I saw the film opening night (umm, the remake) and will give it a qualified rating of “three Vipers” for the following:
Classic sci-fi, complete with topical message.
Jennifer Connolly. Really is the headliner for this film. Or is it just me?
Gort…or now “G.O.R.T.” is frakkin’ badass (sorry, Barb).
The spheres.
Not a fan of:
Gort’s acronym.
The ending seems a little terse; epilogue?
The kid’s character. Perhaps necessary, just annoying.
Any more ringing endorsements? I saw the 1950s version on DVD when I was a full-time adjunct in central Pennsylvania in the land of Murtha. I liked the 1950s version. The commercials give me a distinct feeling that the only thing in common is the name.
you got me on Jenny Connelly’s spheres 
I thought it was good in the classical big idea sci/fi sense. not great but i enjoyed myself.
That’s homage. The kid was annoying in the original, too.
I have to admit that I was disappointed in this film. The old original film is a classic of Sci-Fi - this one just didn’t have the same thoughtfulness (IMHO).
PROS:
Cool special effects - especially Gort
Jennifer Conelly - wow! Even beats #6 in my estimation - and that is a tough thing to do!
Kathy Bates - She does a great credible job
CONS:
SPOILERS HERE!
[SPOILER]In the original movie - the Earth ‘stood still’ for only a short time to demonstate the power of the alien group. At the end of this movie - in essence - Mankind will be thrown back into the iron age - since no machinery or engines will work… that will work out well with billions of people waiting to be fed…[/SPOILER]
The kid - not sure why he was included - other than as an homage to the original film.
I know that nothing will get close to the original, but is it just a good movie to see? I usually see a great deal of movies this time of year, but there seems to be a shortage this year.
I enjoyed it.
Jennifer never did anything for me though…
In the end, I would recommend seeing it, Leah. Some of the effects shots are great on the big screen!
Agreed that there is a lot of chaff in theatres this time of year! When does Watchmen come out??
I am going to get Watchman (book) this weekend. I finished a class and that will be my reward. I hope the movie does not come out to soon so I can read it before going to the movie.
Tip: Read it at least twice.
Darn I am a slow reader. I somehow do not think an audio book would work.
I have the book and started reading it. The first frame was bad (dog) but I like it so far. I am going to visit my mother next week. I wonder what she will think seeing me reading this book.
The best part of this movie was the trailers beforehand.
Star Trek
Watchmen
Wolverine
Taken
Several others I can’t remember
Just saw this today. It was ok but I like the original better. Neither movie was close to the original story, Farewell to the Master. But at least in this one they got the magnitude of the robot correct…and the red eye that seemed to follow you where ever you went.
And you got to get a glimpse of Tyrol (Aaron’s not in the credits?); Elosha and Barolay had speaking parts!
I just finished watching the flick. I was ok with it until the end. I thought the ending was incredibly harsh. I would think that an alien race that superior could come down and help us find a way to end the bad stuff that we are doing with out killing us off. You know give us clean energy.
Also i dont like how the military/government reacted. I guess its one advantage of having a democrat in office now. he will be much less likely to act like a dumb sorrybarb. Bu i think lost of the bad decisions were caused by Katy Bates’s character
Yeah, The alien’s didn’t give a damn did they?
Of course, Einstein conceived of nuclear power as a form of clean energy. And the first thing we did with it was to build a bomb. Arguably, an advanced race who’d been watching us for at least several decades knew exactly what we’d do with such a gift of superior technology.
Also i dont like how the military/government reacted. I guess its one advantage of having a democrat in office now. he will be much less likely to act like a dumb sorrybarb. Bu i think lost of the bad decisions were caused by Katy Bates’s character
Who was only working at the behest of the president. The military response always bugs me in these kinds of movies. The assumption that our weapons will have any effect when it’s clear that they don’t is just so simplistic. It would be like a neanderthal attacking a tank.
Yea. I think our military would actually be smarter. But this version of the movie was clearly made by the far left.i believe. By showing he Military as incompetent and a president who only wants to fight. Then the extreme answer to the environmental problem/ I tend to ride the middle so extremes on both sides bug me.
Actually, if you see the original, the military acted the same way. It’s actually a Hollywood stereotype, like the lone mad scientist who tries to take over the world, or the hero that can overcome technology by willing himself to be tougher than steel.
From a producer’s point of view, reality would make for a boring movie.
This might be sci-fi hericy, but why is the originol suposed to be so great? I have seen it, and its pertty good, but not amazing