Jaden Smith

Blu-Ray Review: Excellent Blu-Ray For Bad Movie in ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’

BrianTT — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:53:28 -0600

Blu-Ray Rating: 2.5/5.0

CHICAGO – The 3-disc special edition of Scott Derrickson’s remake of “The Day the Earth Stood Still” with Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly is the perfect example of the difficulty of Blu-Ray reviews. Do you judge the movie or the Blu-Ray? The movie itself is a mess, but Fox has put together a spectacular home release for it.

Where does the remake of the classic 1951 sci-fi film go wrong? Where do I start? Well, the original was a plea for peace, a hope for human understanding and compassion in an increasingly dangerous world. There’s absolutely no reason that a modern filmmaker couldn’t make a contemporary update of that message. We clearly still need to consider rational thought over reactionary violence.

The Day the Earth Stood Still was released on Blu-Ray on April 7th, 2009.
Photo credit: Fox

The reason the modern “The Day the Earth Stood Still” fails is that the filmmakers who “reimagined” the original film have inverted what made the original work. A film more concerned about the human race than the alien one visiting it has become a disposable, CGI-driven disaster flick that nearly makes you root for world destruction.

The Day the Earth Stood Still was released on Blu-Ray on April 7th, 2009.
Photo credit: Fox

In the opening scenes of “The Day the Earth Stood Still, the nation’s scientists, including Dr. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly), are called in when a meteor is spotted speeding towards Earth. After the catastrophic aftermath doesn’t pan out as expected, an orb lands gently in the middle of Central Park.

An amorphous creature emerges from the ship and is fired upon, at which point his giant robot companion known as GORT comes to his rescue by shutting down the enemy before the visitor is shuttled off to safety. When the visitor sheds his alien-like skin, the creature turns out to be Klaatu (Keanu Reeves), a space ambassador sent to warn humans that our ways our leading us to destruction. Klaatu will determine if we’re worth saving or if Earth should be wiped clean.

“The Day the Earth Stood Still” is a loud mess. It’s closer to the remake of “Godzilla” than the source material. The idea of upgrading a nearly sixty-year-old film with modern effects and for a new audience isn’t a bad one, but the final product is so unfocused. It starts as a reasonably effective B-movie but collapses as soon as it starts to get serious. And the ending is horrendous.

Clearly, the movie’s not really worth your time. But if you’ve already seen it and you’re a fan who wants to add it to your collection than you won’t be disappointed by the 3-disc Special Edition Blu-Ray release. With fantastic picture, sound, and special features, the Blu-Ray release far surpasses the quality of the actual film.

The film itself is presented in 1080p with a 2.35:1 aspect ration and accompanied by a great English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track and Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital tracks.

One of the coolest special features for the “Day” release is the inclusion of the 1951 movie on Blu-Ray on its own disc. The disc with the remake includes a commentary by screenwriter David Scarpa, picture-in-picture BonusView: “Klaatu’s Unseen Artifacts,” “Build Your Own Gort” Interactive Experience, deleted scenes, “Re-Imagining the Day” Documentary, “Unleashing Gort” Featurette, “Watching the Skies: In Search of Extraterrestrial Life” Featurette, “The Day the Earth Was “Green”” Featurette, and still galleries. A digital copy of the film is included on disc two.

‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’ is released by Twentieth Century Fox Home Video and stars Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Jaden Smith, Jon Hamm, and Kathy Bates. It was written by David Scarpa and directed by Scott Derrickson. It was released on April 7th, 2009. It is rated PG-13.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’ With Keanu Reeves Falls Flat in Every Way

BrianTT — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:40:21 -0700

CHICAGO – “The Day the Earth Stood Still” is about an alien visitor’s decision to wipe out the human race. And, if an interstellar race actually gets to see this film, it would be hard to blame them for wanting to clean house on planet Earth.

Rating: 1.0/5.0

The original “Day the Earth Stood Still” was a plea for peace. The film was made shortly after the nuclear bombs were dropped on Japan and it was producer Julian Blaustein’s desire to make a metaphorical sci-fi film that led to one of the most influential movies in the history of the genre.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “The Day the Earth Stood Still” in our reviews section.

Even with the importance of the original “Day” in mind, there’s absolutely no reason that a modern filmmaker couldn’t make a riveting and contemporary update of its story. We clearly could still use a message of rational thought over reactionary violence, and 57 years is more than enough time to go by before revisiting a film like “The Day the Earth Stood Still”.

What’s baffling about this new version of “The Day the Earth Stood Still” is that the filmmakers and producers who “reimagined” (their word, not mine) the original have completely inverted what made the original work. A documentary-style film more concerned with the human race than the alien one visiting it has been turned into a loud, CGI-driven disaster flick where it’s a lot easier to root for the otherworldly visitors than the insufferable humans.

‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’ stars Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Jaden Smith, Jon Hamm, and Kathy Bates. ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still,’ which was written by David Scarpa and directed by Scott Derrickson, opened on December 12, 2008.

Continuing reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “The Day the Earth Stood Still” review.

Jennifer Connelly as Dr. Helen Benson and Keanu Reeves as Klaatu in The Day the Earth Stood Still.
Photo credit: Doane Gregory

Slideshow: 15-Image Gallery For ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’ With Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly

BrianTT — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:17:05 -0700

CHICAGO – This 15-image slideshow contains official press images for “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” which stars Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Jaden Smith, and Kathy Bates from director Scott Derrickson. The film opens on Dec. 12, 2008.

“The Day the Earth Stood Still” is a contemporary reinvention of the 1951 classic starring Reeves as Klaatu, an alien who arrives on Earth just in time for a global upheaval. Governments and scientists try to determine the intent of Klaatu and a woman (Connelly) and her stepson (Smith) get involved in the mystery. The film opens on Friday, December 12th, 2008.

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below.

DayEarth01: The arrival of an enormous orb in New York’s Central Park triggers a global upheaval in The Day the Earth Stood Still. Photo credit: WETA
DayEarth02: Keanu Reeves stars as Klaatu, an alien whose arrival on our planet triggers a global upheaval in The Day the Earth Stood Still. Photo credit: Doane Gregory
DayEarth03: Jennifer Connelly as Dr. Helen Benson and Keanu Reeves as Klaatu in The Day the Earth Stood Still. Photo credit: Doane Gregory
DayEarth04: Keanu Reeves stars as Klaatu, an alien being whose arrival on Earth triggers a global upheaval. Photo credit: Doane Gregory
DayEarth05: Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) prepares to turn the tables on a polygraph operator (David Richmond-Peck), as the alien begins his mission on Earth.Photo credit: Cinesite
DayEarth06: Jennifer Connelly stars as Dr. Helen Benson, a noted scientist who tries to unravel the mystery surrounding the arrival of an alien being. Photo credit: Doane Gregory
DayEarth07: Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) and her stepson Jacob (Jaden Smith) are caught up in the incredible events that follow the arrival of an alien being. Photo credit: Doane Gregory
DayEarth08: Keanu Reeves and director Scott Derrickson review a scene on the set of The Day the Earth Stood Still. Photo credit: Doane Gregory
DayEarth09: The arrival in New York’s Central Park of a giant sphere from another world may have dire consequences for our planet. Photo credit: WETA
DayEarth10: Klaatu’s (Keanu Reeves) mission on Earth is tied to the spheres that have also arrived on the planet. Photo credit: WETA
DayEarth11: A massive and seemingly unstoppable alien force destroys a stadium in seconds. Photo credit: WETA
DayEarth12: The arrival in New York’s Central Park of a giant sphere from another world may have dire consequences for our planet. Photo credit: WETA
DayEarth13: Klaatu’s (Keanu Reeves) arrival on Earth via a giant sphere, triggers a global upheaval. Photo credit: WETA
DayEarth14: Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly, left), her stepson Jacob Benson (Jaden Smith) and Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) race to stop an imminent global catastrophe. Photo credit: Doane Gregory
DayEarth15: Jacob Benson (Jaden Smith, left) and Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) react to an event that could have dire consequences for the planet. Photo credit: Doane Gregory

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Will Smith to Produce New ‘The Karate Kid’ Starring Kid Jaden Smith

HollywoodChicago.com — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:59:45 -0700

CHICAGO – Sometimes rumors do become true. Will Smith will produce a new version of “The Karate Kid” with his 10-year-old kid, Jaden Smith, in the starring role.

The confirmed news surfaced on Tuesday in contrast to denied reports from a year ago that Will Smith was planning to wax on a remake of the 1984 classic “The Karate Kid”. That film featured Ralph Macchio in the starring role with Pat Morita as the infamous Mr. Miyagi.

Left image: Will Smith (left) and Jaden Smith (right) | Right image: Ralph Macchio in 1984’s “The Karate Kid”
Left image credit: Jeff Kravitz, Getty Images | Right image credit: (source)

The new version of “The Karate Kid” will shoot in 2009, according to Variety. Will Smith will produce the Columbia Pictures release through his Overbrook Entertainment production company.

“The Karate Kid” remake will be an adaptation from the original. While writer Chris Murphy plans to take the plot to more exotic locations such as Beijing, actor Jaden Smith will again be bullied and will again turn to a Mr. Miyagi character.

That character, though, is currently not yet cast. The original Mr. Miyagi sensei (to both Ralph Macchio and then to Hilary Swank in 1994’s “The Next Karate Kid”), who was played by Pat Morita, died in 2005.

In addition to starring in the new “The Karate Kid,” Jaden Smith co-starred with Will Smith in “The Pursuit of Happyness”. Jaden Smith will also appear opposite Keanu Reeves in the upcoming winter film “The Day the Earth Stood Still”.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com