Hollywood remakes an alien

BMS, Virginia — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:55:27 GMT

Great, another tree hugger sci-fi trying to hang off of a classic. This sucks! Hope Gort pays the good director an unfriendly visit!

Hollywood remakes an alien

senor kevin, san antonio tx — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:55:39 GMT

chances of life = hunderds of billions of galaxies * hundreds of billions of stars * hundreds of billions of planets

you can not tell me that out of all those planets, not one has life on it..

Lets say there are 100 billion galaxies with 100 billion stars with 100 billion planets at least,

your talking about the universe having atleast 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 planets which i suppose have atleast one form of life.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Chris, Columbus, Ohio — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:44:02 GMT

Nobel Prize for biological altruism... That is the award John Cleese's character has won in the movie. Who the heck is this guy that wrote this crap? AlGore's dedicated henchman?

Sorry but I am not wasting my time on a 2+ hour Public Service Announcement.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Jason, Portland, Oregon — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:52:45 GMT

omg, idiot conservatives already bashing this as a "liberal" movie.. give me a break, if there's any issue other than nuclear war that could end our planet, that we have control over, it's climate change, and the pollution of our planet.. It makes perfect sense that this is what this alien comes to warn us about.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Viktor Schauberger — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:02:17 GMT

Faster Than Light Travel does not violate relativity; look at paper from 1994 by Alcubierre, and Paper: FIELD DEPENDENT PROPULSION SYSTEM, by Alan C. Holt (NASA, AIAA) and a paper on FTL, by HD. Froning (NASA).Contact from some human and non-human races has occurred for many decades between our government, and many human and non-human ET societies. This has been kept above TOP secret to protect the Fossil-Fuels industris, and energy-industries. Free-energy from vacuum (Vacuum is pure massless-CHARGE) and field-effect propulsion has been ruthlesssly suppressed despite being discovered and invented in many countries for the better part of a century. Rocetry is obsolete, and has been so for 80-years. We shall NEVER go far in space as a species if we depend of rocketry and internal combustion and heat-energy for energy and propulsion.SETI is a joke. Bilogical-signals that travel many-times in excess of the speed of light have been detected. Radio may not be an ideal form of communication for other cultures!Scalar-waves (Tesla-wave) have many advantages over radio, chief of which is they can travel at any spped, to infinite velocity depending on modulation. We now know of over 300 extra-Solar Worlds. administration with NO ties to Big-Oil. The beginning of clean energy and propulsion, that will take Earth-Humans to the stars, this century.

Hollywood remakes an alien

a p garcia — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:08:17 GMT

From what I've seen in trailers, it is more tree hugger, instead of the message of peace, but with the original title. I wonder if the people of Alpha Centuri will like it when it gets there in 4.3 years.

Hollywood remakes an alien

alonso aragon oakville ontario canada — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:20:52 GMT

There is no doubt about the existence of aliens from other planets, the problem is we humans are still in diapers in exploration and mechanical artifacts that would take us to such planets. Our spaceships are still to slow to reach any of the planets in existence. If we could harness the energy of light and use it for travelling purpose, then there might be a possibility of finding these so distant planets.

Hollywood remakes an alien

ed, wildwood, new jersey — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:22:59 GMT

Imagine a race of beings a million years older than us, we had computers for what 30 years i wonder what they would have. be able to bend time, space, worm holes , The astronauts saw UFOs in the 60"s i guess they were lying too.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Doug McKenzie — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:30:40 GMT

Yes we won the lottery, and we have exploited our planets wealth just like lottery winners do today!

When, if? the idea of 'save the planet, save the people', evolves... the next generation will forget the lessons all too soon and figure out some way to send the planet into a Venus state. (Talk about global warming!)

Soap boxes we dont need, more exposure thru mainstream media, TV shows could do a lot to further our planets survival. Instead of violence, entwine good habits with bad, show how people change, put some hope back in front of people!!! Yes there is a lot of bad, but bad fosters bad, cause its COOL to be bad. You want cool, go put your head under a fire hydrant in NY city, when the temperature reaches 105 degrees!

Spare the rod, spoil the child, Hide the truth, kill the messenger, Raise your voice, save the planet.

Hollywood remakes an alien

JeffCoDuke, St. Louis Mo. — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:31:34 GMT

I find it really hard to understand that anyone could really believe that with all of the planets and stars in the universe we are the only world where a 1 cell microbe developed into the human form. Talk about arrogance. There are worlds that are millions of years older than us. Look what we have accomplished in the last 100 years. Where will we be able to go in the next 1000 years. What makes you think they haven't already accomplished that? We should be so lucky that they would be willing to give a chance to change our ways. There is little in our history as a world that does not have war as it basis. We do not respect life, we do not respect the enviroment, we are intolerant of each others religion. It has been in the history of our world, "My way or the Highway".
Why shouldn't someone else come in here and treat us with the same disregard.

Jeffcoduke.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Thomas Ashby, Calgary — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:40:30 GMT

Eeegad! The pre-release hype has ruined what to expect for me. I feel I've seen 1/2 the movie already Alan! The sphere idea has been used a few times by Hollywood. Infact there was even an SF movie called "Sphere" !

I highly doubt Gort and Klaatu live 250 million miles away in this incarnation.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Rod Fermin, Henderson, NV — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:15:55 GMT

There's another idea that says while there may be billions and billions of possible civilizations their times of existence may not coincide, so that chances for an encounter may be slim.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Shaun, Phx AZ — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:48:51 GMT

Can't we just enjoy movies for the sake of enjoying movies without bringing in all the political, scientific feasability and what not.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Barry U. Headinsand, Lakeland, FL — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:38:06 GMT

Viktor Schauberger wrote:
"Contact from some human and non-human races has occurred for many decades between our government, and many human and non-human ET societies. This has been kept above TOP secret to protect the Fossil-Fuels industris, and energy-industries. Free-energy from vacuum (Vacuum is pure massless-CHARGE) and field-effect propulsion has been ruthlesssly suppressed despite being discovered and invented in many countries for the better part of a century."

Yo, Viktor! Don't bogart the joint, man.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Clint, Chicago, Illinois — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:50:34 GMT

The immense number of stars in the infinite universe makes the chances of intelligent life evolving elsewhere an absolute. In fact, it likely has happened many millions of times over the 14 billion or so years since the big bang. And with all these examples of intelligent life, it stands to reason that every possible technology has been discovered many times over.

It therefore stands to reason, though, that if faster than light travel were possible, many millions of species would already have achieved it and spread throughout the universe. The very fact that we are not the slaves of evil galactic overlords proves that faster than light travel is not possible. Every intelligent species in the universe is just like us, doomed to gaze forever at the stars and wonder.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Cobra, Bucharest, Romania — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:10:48 GMT

a)The Presidents UFO Web Site - A Tale of Extraterrestrial Politics in the White House:
http://cristiannegureanu.blogspot.com/2008/10/presidents-ufo-web-site.html
b)Mikhail Gorbachev and UFOs. Mikhail Gorbachev was the first and the last national leader who acknowledged the issue of unidentified flying objects in Russia. Full story:
http://cristiannegureanu.blogspot.com/2008/11/mikhail-gorbachev-and-ufos.html
c) 2012" Film: Roland Emmerich and NASA:
http://www.ufodigest.com/news/1108/emmerich.html
d) The Day After Tomorrow movie and the Pentagon:
http://cristiannegureanu.blogspot.com/2008/10/pentagon-warns-climate-change-will.html
e)Secret UN Meetings on ET Life Continue:
http://cristiannegureanu.blogspot.com/2008/10/secret-un-meetings-on-et-life-continue.html
f)BBC:Report on Possible Alien Invasion - Planet X:
http://cristiannegureanu.blogspot.com/2008/10/bbc-report-on-possible-alien-invasion_24.html
g)Planet X - Classified Information:
http://cristiannegureanu.blogspot.com/2008/12/planet-x-classified-information.html

Hollywood remakes an alien

Capt. L. Robinson, Greenville, SC — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:19:12 GMT

In the original sci-fi story, Farewell to the Master, the Robot was reveiled to be the boss in the end! Take that, Gore-ites! And shoot the hostage...

Hollywood remakes an alien

walter, maui, hawaii — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:58:11 GMT

last of negative science fiction making. it's a new era for positivity.

Hollywood remakes an alien

cPg, Amherst, NY — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 06:44:55 GMT

Just let your imagination wonder if your in school at any grade level.
It is a movie and should be thought of as so. Like it or not, good or bad just try to be entertained. Why so serious about it all. Time to relax for an hour or two with your favorite person or friend etc...cPg

Hollywood remakes an alien

Jim Oberg — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:43:41 GMT

Re the transmission stunt, the backyard antenna is going to be turned on and pointed to the sky -- when Alpha Centauri isn't even visible [it's rarely above the horizon from Florida, ever]. The references to a facility "on Cape Canaveral" misleads many into thinking it's a big NASA dish -- instead of somebody's backyard money-making gadget. The press release gives a list of signal arrival times at various planets, all mathematical gobbledegook designed to impress the impressionable. From such clues you can figure out who the movie and its promotion are aimed at. If you like being in that category, by all means, enjoy.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Mark Herbert, Saint Louis, Missouri — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:44:59 GMT

Remakes are always horrible. I'll bet the new Goonies movie will be a bust, too.
In today's super-political culture, you can't make a movie that has "climate change" in the plot and not have it become political. It is such a devisive topic that you know it will become a lightning rod for discussion. It doesn't help that the idea of "climate change" or "global warming" or whatever it is called now has become a religion for some people. Remember, you can attack Christianity and Christians all you want, but if you say anything bad about "climate change" or Al Gore, you are denounced as stupid and a Republican.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Ryan, Raleigh, NC — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:12:48 GMT

Assuming the universe is indeed infinite in size (I tend to believe it is, but it may never be possible to know for sure), then yes, you would have an infinite number of chances for any given scenario with even a very slim possibility, which means there is an infinite number of intelligence civilizations "out there" right now. That only stands to reason.

That said, I doubt very strongly mankind will ever encounter them. The odds of a living system spontaneously forming from non-living molecules are unlikely in the extreme (according to our current knowledge of abiogenesis). It's the equivalent of putting a random assortment of engine parts in a bag, giving it a shake, and ending up with a car. Miller-Urey experiments have shown long ago that these parts can form spontaneously (amino acids, phospholipid micells, nucleic acids, etc.), but after that you have the immense unlikelyhood of these parts coming together in such a way that it is capable of replicating itself using materials from its environment and maintaining at least some semblance of homeostasis. Sure, after that, natural selection works its magic (making the leap from life to intelligent life essentially negligible compared to the leap from non-life to any kind of life).

Further evidence is that, although conditions on Earth were ideal for the formation of life for a few billion years, by all evidence, we have yet to find a living thing that can't trace its ancestry back to a single cell. In other words, for all that time, by all current evidence, life only occured on Earth one time.

Because of these astronomically miniscule odds, it seems doubtful to me that there is any life at all to be found in the "observable" universe, and even if there was (a scenario I only consider because the observable universe is so large), such life would almost certainly be far, far, far further away than 200 light years, which about the furthest our radio emissions could have traveled by now to announce our location.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Ryan, Raliegh NC — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:18:26 GMT

Just to follow up my previous post,

I actually am a biologist doing some research on nanotechnology. The idea that such things could cause a "nano-doomsday" or become self-replicating is ludicris and irresponsible. They are, however, fascinating materials due to their conductive properties as well as being highly resilient and light.

Hollywood remakes an alien

John Galt, Atlantis, Colorado — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:40:23 GMT

"Hey Scottie, get me out of here, the locals put political labels on the vid movies, with religious overtones, very primitive emotions. Lets keep an eye on them from the orbit of their 5 th planet."

Hollywood remakes an alien

Common Sense — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:17:11 GMT

"if there's any issue other than nuclear war that could end our planet, that we have control over, it's climate change"

So we can control the increasing heat of the Sun, the amount of cosmic rays that hit the Earth, the shift of the magnetic poles, ...?

Hollywood remakes an alien

Mark Wakely — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:52:40 GMT

Alan wrote:

Update for 9:35 p.m. ET: To mark the opening of the new "Day," Twentieth Century Fox has arranged to have the whole movie transmitted via a 5-meter dish antenna (the kind used for TV uplinks) in the direction of the nearest star system, Alpha Centauri.

If the movie is eventually viewed on some distant planet inhabited by an advanced warrior race with Faster Than Light capabilities, let’s hope they don’t think it’s a “how to” documentary…

Hollywood remakes an alien

Troy Boyle, Erlanger, KY — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:55:42 GMT

I'd like to see "This Island Earth" remade. They could offer interocitors for Christmas.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Andrew Meeusen, Mesa, AZ — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:59:53 GMT

In contrast to other people here, I am looking forward to seeing this film. Yes, it could be just a big PSA, but come on: nanotechnology, astrobiology.... if the producers and directors hatched the basic premise of the movie right and based the movie on the fundamental principle of NOT being a remake, but a movie in its own right, then I think it might just turn out okay.

Recently, movies similar to this have been kind of crappy - too much reliance on CGI and really bad special effects. I'm hoping this one has a good plot, non-cheesy dialogue, and believable special effects. That's all I can ask for.

I plan to see it this evening, so if I get the chance, I may post a short review here.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Penny Soergel, Chicago, IL — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:06:58 GMT

All I can say is that I am 63 years old and I can still remember Michael Rennie saying Klaatu, Barrata Nikto to Patricia Neal......and Gort carrying her into the space ship - it was a simple movie, but had a powerful message...had to be the best sci-fi I ever saw...........and we had tons of them when I was a kid back in the 50's.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Tony Tucson AZ — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:22:29 GMT

People it's a movie, you know make believe, play time.
Kind of like left and right wing politics. Get a life
Shaussbot nanunanu.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Richard, Topeka, KS — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:28:39 GMT

Those who think that technologically capable extra-terrestrials exist should not expect to ever meet one. It is likely that no more than 3 such civilizations would be contemporaneous within our own galaxy and chances of finding them are minute. I recommend reading "Rare Earth," by Ward Brownlee, to anyone who is seriously interested in these matters.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Rob, Sacramento CA — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:58:11 GMT

>>(I'd go with the first choice on Mars, and the second choice on Europa or Venus. But Callisto? Feel free to weigh in with your space-geek selection below.)

Talking about life on Mars, Europa or Venus has been done to death in several Movies and TV shows. Callisto is a planetary body that most people haven't heard of so it brings in a fresh, new perspective.

[ALAN ADDS: Yes, but you're avoiding the question ;-) If you were going to get something growing on Callisto, would you go with the radiation-hardened microbe or the sulfuric acid-eating microbe?]

Hollywood remakes an alien

rob, Sacramento, CA — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:07:39 GMT

To Cobra, Bucharest, Romania.

You people and your stupid conspiracy theories.
A bunch of URL's, all pointing to your own blogspot, hardly counts as evidence to anything. [...]

Hollywood remakes an alien

Curt, Houston, TX — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:16:29 GMT

I want to see this movie because I enjoy sci-fi in general. I have to say that I prefer shows that don't have a strong moral message, but rather are primarily just trying to entertain. I'll reserve judgement on this one until I have seen it.

Of course, fiction that can be seen as having a basis in reality is usually more engaging because it is more believable. I have to say that the premise of this movie, if I've got it straight, that an alien race would come to Earth and eliminate humans to save the rest of the biosphere, is extraordinarily difficult to visualize. Why would they care? I agree with the idea of millions of planets in the universe, so who would notice the garbage on ours? It is far more believable that a race would recognize a struggling intelligent species and offer to help them (the original movie) to save themselves, and maybe not to become a threat to the 'neighborhood'. Anyway, my two cents.

PS: Viktor, I'd ask your shrink to increase the dosage on your medication. What you are taking now is clearly not strong enough.

Hollywood remakes an alien

AlphaAndOmegaMinistries, Morganton, NC — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:19:18 GMT

Soon, VERY soon, we *will* get a visit from a huge number of beings, from far away, it will be like a million atom bombs when they arrive, yes, it will be Jesus Christ (He is God) and the huge army of holy angels with Him, He is coming to Judge the Earth, including silly "scientists" ( so-called ) that will face His Judgment!!!! Look for ME when this happens, I'll be right beside Jesus, there WITH Him!!!!

The Prophet,
Alpha and Omega Ministries
Morganton,
NC, USA

Hollywood remakes an alien

robbie withey new bern,nc — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:26:09 GMT

good comments on this. as was postulated by senor kevin, life has to be out there by sheer mathematics alone, however, you must take into account that not only are we talking about incredible distances but the pictures we see from hubble,etc is not a "realtime" image but rather looking back in time. those galaxies probably do not appear that way or may have even merged with other galaxies by now. possible civilizations there may have come & gone. if they are capable of ftl travel, they may have missed us altogether. imagine this, hold your arms straight out and think of the length as the age of the universe. our entire existence would comprise what you would clip off of one of your middlefingernails. that leaves a huge amount of time that we were never here. they could've visited the dinosaurs and then forgot about this little rock. "no sentient,intelligent beings here, let's move on." i do believe we're not alone, we're just too far away.

Hollywood remakes an alien

blades, hell, milky way — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:30:12 GMT

Its funny how people talk about the big bang and string threory like its a fact "when the big bang happened". Just like global warming, and the ozone layer.

My simple theory is.. just as a human breathes, and the lungs exhale and inhale, which creates expansion and contraction... this is also true to the planet and the galaxy and the universe. The universe may be expanding, but we dont know how long it has been doing that, so to say its always been doing that is a premature assumption.

Who knows... maybe in 1mil years, it will start contracting.

Big Bang is a thoery... just like gravity... lets remember that.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Bill, Gibsonton, FL — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:26:36 GMT

Aliens that can receive a TV broadcast and understand it would most certainly have to be much further advanced than we are. So when the aliens receive that TV broadcast in 4 years, they'll look at one another and ***Laugh their heads off*** or whatever their emotion for humor might be if they even have heads.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Rob of Seattle — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:28:17 GMT

blades, when a piano falls out a 3rd story window over your head one rapidly analyses the theory of gravity and decides the optimum choice of action is to MOVE! Timing is everything and working to restrict pollution of everything from CO2 to heavy metals, simple and complex hydrocarbons, medical waste and hormone leachate, are achievable goals which will directly benefit the health of the human race.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Yo, Lancaster, CA — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:33:57 GMT

I totalay agree with Tony from Tucson, IT'S A MOVIE! EJNOY NOT DISECT.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Ted, Madison, WI — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:51:10 GMT

Jeepers. Let's not overthink this. It is a SCI-FI movie, not a dissertation.... Simple message. Bad guys, good guys. KR is not MR.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Bill, Gibsonton, FL — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:52:44 GMT

One of the other readers commented about reaching the speed of light in order to travel to the stars. Imagine that even traveling at that speed we would never be able to leave our own Galaxy. To get from one end of our Milky way Galaxy to the other end would take roughly 100 thousand light years. That means traveling at the speed of light, it would still take us 100 thousand years to do it. And that's just an inkling of the vastness of space.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Lorraine Agnew, Maple Shade, N.J. — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:05:09 GMT

Why doesn't someone make a "new" science fiction movie like my book "Inheritors of the Earth". I think people are ready for a new story. It's a science-fiction, time travel, fun adventure. I love them, but I have to admit, I am getting a little tired of sequels and remakes. Come on Hollywood, give me a chance!

Hollywood remakes an alien

don smith — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:18:36 GMT

if we all hug a couple of trees, maybe we'll still have some at the end of the century.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Scott, Seattle — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:34:46 GMT

I think the question of other life in the universe shouldn't be one of where, but when. Sure, there could potentially be trillion upon trillions of planets that exist in the universe, but adding the variable of time creates more problems. The probability that another lifeform exists within the time of the human race, is something a lot of people overlook. Deducing from our own existence, one could postulate that the timeframe it takes for a lifeform to evolve into an intelligent one on any given planet takes several million years (ie: amoeba->dinosaurs->ape men->humans). Again using our own human existance as the only example, it seems that before the intelligence needed to utilize light, or zero-point energy, comes into a society, they would probably have already killed themselves off through war.

Hollywood remakes an alien

eric, seattle, wash — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:43:10 GMT

Plus is notorious that the Universe was created only 6000 years ago and that everything rotates around Earth because so says the Bible.

Hell is right below Jerusalem where Dante placed it and Purgatory is somewhere down under. Also Paradise (Heaven) is right beyond Saturn.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Stan, Nacogdoches, Tx — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:11:53 GMT

Why can't Hollywood do a remake by sticking with the intent of the original screenplay, instead of mucking it up with their own controversial political idealisms. How disappointing and tedious.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Ted — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:26:39 GMT

I will probably go see the movie this weekend. But my guess this will be another case of hollywood taking a classic, adding a ton of wonderful special effects, and making a horrible movie. The original was hardly a big budget spectacular (Gort's disintegration ray was probably the height of EFX for the time, however.) But hollywood will through a ton of money on this project and the story-telling will be horrible compared to the original.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Adam, Brisbane, Australia — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:57:47 GMT

Hey Alan,
What's wrong with Callisto? Europa is admittedly more enticing, but at least the rads on Callisto won't kill our probes stone dead. The ocean generating the intrinsic field can't be too far down or else there'd be no currents induced in it by Jupiter.

Hollywood remakes an alien

senor kevin, San Antonio Tx — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 01:54:53 GMT

Commenting back on what *robbie withey new bern,nc*, it is true that we see things in the sky that were millions of years older, but considering the fact it took our species that amount of time to evolve... something's gotta give, optimistically proposing! So with that, how we do know that life elsewhere hasn't evolved like we once did. We may never see it, but I'm pretty sure else is our there trying find beings other than them :D!

Hollywood remakes an alien

Alan Boyle — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:21:00 GMT

G'day, Adam: Nothing's wrong with Callisto, I kinda like it. I just don't know whether the radiation or the possibility of sulfuric acid is the bigger threat. I'm kinda thinking the thiobacteria would do better, since my guess is that Callisto's ice has a composition that's similar to Europa's. But that's just a guess. How's the summer Down Under, by the way?

Hollywood remakes an alien

Paul, Tampa, Fl. — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:42:33 GMT

C'mon! It's science FICTION! Go watch the special effects and pretend Keanu Reeves can act

Hollywood remakes an alien

Dennis McClain-Furmanski PhD, Marion, Virginia — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:42:42 GMT

The MSNBC review mirrors Kurt Loder's, the major criticism being Reeve's lack of visible emotion. Anyone can overact. Some people can act, and we call them actors. A very few of them can perform in a role and force their behavioral reactions to the situations serve to show their reactions. An example is Kurt Russell's "Soldier". He rarely changes his expression to any significant degree, or speaks more than 3 words in a row, yet he manages to project a wide range of reactions. It takes superior talent to project emotion without overt emoting. Russell does that. I think the same will be said of Reeve's performance as Klaatu. I think its audience acceptance will be, as so often happens, quite at odds with critics' statements. Such a shame that critics don't lose their jobs when they do their jobs badly, like mediocre actors do, and like exceptional actors don't.

Hollywood remakes an alien

rob donovan — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 03:59:42 GMT

I have enjoyed the original for many years and continue to view it because there is a certain edge to the movie. I enjoy sci-fi movies of all types and believe that each movie, new or remake, should be judged on it own merits. I have not seen the new version but look forward to taking my son to it quite soon.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Andrew Meeusen, Mesa, AZ — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 06:19:15 GMT

I gotta say, I just came from seeing this movie, and I don't think it's as bad as has been portrayed. I'm not 63 years old, and I wasn't around when the first version was introduced, so I'm in the target audience for the 2008 release.

First off, the movie was pretty much as I envisioned it: a decent sci-fi movie about the impending destruction of the human race by intergalactic beings who view us as a threat. I mean, if you were looking for more than that, some sort of message, then I guess you came away disappointed, but I for one was not looking to be preached at about how we're slowly poisoning the Earth through global warming, on the brink of worldwide nuclear war, or consuming the resources of the planet faster than we should be. I get enough of that stuff on the evening news. It was intended as entertainment, not as a 1950's parable, and it succeeded in entertaining me for 110 minutes.

Regarding the acting, well, it's Keanu Reeves.... If you were expecting brilliant oratory, maybe you should have gone and seen "Frost/Nixon" or some sort of Shakespearian drama. What I didn't find was overly cheesy acting, which was what I expected. It was dry in some parts, sure, but not laughable like has been suggested. I liked the interplay between the kid, Helen and Klaatu; it made the movie's premise about Klaatu changing his mind about the human condition much more believable. One of the previous commenters suggested that all Helen did was plead that "We can change...!" the whole time, but I say that the actions of the characters in the movie speak louder than their words.

Finally, regarding the science: I liked how they protrayed the "nanotechnology" as little bugs that pretty much ate everything in their paths; kind of a cool twist on an old theme. I first read about nanites in Crichton's novels, and I've been interested in the subject ever since. Making the nanites akin to bugs reinforced the "cleansing the Earth of all but the basest lifeforms" theme. One problem I had, though, was this: how did the nanites distinguish between human flesh and animal/plant cells? Can they actually be programmed to recognize and consume artificial materials and the specific human DNA pattern while leaving everything else?

All-in-all, it was a movie I would watch again for the sheer entertainment value. Happy moviegoing to the rest of you!

Hollywood remakes an alien

Rivera — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 13:33:07 GMT

doesnt jupiter generate a huge amount of radiation and calisto has a negligible atmosphere to wind up in a non exsistent magnetic field?

if stuff evolves in space itll maintain a defense or use of direct radiation, or deal with it somehow

Hollywood remakes an alien

Jayson W. King, Jerseyville, IL — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:29:42 GMT

"Too Soon from the Cave, Too Far from the Stars" - Ray Bradbury

If this movie was going to be remade the theme had to be changed. Even if the Russians (or the rest of the nuclear community) decided to attack us we would most likely survive the attack (the damage would be devastating, no doubt, but woe to our attackers as our targeting and delivery will be far more accurate) given the advances we have made in anti missile technology.

The fact is that our planet is in peril because of our industrial activity in just the last 150 years. All of the ecological damage that has been done can be reversed (excluding the permanent extinction of species) by our own demise as a species. However we can reverse the damage *and* recover many extinct species with our technology and ingenuity. We should be responsible citizens of this planet instead of reckless overlords. Once we've learned how to take care of our own planet, we might be able to take our place in the galactic community.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Stephen Jackson, Dallas, Texas — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:26:26 GMT

Recall the little song from Mystery Science Theater 3000. If you wonder how he eats and breathes, and other science fact, repeat to yourself it's just a show; you should really try and relax.

I have no doubt there is other life out there. The probability almost guarantees it. The math also pretty much guarantees that we will never come face to face with them. Such is the nature of the universe (at least all of it that we know about it so far).

Hollywood remakes an alien

a p garcia — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:26:01 GMT

I hope the people of ALPHA CENTURI won't invade Earth for sending a STINKO MOVIE their way.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Dennis McClain-Furmanski PhD — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 01:01:57 GMT

The review here by Alonso Duralde questions the mentioned "biological altruism". As Kurt Loder notes in his MTV review, it's a real field of study. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruism#Altruism_in_ethology_and_evolutionary_biology

Both Duralde and Loder (and many others, raising the question 'did they all come to this conclusion or did some of them copy others?' note negatively that Reeve's Klaatu shows almost no emotion. Apparently they came in late. Early on it's established that Klaatu's normal form is not human, and that he was born into human shape upon landing in order to be able to survive here. He even states himself "This body will take some getting used to." Furthermore, it's established that his newly born body is human, but his brain is not. At the risk of enforcing more science upon an adequately consulted film, humans show emotion due to the interaction of their thinking, feeling and behaving. With a different brain in place, the new body would not react with normal emotional response. A normal human brain with damage or disorder frequently has disruption of emotional display. Depressed persons often have "flat effect", lack of emotional display very much like Klaatu. Damage to the right side of the brain parallel to the speech centers on the left can result in loss of "prosidy", the emotional content of speech (in both production and understanding). An alien brain may be working far better than a human one in some respects, but since Klaatu is not here to interact with people other than to bid them farewell, emotional display for the sake of interaction would not be a priority in matching foreign brains and bodies.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Thomas Ashby, Calgary — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 07:13:08 GMT

OK..I saw this with my daughter and her friend. I ate their pop corn with them and we liked the movie. We are killing the earth...make no mistake about that.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Robert, Kobe, Japan — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 08:10:58 GMT

If aliens were close enough to Earth to tell what we were doing, what makes you think they would care?
We sure wouldn't care if we found aliens killing themselves.

Hollywood remakes an alien

robert, kobe, japan — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 08:18:13 GMT

Guys, I really need to borrow one of your interociters, mine broke down. (I love Mystery Science Theatre 3000) "These pages are made of metal!" "no, I'm pretty sure they're paper"

This Island Earth was one of my favorites

Hollywood remakes an alien

Chance MD — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:17:02 GMT

You don't have to be an anti-environmentalist to think that this movie looks preachy and not very entertaining. Even the special effects look underwhelming from the commercials. I'll pass until it shows up on HBO.

Hollywood remakes an alien

R Shel — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 16:19:44 GMT

I have the orginial TDTESS in my DVD collection. I saw it when it first came out in the early 50's. I was so impressed. That said, as I was so disappointed in 'The War of The Worlds' 2.0, I think I'll wait for the new one to show up in the $5.00 at Wallyworld.

Hollywood remakes an alien

a p garcia — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:49:24 GMT

Lets hope the people of Alpha Centuri won't invade Earth for the stinker that was transmitted to them!

Hollywood remakes an alien

Bob Tobin, Ivyland, PA and Boynton Beach, FL — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:15:12 GMT

For the then-munificent sum of $.10, I first saw the original when it came out in 1951. It's still, after 57 years, just as impressive and memorable as when I watched it for the first time at age 9. The local PBS outlet in Philadelphia (Pa., not Miss.)ran it uncut and without commercial breaks about 15 years ago; I still have my precious VHS tape of it which I've since played and replayed at least five or six times. I don't plan on seeing the remake; the politically-correct liberal Hollywood hothouse that alleges itself to be the American motion picture industry, hermetically sealed off from the rest of the U.S. (with the exceptions of Washington DC, Seattle, Manhattan and San Francisco),seems determined to disallow anyone from taking a divergent interpretation of their current products. Where's Gort where we really need him? Maybe the remake should have been shot in Chicago (LOL)!!!

Hollywood remakes an alien

DJ Flees, Omaha, NE — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:50:46 GMT

I saw the movie in IMAX on Saturday and I though it decent. Not great, but not horrible, either. Some of the criticisms of the movie here and elsewhere on the web and just laughable, though.

1. Klaatu shows no emotion - what, you think aliens should act human?

2. Aliens wouldn't care that we are killing the planet - the movie perfectly explains why they care: There are very few life supporting planets in the cosmos and they cannot allow one to die.

3. Unrealistic/Improbable/Bad Science/Etc. - Sigh. It is just a movie. The primary goal of the movie is to make money. Entertaining anyone is secondary. Getting people to think the movie was good is further down the line. If studio execs think that changing plot lines or introducing stupid pseudo science will help the movie make more money, they will usually do so in a heartbeat.

Hollywood remakes an alien

Bill P, York, PA — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:57:20 GMT

Clint of Chicago wrote:
"The very fact that we are not the slaves of evil galactic overlords proves that faster than light travel is not possible. Every intelligent species in the universe is just like us, doomed to gaze forever at the stars and wonder."

So, because we (as humans) have a history of enslaving those who are different means every other race that may exist must be the same? I believe that humans have evolved past that stage now and any other intelligent life could have as well. Admittedly, humans still have some way to go yet with that situation, but saying that FTL travel cannot exist based on the fact that we are not slaves is not exactly the most scientific.

Hollywood remakes an alien

senor kevin, SanAntonio,Tx — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:24:09 GMT

*correction* Im pretty sure there are other beings elsewhere trying to find beings like themselves

Hollywood remakes an alien

Tatil — Sun, 31 May 2009 21:21:56 GMT

thank you master I will continuously keep track

Hollywood remakes an alien

Tatil — Sun, 31 May 2009 21:23:07 GMT

Hollywood remakes an alien

bursa — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:51:03 GMT

thank you master I will continuously keep track