Review of The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) by John E — 03 Apr 2011
A sci-fi movie that has a fantastic Twilight Zone quality to it; it's thought-provoking, creepy, and well-written. For what limited effects were required, they still do a fine job without dating the movie to the point it becomes unwatchable.
In fact, it's about as far-removed from B-movie territory as a science fiction film of that time could be. Everything is treated seriously, not melodramatically; this keeps the film feeling authentic rather than hokey, which could easily have derailed the film's didactic message.
It's not an airtight plot by any means, but its intentions are admirable as are its tinges of dread and ambiguity. It's definitely smart, and it's definitely engaging. As I said before, the best way to think of it is as a longer Twilight Zone episode.
This review of The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) was written by John E on 03 Apr 2011.
The Day the Earth Stood Still has generally received very positive reviews.
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