THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL

I told theatre manager Randy Frachiseur, at the REGAL -HOLLYWOOD 20, that this film was three stars; by the time I reached home, I dropped it down another notch. It is difficult not to compare this version with the great 1951 original film.

RANDY JAMES, A FRIEND IN CHARLOTTE, TOLD ME IT IS NOT FAIR OR RELEVANT TO BRING UP THE ORIGINAL FILM TO FOLKS WHO ARE ONLY CONCERNED WITH AND ABLE TO SEE THE CURRENT VERSION. HE HAS A GOOD POINT. EVEN IF I IGNORE THE ORIGINAL, THIS FILM FALLS SHORT OF THE MARK OF BEING HIGHLY RATED.

The film does not work as a disaster movie; it should be an intellectual examination of Mankind’s potential for both good and evil. The filmmakers did not really buy into that theme and ended up with a trite special effects movie.

This film whispers big ideas, when it should ROAR those ideas.

I am offended that the producers did not believe the audience could handle higher level material and dumb-downed the story. The film is not nearly as good as it should have been and that is unfortunate, since the perfect blueprint has been available for 57 years.