The Day the Earth Stood Still (Special Edition)

When I look back over my life, I remember not hearing the name of Michael Rennie until the Rocky Horror Picture show that came out in the 1970's. His name was used in the opening lyrics of the opening song of that movie. Even back then I had wondered what ever happened to the old film "The Day The Earth Stood Still". The story line of this movie is simple: Klatu comes from a far away Galaxy to bring a message to this world to abandone all violence and pursue the pathway of peace and love or be destoyed by its neighboring worlds forming a galactic community of peace. He is first greeted by being shot by a U.S. soilder after exiting his space craft. He then escapes the military hospital, where he is kept under close guard; only to mingle with the earthlings and learn of their ways before reporting back to those who sent him for a judgement over this earth. He finally meets the world's top scientist, Professor Bernhardt, where he is asked by Bernhardt to perform a demonstration to the world that will convince everyone we must either stop our violence or be utterly destroyed by the community of planets Klatu represents. Klatu comes complete with his own military power in a single robot named "Gort" which has the power to selectively destroy objects while sparing human flesh of total disintegration. Gort also has the power to destroy the entire planet if need be, we learn. The property work done to create the space ship seen in this film is very well done, but what really carries this film is not the limited special effects, but the story. Even though the film is in black and white, the lighting and cinematography in this work is marvelous to say the least. The only orchestral sound effect used that adds a "creepiness" to the feel of the film is the use of a bow on a saw blade. This was before synthesizers and digital sound were created; so given the limitations of what was available, allot had to be done to focus on a good story to drive home the product. I remember seeing a fellow demonstrate the use of a bow on a sawblade when I was much younger which is how I can tell the sound was created in the opening music of the film as the picture starts from outer space, while slowly focusing in on the earth, as a suggestion we are following Klatu's journey toward the earth while the opening credits being. While I was born 11 years after the end of World War II, This film is literally a post World War II peace keeping tool with a powerful message behind it, although it certainly doesn't use a Gandi type approach to solving world peace. This film is great for the whole family however, including little children: It is also a good topic parents can use for discussion to help their children think when it comes to dealing with the violence and evil this world is subject to. The only real violent scenes are when two military gaurds are totally disintegrated by Gort's light beem and when the military shoot down Klatu while running from the military police to reach a meeting of scientists to give his message. Even this violent act is redeemed when Gort comes for Klatu's body, takes him to the space ship and restores full life to Klatu's body as a form of resurrection. While we all dream for either God or a messenger from space coming to knock some sense into this violent ridden planet of ours, so as to teach us we are one fragile small world, the truth is, the burden of making this world work is our own, which this film teaches in its final message. This story teaches without being preachy, while asking the viewer in the end "what outcome will you choose for your world?". The only controversy for discussion with the story premise is that violence is being offered by the worlds Klatu represents, if this world does not turn from its own violence: Kind of like "There is always a greater bully to bully the bully" concept. On one side of the argument, you get a post Nazi dictatorial approach to solving world peace, which the world had just come out of in 1951 with the story line of this film. This would suggest the Universe is as violent as George Lucus's Star Wars. However, on the other side, you can't help but wonder if the report Klatu will make to his superiors, in the end, will avert the use of destructive force on the earth to get it to depart from its own violent ways. It is an interesting paradox for study and would have made for a good sequel to this original film. Regardless, it's great now to have this old 1951 classic gracing my library these days in DVD format. It never gets old to watch, nor the message of peace it tries to deliver to a post WWII generation, which is my generation. Disk quality and cover were excellent! No complaints. Good purchase price for the quality. Thanks for offering it on Amazon!

This is probaly my favorite sci-fi movie. I first saw it back in the 1960's on one of the TV channels that showed Saturday afternoon classics. I was around 12 years old and thought it was fascinating, totally unlike the monster or outer space movies I had seen. I have watched this multiple times since then, the realistic perfectly ordinary spaceman come to earth on a mission of peace who looked exactly like everyone else. Even at the first time I saw it I found it sophisticated and more like an ordinary film, not creepy or spooky. Michael Rennie was a favorite actor over the years, tall and very handsome with that distinctive British accent. I can now watch whenever I want a very good sci-fi classic movie.

Having reviewed this latest release of the 1951 movie - and within 14 hours having seen the recent remake - the contrast is amazing. The black and white original version is the winner! The most recent package is coherent, well-defined, and the audio is crystal clear. The extras are appropriate and timely. The movie and the message of the original have not stood still. The acting is superb and the limited visual effects of the time are very well done. With the "Gort diaper" and the "Gort head-bob" being the only real sticking points, this is the best version - hands down. In terms of the well-tailored screenplay and the superior film scoring by the master - Bernard Herrmann - fifty-seven years could hardly improve upon it. It's not appropriate to discuss the new movie in this format, but - in all fairness - the casting is superb, the CGI is as good as CGI can get (it's still obviously computer-generated)and the score is - well, it's there somewhere, but, let's face it - trying to score a remake of this classic took a lot of guts! !!!!!!!MOVIE SPOILER ALERT!!!!!! Gort's diaper problem and teeter-totter head are solved in the 2008 version. Thankfully, the new version never quite went where I thought they were headed as to why we were going to be destroyed (they came close to dropping the global warming bomb). So,take a look at the old movie and then see what a difference more than half a century makes in both the movie and the methods. This remains a top ten sci-fi classic - you won't be disappointed. How well do you know your "The Day the Earth Stood Still" Trivia? 1. What was the speed and the altitude of Klaatu's saucer when it was first detected? 2. What was the distance and time duration of Klaatu's journey from his home planet to earth? 3. What was the firearm that Klaatu was shot with after he initially arrived on earth? 4. What was Klaatu's room number and attending doctor during his stay at Walter Reed hospital? 5. What was the date of the dry cleaning receipt for the clothing he took from Walter Reed hospital and what were the initials on the briefcase that Klaatu "borrowed"? 6. How many soldiers does Gort end up killing? 7. Where does Klaatu/Carpenter find a room for rent(address)? 8. What is the full name, rank, and date of death of Bobby's father who was killed at Anzio? 9. What is the plastic substance "stronger than steel" designation that they decide to encase Gort within? 10. What is Dr. Barnhardt's first name? 11. What distinguished award has Dr. Barnhardt received? 12. What kind of homework is Bobby Benson working on that Klaatu/Carpenter assists him with? 13. What kind of formula is Dr. Barnhardt working on that Klaatu/Carpenter assists him with? 14. On Sunday, Bobby and Klaatu/Carpenter go out and take in Washington D.C. Their itinerary takes them where, chronologically? (a) Arlington National Cemetery, (b)movies, (c) Lincoln Memorial, (d)visit the space ship, (e)Professor Barnhardt's house Answers: (1) a,c,d,b,and e (2) b,c,e,a and d (3) a,b,c,d and e (4) a,c,b,d and e 15. Klaatu's earthly escapades take place over (1) Three days - Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (2) Four days - Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (3) Five days - Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday (4) Two days - Saturday and Sunday 16. The actual day the earth stood still was on a (1) Monday (2) Sunday (3) Tuesday (4) Saturday You will find the answers to this trivia questionnaire at the end of my review for 'The Big Country'

One of the best sci-fi movies ever. Amazing plot, stellar acting and believable. It makes sense and one could actually see something like this happening in real life. One of my favorite movies. I've watch it since childhood.

To those of us of a "certain" age, those words will surely resonate far more strongly than "Use the Force, Luke," or even "Beam me up, Scotty!" (Hey, I know the Trek line is a misquote, but you know what I mean!) "The Day The Earth Stood Still" is THE seminal Sci Fi film of the 50's, the film that finally treated extraterrestrials as something more than bug-eyed monsters intent on taking over the World, stealing our beer, and our girlfriends, for no other reason than that they could! The film hits the ground running, through a documentary style montage, we see worldwide reaction to the news that a strange craft is orbiting the Earth at incredible speed. Cut to Washington DC, and said craft, a beautifully classic "saucer," lands in a park, scattering picnickers and baseball players like confetti. The next thing we know, the Military are on hand ASAP to deal with the "threat;" the saucer opens, and out steps Klaatu, an emissary from a "Federation of Planets" type body. They have been observing us with increasing worry; at our endless propensity for self-destruction, our development of nuclear weapons, but more importantly, our first, faltering steps into space. Klaatu holds out with a gift for the President, and is immediately shot by a trigger-happy GI, thinking the device is an alien "death-ray..." not a particularly good start to interstellar relationships! As Klaatu writhes on the ground, from out of the ship steps the "iron fist" within Klaatu's "velvet glove;" an 8ft tall, indestructible robot named Gort. Now Gort HAS a death-ray, and he unleashes it in short order, not indiscriminately against the troops and civilians, but with precision, as he zaps rifles, artillery pieces, and finally a couple of tanks, into oblivion! When you think about it, this is an incredibly original, and thoughtful, scene. In just about every film of this kind that had come before - and more than a few that have come since! - this kind of action would have resulted in wholesale destruction...Anyway, Gort's reaction to the attack on Klaatu betrays a superior intelligence at work: a measured response to a threat situation, instead of just nuking the planet to dust and ashes! Klaatu is taken to hospital for treatment. But frustrated at "our" inability to come together and heed his "message," he transforms himself, with the help of a freshly dry-cleaned suit, and a monogrammed briefcase, into "Mr Carpenter," so he can lose himself within human society, all the better to study us. It is in this part of the film that the 1950's "Reds under the bed" paranoia really comes into focus. Mr Carpenter befriends a mother, "Helen," wonderfully played by Patricia Neal, and her young son "Bobby" played by Billy Gray. And I think it's this casting, plus the characterization, that does so much to make the film work. The main casting coup was getting Michael Rennie in the role of Klaatu. At the time, Rennie was a stage actor working in Britain, he'd never been seen in the US, so when he walks out of the saucer, he really is, to all intents and purposes, an "alien," unknown and unfamiliar. Tall, almost painfully slim, aesthetic in appearance, urbane in his manner, he really was as far removed from the "alien invader" look and persona as it was possible to get! Patricia Neal's "Helen" is a single mother, an unusual lead role in 50's cinema, and she imparts her character with a great deal of self-sufficiency and "grit." Again, not the usual running/screaming/fainting leading lady. Billy Gray is a joy to watch, he portrays "Bobby" with that breathless wide-eyed innocence - "...can we go see the spaceship mister, can we, huh , can we please mister?!?!?!" - that really only existed, if ever, in 50's America. Luminous black and white photography, a solid story, a tight, pared-to-the-bone script, naturalistic(!) performances, integral "news broadcasts" and "interviews," plus a gorgeous soundtrack, all come together to tell the fantastical tale of TDTESS in an almost documentary style. This was one of the first films I looked for on Amazon when I got my hands on a new shiny-disc player last year, and having watched this wonderful film on TV and video over the years, I can say that this DVD release was well worth the wait! The restoration is superb - never having owned a Laser Disc system I can't comment on those versions - and is light years ahead of the last video version I purchased back in the 90's. My one regret is that while restoring the film they didn't take out the "wires" and the "lacing," on Gort's suite, that can be momentarily seen in one pivotal sequence. But that is a minor gripe; this is a superb, intelligent Sci Fi film, fully deserving of its "classic" status, and a must-have for any serious lover of the genre!

I've been a sci-fi buff ever since my mom took me to Star Wars when I was five. I enjoy sci fi and fantasy books and films and television programmes but only recently have I taken the time to watch The Day the Earth Stood Still. Don't expect outstanding special effects, Oscar-award-winning acting, or anything of that sort, and certainly don't expect accuracy when it comes to distances and time to travel between star systems. No, the driving force behind the attraction of The Day the Earth Stood Still is simple: It is essentially a thought experiment regarding our paranoid, xenophobic and warlike nature as a species, and if other civilizations have achieved interstellar travel were to visit our planet, how would we greet them, and how would they receive our shortsighted, bigoted and aggressive nature? The special effects are lousy (by today's standards), acting is... well, there is plenty of overacting (on part of some performers - I blame the over-acting feel on the artificial "transatlantic accent" which was all too common for the era and is the primary reason I haven't explored more 1950s science fiction films than I have) to the point where it feels very strained, scientific accuracy is all but absent... and yet, it has this strong appeal which makes one wonder - is there any hope for our future? If there is other intelligent life in the universe, would we make ourselves known as welcoming, moral, and peaceful, or would we make our greeting in the form of acts of war? This film is ranked as the fifth best Sci Fi film ever.. I quite enjoyed it and have now watched it twice, and feel bad I haven't taken the time to watch it sooner. For all of its flaws, the "transatlantic accent" dominating the dialogue (which today lends the film an "over-acted" feel), scientific inaccuracies... it is well worth the watch for the social commentary and moralistic outlook, which are lessons that are very bit as timely today as they were in the postwar era during which the film was made. I agree with the rankings, that this film is great, not for any one element in the film, because quite honestly it's sub-par, but rather for the cerebral experience, which is the thing that makes this one of the best sci fi films ever.

Who does not remember these words? True Mumbo-Jumbo, but what flair... I usually do not buy Full-Screen DVDs of old movies, since it is not vital to have them, if you own their VHS counterpart. Sometimes, the old transfers are even better than the newly, so-called restored versions. But in this case I made an exception and was truly impressed by the difference. Much clearer sound (true Digital Stero), excellent Contrast resolution of the Black & White tones. A Masterpiece. Bravo! This tiny Sci-Fi picture of 1951, starring a then unknown actor, Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal and Sam Jaffe is more a metaphor and an answer to the anti-communist "witch-hunt" and cold war ambience in which the U.S. Government had thrown the Nation. Partly borrowing from the Bible, the Hero, the visiting Alien (Michael Rennie) appropriately calls himself "Mr. Carpenter", and as in the Bible, he comes to bring peace to a world gone mad. Mind you, I am not a believer, but having been raised Catholic, its part of my heavy burden, hence I know about such things. Now, back to the movie and its value. To express it in just a few words, one can only say that it is a small Gem of a picture. Never boring, always entertaining, and with a message of all things! Even the primitive special effects of the day are forgivable, considering the smooth, perfect and natural acting of all involved. Sam Jaffe, one of the best character actors of those years is simply perfect as the scientist meeting Mr. Carpenter. It is evident that an allusion to Albert Einstein was made there. Patricia Neal, is yes, the "weak" link of the movie, having to play the mother and housewife figure, but in the end, isn't she who helps the Alien to make contact with the "minds" of the planet? Think about it, we are in the midst of the Korean War, at the beginning of the Cold War, in which housewise usually did not go roaming around in worldwide adventures, limiting themselves to cook, clean and keep husbands and children happy. No, in this movie, in 1951, we see a conventional woman, who overcomes her fears and actually helps our hero complete his mission. Anti-conventional you say? You bet! The entire move is weaved with care and is well told. Oh, and ah yes, storytelling. Talking about storytelling, this is one example in which storytelling is truly everything. Consider the fact that this movie is just about 90 minutes in length. Nowadays, if they were to remake it (let's hope not!), it would go overboard into a full-fledged 2 hours and 20 minutes long movie. Boring! Sometimes I ask myself what writers had back then, that they don't have anymore. Creativity? You bet! Originality? You got it! Imagination? Well said! Writers in those days (and mind you, in those days, writers had a far harder life than today, especially with all those darned censorship limitations, not forgetting the McCarthy's blacklist), still knew how to KISS (short for: keep it short stupid) and still keep the audience gripped and glued to their seats. Today, unless you have a Circus for a movie (meaning tons of sex and special effects) you wouldn't keep a horse awake. My passionate feeling is to suggest to you to buy it. You won't be sorry, even if you, and I would expect such argument, are not a sci-fi aficionado or fan. This is one of those movies that speaks to one's humanity and most hidden, inner feelings. And still, in its simplicity, it is also a spectacular picture that I am sure, will be remembered and mentioned in schools in decades to come, as what it is: a tiny Gem. An ideal precursor to Star Trek...

Easily one of the best SF movies of all time and one of my own top choices for any film. I saw it on NBC's "Saturday Night at the Movies" in 1962 at an impressionable age, was hooked, and have happily remained so since then. It was loosely based on the Harry Bates short story "Farewell to the Master" -- which is actually very different, though quite good on its own. I prefer the movie's storyline -- the updating to flying saucers and a very 1950's feel to the storyline and the way the movie was made. The primary theme of the danger of atomic weapons was right on the money -- it was made only half a dozen years after the first bombs were made -- and would continue to be a major worry for years to come (as it still is). The cast was great and I liked the chemistry among Helen (Patricia Neal), son Bobby (Billy Gray) and Klaatu (Michael Rennie). Director Robert Wise talks about how well they worked together in the comments track (which I recommend; it's on the DVD version), which he did with screenwriter Nicholas Meyer. The supporting cast was also good -- I even liked the performance of Hugh Marlowe, who played the unscrupulous insurance salesman who had his eye on Helen. This is always a joy to watch and I usually watch it back to back, first without comments, then with, as I think it adds a lot to find out how the film was made and how the director felt about the many different things that make it up. It's not just the FX, which are good enough, very good considering the period in which it was made. The story is complex and very well put together -- even as a kid I loved the part of the "Einstein-like" professor (Sam Jaffe). I would like a sequel, (not the 2008 remake, though it's not really bad). But I suppose you can't have everything.

un film a avoir belle realisation pour l'epoque

Es ist ein schöner, sonniger Tag als in Washington D.C. ein Raumschiff landet. Ihm entsteigt der Außerirdische Klaatu (Michael Rennie). Als er aus seiner Tasche ein Geschenk für den Präsidenten nehmen möchte, wird er von einem übereifrigen Soldaten angeschossen. Klaatu wird ins Krankenhaus gebracht. Dort redet er mit einem Sekretär des US-Präsidenten und spricht von einer Botschaft, welche er allen Staatschefs zur gleichen Zeit mitteilen möchte. Ein solches Treffen kommt, wie zu erwarten, nicht zustande. Klaatu verschwindet aus dem Krankenhaus und mietet sich unter dem Namen Mr. Carpenter in der Pension von Helen Benson (Patricia Neal) ein. Dort freundet er sich mit deren Sohn Bobby (Billy Grey) an, und lässt sich von ihm die Stadt zeigen. Dabei stellt er fest, dass es Menschen gibt, die gewillt sind, ihm zuzuhören. Dem Physiker Professor Barnhardt (Sam Jaffe) gibt er sich zu erkennen und teilt ihm mit, dass die Menschheit von den Außerirdischen in der Galaxis beobachtet wird und dass der Menschheit nicht erlaubt werden kann, Atomkraft für die Raumfahrt zu nutzen, da die Außerirdischen dadurch eine Bedrohung des Friedens im Universum sehen. Barnhardt schlägt vor ein Treffen mit den internationalen Wissenschaftlern zu vereinbaren, welche Klaatus Raumschiff untersuchen. Ferner schlägt Barnhardt vor, dass Klaatu der Menschheit eine eindrucksvolle Demonstration seiner Macht geben soll. Folglich sorgt Klaatu dafür, dass am nächsten Tag um 12 Uhr Mittags kein elektrisches Gerät mehr für eine halbe Stunde über Strom verfügt. Lediglich Krankenhäuser, gestartete Flugzeuge und ähnliches verfügen über Elektrizität, so dass keine Menschen zu Schaden kommen. Leider ist der Verlobte von Helen Benson, Tom Stevens (Hugh Marlowe) misstrauisch gegenüber Mr. Carpenter und findet heraus, dass er der gesuchte Außerirdische ist, und verpfeift ihn bei den Streitkräften. Klaatu wird daraufhin verfolgt und erschossen. Er schickt Helen zum Raumschiff, wo sie dem Roboter Gort (Lock Martin) die Worte 'Klaatu Barada Nikto' sagen soll, damit Gort nicht seine Programmierung befolgt, welche besagt, dass er die Erde vernichten soll, sollte Klaatu etwas zustoßen. Helen befolgt seine Anweisung und sagt Gort die Worte, worauf Gort sich auf den Weg macht, und Klaatus Leiche ins Raumschiff bringt. Dort wird er wieder zum Leben erweckt und spricht zu den Wissenschaftlern. Er erzählt, dass er Vertreter einer Gemeinschaft von Planeten ist, welche Roboter wie Gort erschaffen haben, um die Planeten im Universum zu überwachen und jeden Aggressor zu vernichten, welcher einen anderen Planeten angreift. So wird im Universum der Frieden bewahrt. Die Menschheit weiß nun was ihr bevorsteht, wenn sie ihre Aggressionen in den Weltraum tragen. Klaatu hat seinen Auftrag erfüllt, die Warnung ist verkündet, er verlässt die Erde wieder. Die Umsetzung: Seit dem 11. Dezember läuft die Neuverfilmung mit Keanu Reeves in den Lichtspielhäusern und da dachte ich mir, ich könnte mir mal das Original von 1951 vorknöpfen. Wenn man sich den Film vor dem Hintergrund der Zeit anschaut, in der er gedreht worden ist, dann erkennt man die brillante Botschaft des Films. Denn in einer Zeit, in welcher der Zweite Weltkrieg gerade erst vorbei ist und die Sowjetunion jetzt auch über die Atombombe verfügt, dann erscheint die friedfertige Botschaft des Films nicht nur revolutionär, sondern auch mutig. Doch nicht nur die Botschaft des Films ist friedfertig, sondern auch die Machart. Der Film wird sehr ruhig und gemächlich erzählt, und nimmt dabei den Zuschauer doch gefangen. Das hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Die gut aufspielenden Akteure und die niemals billig wirkenden Spezialeffekte tragen sehr zur Unterhaltung bei und sorgen dafür, dass der Film auch heute noch zu gefallen weiß. Nicht umsonst ist 'Der Tag, an dem die Erde still stand' einer der Klassiker des Science-Fiction-Kinos. Auch sollte man nicht vergessen, dass es 57 Jahre dauerte, bis er neu verfilmt wurde, während irgendwelche Blobs, Fliegen und Dinger aus anderen Welten grade mal ca. 30 Jahre schafften. All dies spricht für die Nachhaltigkeit des Films. Was mich ein wenig verwundert, ist die Tatsache, dass dieser kongeniale Film nur sehr, sehr selten im Fernsehen läuft. Das ist unverdient. Zum Glück gibt es diesen Klassiker auf DVD. Was mich noch mehr wunderte, ist die Fehlinterpretierbarkeit des Titels. Bis neulich, als ich den Film zum ersten Mal sah (den fehlenden Fernsehausstrahlungen sei Dank), dachte ich es ginge darum, dass die Rotation der Erde gestoppt wird. Hmmmm. Das passiert in dem Film nicht. Die Filmemacher dachten wohl, dass eine halbe Stunde weltweiter Stromausfall, oder das Erscheinen eines Außerirdischen genug Stillstand bedeutet. Das kommt so nicht rüber und hat mich als Zuschauer nicht befriedigt. Aber ansonsten ist der Film schon stark. Die DVD: Es gibt den Film in drei Versionen auf dem Markt. Da gibt es die Veröffentlichung im Rahmen der FOX-Reihe 'Große-Film-Klassiker' als Single-Disc im schicken Pappschuber und 16-seitigem Booklet, sowie eine Veröffentlichung im Rahmen der 'Cinema Premium'-Reihe mit toll ausgestatteter Bonus-Disc. Die getestete Version ist die 'normale' Single-Disc-Edition in Amaray-Hülle. Technisch sind alle Versionen gleich. Das heißt, der Film hat ein sehr gutes Bild und lediglich die Tatsache das der Film in Schwarz/Weiss gefilmt wurde, lässt aus technischer Hinsicht das Alter des Films erahnen. Den Ton gibt es in Stereo auf Englisch, sowie auf Deutsch, Französisch, Italienisch und Spanisch in Mono. Zur visuellen Unterstützung gibt es eine ordentliche Anzahl an Untertiteln. An Bonus-Material weisen die Single-Discs einen Audiokommentar mit Filmregisseur Robert Wise und Regisseur Nicholas Meyer, einen Wochenschaubericht über den Film und andere Ereignisse im Jahre 1951. Ferner gibt es einen Vergleich des Filmmaterials vor und nach der Restauration und den Kinotrailer. Die 'Cinema Premium'-Fassung hat eine prall gefüllte Bonus Disc mit einem 80minütigem Making-Of, einer viertelstündigen Featurette 'Warnung und Ultimatum', Trailern, Fotogalerien, zwölf Seiten Booklet und vier Postkarten. Fazit: Es ist gewiss interessant im Rahmen der Neuverfilmung das Original zu schauen und evtl. neu zu entdecken. Er ist es wert.

Adoro esta película desde niña. La tenía en video y se me estropeo.. Para los fans como yo, no hay que perderla Se ve muy bien, V.O. con subtítulos en español y como no, también la puedes oír en español. No esperen por supuesto, para aquellos que no la hayan visto, nada espectacular, pero la película es atrapadora desde el principio. Claro que no tiene los efectos especiales de la de Keanu Reeves, pero me gusta más este clásico.

Item as described, on time delivery that went with no problems.

Un grande classico di fantascienza, contro la guerra e contro la violenza. Il messaggio (l'ultimatum) che Klaatu porta alla Terra e' pesante, ma il significato e' ancora piu' terrificante: la sua razza ha dovuto costruire degli automi che hanno pieno potere su di loro, e che agiscono, anche seriamente, se qualcuno commette qualcosa di violento, se uccide qualcuno. Sono arrivati a rinunciare a parte del loro libero arbitrio, per vivere in pace. Cosa che Klaatu spera che non succeda con la Terra, che abbia ancora un briciolo di coscienza e di amor proprio in modo da riuscire a raddrizzare il tiro prima che sia troppo tardi. purtroppo si deve ricredere, l'umanita' e' violenta, e non ha remore di prendersela con lui, nonostante si sia mostrato piu' volte come pacifico. Migliore anni luce del remake con il pur sempre bravo Keanu Reeves e la brava e bella Jennifer Connelly: per lo meno qui c'e' il robot Gort (chiamato veramente cosi', e non soprannominato dagli umani usando un acronimo) che, personalmente, mi fa piu' paura di quello gigantesco, composto da miliardi di naniti che invece e' nel remake! troviamo molto materiale extra, tra cui documentari e "featurette" d'epoca, interviste dei "giorni d'oggi", e un paio di giochi interattivi (uno in cui si tenta di suonare il tema del film con il Theremin, e l'altro in cui si impersona Gort, disintegrando gli umani che cercano di attaccarlo - abbastanza ingiocabile usando il telecomando del blu ray). note tecniche: ho comprato il Blu Ray in inglese perche', pure se personalizzato per il mercato UK, contiene comunque un disco stampato per tutto il globo terracqueo, con audio e sottotitoli per tutto il mondo o quasi (la stampa italiana e' fuori produzione). Il restauro e la digitalizzazione sono fatti allo stato dell'arte: immagine quasi cinematografica (e' visibile la grana della pellicola), e mostra anche piccoli particolari, che forse si notavano di meno sul precedente restauro per DVD (pur sempre valido). Il comparto audio non e' male, con audio 5.1 (in luogo del vecchio mono del DVD) che pero' spesso mostra troppa differenza con i dialoghi (desunti dalla vecchia colonna italiana monofonica dell'epoca, limitata in bassa e in alta frequenza, pur se ben ripuliti e poco "nasali", come invece succede nelle digitalizzazioni di pellicole monofoniche dell'epoca) e la colonna Musica e Effetti, troppo "pulita" e con dinamica nettamente superiore a quella della colonna dialoghi, che ogni tanto porta ad abbassare il volume quando finiscono di parlare ed entra la (fantastica) musica (suonata con il mitico Theremin, uno strumento elettronico, forse il primo, che si suona senza contatto). Comunque, la resa e' dignitosa, e, trattandosi di un doppiaggio d'epoca (con l'indimenticato e bravissimo Emilio Cigoli a doppiare l'alieno Klaatu - l'immenso Michael Rennie, qua in uno dei suoi primissimi ruoli - e l'altrettanto bravo Lauro Gazzolo a doppiare il professor Barnhardt) il risultato e' tutto sommato decente. non dovrebbe mai mancare in una collezione che si rispetti!!!