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I saw the remake of the 1951 classic sci-fi film "The Day the Earth Stood Still" last night.

As a fan of the original version, and as an amateur astronomer, this is what I can share to you iStoryans--if you're looking for an "interesting" sci-fi or action flick (i.e. the likes of Transformers or Iron Man), then DON'T watch this movie--it's not for you, and you will probably NOT enjoy it.

However, if you're a fan of classic sci-fi, and the original movie itself, then this movie is definitely a must see. Why do I say this? Basically the director made the movie as a "nod" (homage) to the Robert Wise version (Robert Wise was the director in the 1951 version)--he basically used it as a canvas to "paint" a picture of how a classic sci-fi film in the 1950's should be redone in 2008, and in my opinion, he did it quite well. So basically, this is a film that someone that enjoys comparisons (like me) will really find a treat--I found myself saying "Ohh, that's a clever upgrade!" so many times in the theater, while other people (who were obviously oblivious of the original version) were raising their eyebrows and wondering what the heck that scene was supposed to portray.

Now the following are spoilers, but I'll point out why some people will have a hard time understanding some events in the 2008 version:

1. In the 1951 version, there is no explanation why Klaatu looked very human-like. In the 2008 version, we have a prelude, set in 1928, that explains this...a mountaineer in India who looks like Keanu, encounters an alien probe, that extracts blood from his hand. So basically, the explanation is, the aliens copied our human DNA, and created a "skin" for Klaatu that looks like a human being. Similarly, their "skin bio-technology" is nano-based, and can also be allowed to create various things like exoskeletons/armour (the yucky, fish-skin-like "spacesuit" that covered Klaatu when he arrived on earth).

2. Most (my best estimate is about 75%) of the scenes are direct copies from the 1951 version, with some "upgrades" of course. Here are the upgrades, First, the spaceship is spherical, unlike the "flying saucer" shaped version of the 1951 movie. Second Gort is now gigantic (the new Gort reminds me of Sentinels in X-Men) and dark-skinned, the original Gort is only about 8-9 feet tall, and lighter colored. Next, Klaatu is supposed to have the ability to utter an "abort" command to Gort and the ship--this command is "Gort! Klaatu barada nikto!" So as not to sound cheesy/corny, Keanu's voice was heavily distorted when he says this twice (first, after he was shot, second, when he commands the Gort-cloud to stop destroying New York City)...if you get a DVD copy later, listen carefully, it's still the same command, because Keanu Reeves specifically asked the director that he wanted to say those legendary lines.

Oh some gripes:

1. They made it so that the US military/defense department seemed to coin the name "Gort" as G.O.R.T., Genetically Organized Robotic Technology, totally silly acronym--two thumbs down for this

2. The John Cleese/Prof. Barnard scene was too short...it's amazing but I think they made Carl Barnard an allegory of Carl Sagan, so I enjoyed the blackboard scene this time...Cleese really looked like Sagan on the last few years of his life...but sadly, the scene was too short--I would have wanted a full 15-30 minute conversation between Klaatu and Dr. Barnard.

3. The ending seems too rushed...it was the weakest point in the movie--and I really wish they retained the "Klaatu grand ending speech"...it was kinda sad not to have heard it again.

BTW, the film has received a LOT of negative reviews, but that's understandable, considering the majority of the human population (and movie reviewers) are totally jaded nowadays with "grander" movies. For me, it's still a decent remake, something I'd still buy in DVD.

Will probably add more comments later.

-RODION