[Aquataris]

No way! It will rule like Dragon Wars...

[Y3a]

With the writers strike, maybe they should change the title to 5-11-08.

They hype reminds me of Blair Witch.

You WILL BE Disappointed.

[SirCastor]

Originally Posted by Y3a 

With the writers strike, maybe they should change the title to 5-11-08.

I suspect that shooting stopped quite a while ago. I doubt the writers strike is going to affect this movie. While there may be some writing that would happen in post, I doubt it would be anything significant.

[BadKosh]

I think this will be Godzilla as done like Blair Witch Project. You will see nothing of the creature. Hype for an experiment in media.

[scottiB]

Trailer now up at Apple.com.

[xi_hyperon]

Schweet. Thanks I don't have a frame number, but the quick sequence where the army is firing at something, you get a quick glimpse of what looks like part of the creature between the buildings.

[BadKosh]

yeah, I looked at in on a 30" monitor with the hi res download. I still think this movie is gonna suck like a shop-vac.
Do YOU wanna sit through almost 2 hours of jerky, hand-held camera shots?

[RAILhead]

Watch 1:11 to 1:12 in frame by frame, and watch the lady's silhouette.

[xi_hyperon]

Originally Posted by RAILhead 

Watch 1:11 to 1:12 in frame by frame, and watch the lady's silhouette.

Is it two guys in radiation suits who are taking her away?

[RAILhead]

No, watch her body turn into a blob.

This:




Becomes this (with sound effects):

[Shaddim]

Originally Posted by BadKosh 

yeah, I looked at in on a 30" monitor with the hi res download. I still think this movie is gonna suck like a shop-vac.
Do YOU wanna sit through almost 2 hours of jerky, hand-held camera shots?

Well, the Bourne movies were ok.

I have to go watch this film, if for no other reason than to possibly get a glimpse of Shub-Niggurath.

[xi_hyperon]

Originally Posted by RAILhead 

No, watch her body turn into a blob.

Wow, good eye. I watched those frames and didn't even notice.

[SirCastor]

Does anyone else think those shadows look like giant anthropomorphized rats? The ones on either side of the lady?
On video it's clear they aren't, but from the pictures, I see giant rat-men...

[Aquataris]

I spotted those things too on first watch through. It kinda gives me some hope for the movie. The monster is flowy and formless it seems in that quick glimpse; definitely gives credence to it possibly being a Lovecraft inspired beastie. I don't remember any Lovecraft creatures turning other beings into them. All large monsters from the Cthulhu Mythos are known as Elder Gods. This could also be a take on one of his direct peers' stories; like August Derleth for example. Hopefully it'll be good, whether it's something 100% new or inspired from the greats. I have been optimistically waiting for this movie since the first trailer.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by SirCastor 

Does anyone else think those shadows look like giant anthropomorphized rats? The ones on either side of the lady?
On video it's clear they aren't, but from the pictures, I see giant rat-men...

They look more like giant hamsters.

[xi_hyperon]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

They look more like giant hamsters.

Aw, c'mon, you know you want to see this flick.

[BadKosh]

I also read that in the last bit, from inside the helicopter, you see its face as the chopper is spinning around. My Sci-Fi BS detector is pegged on this movie. This movie concept/execution might be even worse than the remake of "Day the Earth Stood Still"!

[JoshuaZ]

Originally Posted by RAILhead 

No, watch her body turn into a blob.

This:




Becomes this (with sound effects):

Production stills from the movie show the reverse side of that screen (or so i've seen on other forums). Its guys in bio hazard suits taking her down. The big fluffyness of the suits makes weird shadows. Sorry to ruin the fun.

[RAILhead]

I disagree.

[Dakarʒ]

[nonhuman]

It's Violet Beauregarde!

[- - e r i k - -]

It looks like she's ripping a tracksuit off to me...

[Rev-O]

Originally Posted by BadKosh 

I also read that in the last bit, from inside the helicopter, you see its face as the chopper is spinning around. My Sci-Fi BS detector is pegged on this movie. This movie concept/execution might be even worse than the remake of "Day the Earth Stood Still"!

Please. Never again mention that someone has decided to remake "Day the Earth Stood Still"
I had it blotted from my consciousness until now.

[BadKosh]

Jennifer Connelly Joins Keanu Reeves in 'Day the Earth Stood Still' Remake

Posted Nov 6th 2007 10:32AM by Christopher Campbell

Wait, they still cast Jennifer Connelly in non-melodramatic roles? According to Variety, the actress has signed on for the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still. She will take on the part of "Helen Benson", the character originally played by Patricia Neal (who hopefully will be able to make a cameo), and as she does in every film, the Oscar-winning Connelly will likely emote way too much. Sure, she's fine for a lot of serious dramas, but when it comes to sci-fi/comic book movies, she hasn't really fit the part since Labyrinth, and even then she was a bit too pouty. Of course, she may seem more chipper in this remake, as she'll be acting opposite Mr. Serious himself, Keanu Reeves. As we learned long ago, Reeves will be portraying the alien Klaatu. Variety also reports that Kathy Bates may co-star in the movie, but doesn't mention the role she'd play.

I guess in some ways The Day the Earth Stood Still is a sci-fi melodrama, and Neal herself emoted plenty. In fact, she looked like she was going to start screaming and/or bawling in nearly every scene I recall. But then, she doesn't actually cry when you expect her to. She almost acts like more of a robot than Gort. And this should be fine, since aside from emoting, Connelly is good at looking drowsy and a bit empty. Anyway, I can't imagine the remake is going to have the same serious tone as the original. Hollywood just doesn't make movies like that anymore. Certainly the redo will not have Bernard Hermann's iconic music or Leo Tover's beautiful black and white cinematography to give it the same atmosphere. As we've told you previously, the new version is being directed by Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) and has been written, according to Variety, by novelist Ryne Douglas Pearson (Simple Simon which became the movie Mercury Rising) and David Scarpa (The Last Castle), who penned a rewrite. The remake begins shooting in Vancouver next month.

Tags: cinematical, david scarpa, DavidScarpa, film, gort,

[OwlBoy]

I still think this movie looks cool. Then again I don't get motion sickness from movies/games.

[xi_hyperon]

A decent slo-mo of the monster's legs here.

[angelmb]

Originally Posted by BadKosh 

Jennifer Connelly Joins Keanu Reeves in 'Day the Earth Stood Still' Remake

Posted Nov 6th 2007 10:32AM by Christopher Campbell

Wait, they still cast Jennifer Connelly in non-melodramatic roles? According to Variety, the actress has signed on for the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still. She will take on the part of "Helen Benson", the character originally played by Patricia Neal (who hopefully will be able to make a cameo), and as she does in every film, the Oscar-winning Connelly will likely emote way too much. Sure, she's fine for a lot of serious dramas, but when it comes to sci-fi/comic book movies, she hasn't really fit the part since Labyrinth, and even then she was a bit too pouty. Of course, she may seem more chipper in this remake, as she'll be acting opposite Mr. Serious himself, Keanu Reeves. As we learned long ago, Reeves will be portraying the alien Klaatu. Variety also reports that Kathy Bates may co-star in the movie, but doesn't mention the role she'd play.

I guess in some ways The Day the Earth Stood Still is a sci-fi melodrama, and Neal herself emoted plenty. In fact, she looked like she was going to start screaming and/or bawling in nearly every scene I recall. But then, she doesn't actually cry when you expect her to. She almost acts like more of a robot than Gort. And this should be fine, since aside from emoting, Connelly is good at looking drowsy and a bit empty. Anyway, I can't imagine the remake is going to have the same serious tone as the original. Hollywood just doesn't make movies like that anymore. Certainly the redo will not have Bernard Hermann's iconic music or Leo Tover's beautiful black and white cinematography to give it the same atmosphere. As we've told you previously, the new version is being directed by Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) and has been written, according to Variety, by novelist Ryne Douglas Pearson (Simple Simon which became the movie Mercury Rising) and David Scarpa (The Last Castle), who penned a rewrite. The remake begins shooting in Vancouver next month.

Tags: cinematical, david scarpa, DavidScarpa, film, gort,

Wonderful Jenny could very well be reading this, -she is a Mac user-

[xi_hyperon]

Link to a spoiler clip on youtube. Video of the scene in the subway, when the parasites attack. I actually find them to be creepier than the big monster.

Parasites

Grab it quick if you're interested. It will probably get pulled at some point.

Anyone else going to see Cloverfield? I'm going to probably catch it Saturday morning.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by xi_hyperon 

Link to a spoiler clip on youtube. Video of the scene in the subway, when the parasites attack. I actually find them to be creepier than the big monster.

Parasites

Grab it quick if you're interested. It will probably get pulled at some point.

Anyone else going to see Cloverfield? I'm going to probably catch it Saturday morning.

Wow, you can't really see much can you? I have a bad feeling that even though the movie will be good it will just have glimpses of action that you can make out with that shaky camera.

[brassplayersrock²]

don't be such a downer swg

i'm going to be seeing this on Friday for sure

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by brassplayersrock² 

don't be such a downer swg

i'm going to be seeing this on Friday for sure

Oh I am excited about it and am going this sat I just hope the only way we are actually going to see any of the monsters is by watching it on DVD and hitting pause.

[scottiB]

My wife, friends, and I will be going Saturday night.

Running time is 84 minutes, so not too long with the shakey-cam.

[xi_hyperon]

there's an animated .gif floating around of a closeup of the monster too, but not sure where I saw it. It looks completely freaky. It's interesting to hear feedback from people who saw it in sneak preview showings. Lots of people saying the camera motion made some viewers feel a bit nauseated.

[brassplayersrock²]

there's a midnight showing tonight in Boston, but it's to freakin cold at the moment to go see it, and besides the T will be closed after.

[xi_hyperon]

I gave serious thought to catching the midnight showing last night, but in the end decided it's not worth the pain of being half-asleep while at work today.

[BadKosh]

Our local TV BLOG had this review:

I'm not going to post spoilers here, but I have some major gripes with this movie.

Don't pay $10 to see it, just read some spoilers online somewhere when they inevitably leak this weekend.

I was super psyched for this move, as I love horror movies and giant monster types, especially.

Without giving too much away:

-It's a love story
-The camerawork is physically nauseating
-The monster's only on screen for, like, 3 minutes total and you never get a very good look at it
-It's only about 80 minutes long (20 of which are before the monster even shows up)
-VERY inconclusive ending

I'm mostly annoyed because they built the hype on the monster ("SOMETHING HAS FOUND US") and then don't deliver AT ALL. If they'd promoted it as "watch a love story that happens to take place during an attack by a giant monster," then I would have been better prepared.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by BadKosh 

I'm mostly annoyed because they built the hype on the monster ("SOMETHING HAS FOUND US") and then don't deliver AT ALL. If they'd promoted it as "watch a love story that happens to take place during an attack by a giant monster," then I would have been better prepared.

That's how H. P. Lovecraft works, I think Abrams did a good job conveying that. You never really see the monster too close or for too long, to do so is to stare into the face of madness. You'll go insane.

You see glimpses of it, the aftermath, and the side-effects; most importantly, you never know if it's ever going to end. Is it just the beginning?

I'll see how my own criticism lives up to it, I'll be seeing it tonight.

[Lava Lamp Freak]

I thought it was great. It was exactly what I was expecting. I thought it was frightening. Definitely worth seeing at the theater.

The camera only bothered me when it was at an angle. I found myself turning my head to make it straight, and noticed others in the theater doing the same. I like the technique though. It made me feel like I was living through this experience.

I didn't feel like it was short.

The ending was abrupt and felt awkward. Many of us in the theater just sat there in a state of shock like we were waiting for something else to happen.

I didn't think about it until the credits started rolling, but I believe that this is the first movie I've ever seen that didn't have a soundtrack. I was terrified enough with all of the monster noises that I didn't think about it.

[d4nth3m4n]

an entire studio feature shot with a handheld camcorder?

no thanks, at least not in the theater. sh*t, i got seasick when i saw the bourne flicks.

[Oisín]

Reply to text in spoiler tag on page one:

Happy birthday, Dork.!

[TheoCryst]

I caught a midnight showing last night with a bunch of friends, and a few thoughts. Spoilers will be clocked out, obviously.

First off, don't go if you get considerable motion sickness. My friend left about thirty minutes into the movie because she was about to hurl on the guy in front of her. Personally, I thought it was an interesting perspective on an otherwise tired genre.

The movie's plot is fairly simple: don't expect rich character development or an epic plot. And yes, there's a little romance. It's not a scary movie though: the trailer for The Eye freaked me out much more than the movie itself. Instead it's mostly about building tension and releasing it in unexpected ways.

Spoilers:

 

The Parasites in the tunnels are MUCH freakier than the actual monster. The monster is, of course, a monster and not Voltron or anything. As far as I can tell, it's an original design, nothing Lovecraft or Godzilla-esque. The ending is left open, though it's implied that the kids and monster are killed, possibly in a nuclear explosion.

Oh, and in the last scene, after the blast and the camera stops recording, watch the top-right corner of the screen. A friend told me that he saw something splash into the ocean, but I completely missed it.

Overall, it's a fun movie if you don't mind the camera issues.

Oh, and there are no anthropomorphic rats. I promise.

[Dork.]

Originally Posted by Oisín 

Reply to text in spoiler tag on page one:

Happy birthday, Dork.!

Thank you!

No interest in seeing the movie, though. Sorry.

[TheMosco]

Yeah, I saw it at a 7:45 showing and it was packed. The largest screen at the complex and there wasn't an empty seat in the place. Which also meant I ended up in the second row with my girlfriend in the group of level seats infront of the stadium seating.

My girlfriend was getting sick and had a headache. I had really bad eye strain. Not a movie you want to watch close up. The guy holding the camera was pretty silly but in a believable way.

Like others have said, its short, and a love story. The movie was ok but it could have been better.

[brassplayersrock²]

i was waiting in line for the 7:30 time. sold out while i was in line, "okay" i think to my self "8:45 is okay" waiting waiting... sells out while in line. "ooo, a 9:30" waits and 3rd from getting to the front it sells out. now i'm getting a lil annoyed. NICE! a 10:15... gets to the front and ask for two tickets "sorry sir that showing just sold out. there's one at 11:45" turned to date and she shook her head and we left. 40 minutes waiting in line for nothing. we'll see it in a few days for sure after all the hype dies down

[mdc]

At 5:30 today I started looking for tickets and a lot of theaters were sold out until 11 tonight. I managed to get seats for myself and some friends and I just got home from watching it.

 

Initially I thought I was going to dislike the movie a lot since I could not get past how bad the acting was. I understand they were supposed to be acting like they weren't acting and just all friends hanging out at a party and then the event happens, but everything felt so very scripted and the dialog was forced.
When the initial explosion happened and the pace of the movie became very frantic I felt myself being drawn into it. I really thought I would hate the camera work but I feel that, aside from some daft angles, it was a very smart decision and I wouldn't have felt so part of the movie if it was filmed professionally.

I had a minor issue. The camera battery lasted a long time. I would've liked it if, when they were in the electronics store, you saw Hub's(?) hand grab a battery off a demo camera, or something like that. Yes, it's minor but I couldn't help but think how long their battery was lasting.

I liked that the monster birthed smaller monsters; which I agree were a lot freakier than the monster. Especially because of the fact that they laid eggs in the girl, or whatever they did, causing her to explode, after crying blood.

I am happy that everything didn't end nicely. I like that Hub froze up and was eaten; which was foreshadowed by the girl he liked, when she said that the monster was eating everyone. I liked the bond that Hub and the girl he liked had. The bond being that they both died in a very out of the ordinary way.

Did the soldier say what they were going to use to raze New York?
Nuclear crossed my mind, but I don't think the Tri-State area, let alone a camcorder and tape would survive a nuclear blast. I figured a lot of very heavy duty bombs.

In the beginning I thought that the intro to the movie was the DOD text, but then realized that the entire movie was probably going to be nothing more than a showing of the tape that the DOD found. Nicely done, I liked that.

I think the DVD should be two discs and should come in a TOP SECRET/CLASSIFIED type packaging. The first disc should be nothing more than the DOD tape (the cinema movie) and then the second disc should be DOD information that they have amassed. Maybe short films made up from other people's footage that they found. Classified documents going into detail on the small-freaky-monsters (that they had in the army base) that they performed tests on, and findings regarding the event and the monster.
I think that would be a nice way to give us more information regarding the event and the monster, but in a nice package that keeps up feeling like we're still part of the grand event.

Originally Posted by BadKosh 

Without giving too much away:
-It's a love story
-The camerawork is physically nauseating
-The monster's only on screen for, like, 3 minutes total and you never get a very good look at it
-It's only about 80 minutes long (20 of which are before the monster even shows up)
-VERY inconclusive ending

I'm mostly annoyed because they built the hype on the monster ("SOMETHING HAS FOUND US") and then don't deliver AT ALL. If they'd promoted it as "watch a love story that happens to take place during an attack by a giant monster," then I would have been better prepared.

If you don't mind minor spoilers, I disagree with some of the stuff you said.

 

- I can see that some people will find the camera work nauseating, but no one in my group of friends found it to be. I am surprised my wife didn't since she can't watch a first person shooter on our TV without feeling sick.

- I don't know how many minutes in total monster is on screen for, but you get some very good shots of it, and get to make out a lot of detail. I did not walk out feeling cheated out of that aspect of the movie.

- Personally, I found the ending to be perfect. I understood from your post that you have not seen the movie (my mistake if you have) but after watching it and seeing how the entire movie is setup, I think you'll agree that the ending works extremely well.

[Chuckit]

I saw it. I liked it — even the ending, though I agree it was kind of frustrating.

 

Was anybody else not convinced they died at the end? At first I was like, "Whoa, they killed everyone but Lily." Then I stopped and thought, "Wait, a Handycam is not more durable than two friggin' adults."

Either way, though, I liked the ending. I thought the juxtaposition of having them saying their goodbyes to everyone and then ending it with her cheerful "I had a good day" was surprisingly effective. The characters are pretty emotionally flat though most of the movie, but they manage to sell the ending well.

Also, my brother told me something crashed into the ocean in that last scene. Did anybody notice that?

[exca1ibur]

I thought it was great. I liked the ending also, it did make sense.

 

- Very intense once all hell breaks out. You really are trying to figure out what the hell this creature is. I also was fine with not getting too much answered. The mystery is what kept me interested in what was going on the entire time.

- If you can't handle a lot of camera movement, like in Blair Witch, you might have a seizure.

- The camera got buried before the blast hit so since they were under the bridge, I'm going with that as the reason the camera survived. They were told to make it out the city by 6 and they didn't so there is no doubt they are all dead.

[mdc]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

 

Also, my brother told me something crashed into the ocean in that last scene. Did anybody notice that?

 

I read that, but no one in my group noticed it. I hope someone puts up a screenshot soon.

[xi_hyperon]

I saw the object crash into the sea, although if I'd not known to look for it I would've missed it.

My own opinion: It was exactly what I was hoping for in this flick, and will probably catch it again sometime. Two thumbs up. Wonder if they'll keep up some of the viral sites throughout the next couple of months, just to provide some more backstory.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

What an awful, overhyped, viral marketing crap of a movie.

80% of the action you've seen in the trailers. The rest is just a couple shots of the beastie which isn't terribly impressive.

I've been looking forward to this movie for 6+ months and it was just crap. people were actually leaving during the movie and at the end people just sorta smirked with couple of the biggest geeks nervously clapping without getting any support

Anyway, I give it 1.5 out of 5 at best. This is what lots of hype and a name behind it results in.