
Categories:
- 2008 films
- 2000s English-language films
- Films about alien invasions
- American robot films
- American science fiction films
- Canadian science fiction films
- 2008 science fiction films
- Films using motion capture
- Environmental films
- Remakes of American films
- Films set in New York City
- Films set in New Jersey
- Films shot in Vancouver
- IMAX films
- 20th Century Fox films
- Apocalyptic films
- Films directed by Scott Derrickson
- Dune Entertainment films
- Films about extraterrestrial life
- Films scored by Tyler Bates
- Films with screenplays by David Scarpa
- Films about nanotechnology
- Saturn Award–winning films
- Self-replicating machines in fiction
- Noah's Ark in film
- 3 Arts Entertainment films
- 2000s American films
- 2000s Canadian films
- Films about alien visitations
- English-language science fiction films