Thursday, January 1, 2009

1951 Sci-Fi Flick Gets Remade for 2008



This is a reference to The Day the Earth Stood Still, a black and white science fiction classic about a message from Klaatu, an interstellar representative, that is ignored all too quickly by Earth. Humanity is very dangerous to itself and potentially other races with its atomic weapons in 1951, while in 2008 the message takes on an environmental tone. Klaatu is indifferent to the fate of humankind, yet has a curiosity to understand Earthlings. Gort went from a heat ray shooting super enforcer robot to a nano-tech swarm to dissolve things. Apparently, some studio exec thought it great enough to deserve a makeover for a release to present-day audiences. Although it remains to be seen if this one is a box office success, this film does have fine casting and even better special effects. A “Leave it alone” theme may have appear in another blog about SF entertainment.

Science-fiction is a view of the future or alternative that is rooted in the now or before it. Decide for yourself if 1951 America would think our America of 2008 is science-fiction…


Home Entertainment


1951

* Broadcast FM radio

* Record player with one speaker

* Broadcast TV--under 12” black & white


2008

* Satellite radio

* MP3 &/or compact disc stereo system

* HD Broadcast LCD Color TV, 32+ “

* Blu-Ray or Standard DVD player

* Cable TV or satellite TV subscription

* Video game console



Motor Trend Car Award


1951

* Chrysler Corporation, USA


2008

* GM Cadillac CTS, USA



Professional Sports in America


World Series


1951

NY Yankees defeats NY Giants


2008

Philadelphia Phillies defeats Tampa Bay Rays


NBA (1951)

Rochester Royals over NY Knicks


NBA (2008)

Boston Celtics beats LA Lakers


NFL Conference Champ (1951)

LA Rams over Cleveland Browns


Superbowl LXII Champ (2008)

NY Giants beats New England Patriots


NASCAR (1951)

Herb Thomas

NASCAR (2008)

Jimmie Johnson


US Space Program (1951)

National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics: Rocket tests


US Space Program (2008)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration:

* Space Shuttle

* International Space Station Alpha

* Hubble Space Telescope

* Mercury probe Messenger

* Spirit & Opportunity (Mars rovers)

* Saturn system probe, Cassini

* Pluto & Kuiper Belt probe New Horizons


US Presidents

1951: Harry S. Truman (D, White Protestant, WW I Army veteran)

Succeeded by Dwight D. Eisenhower (R, White Protestant, Supreme Allied Commander, WW II)


2008: George W. Bush (R, White Protestant, Texas Air National Guard)

Succeeded by Barrack Hussein Obama (D, Mixed race, Baptist, No military service)


Paranoia US style

1951

Godless Communism

2008

Religious Terrorism



USA & Foreign Affairs in 1951

The world owes us for Victory in WW II!

USA & Foreign Affairs in 2008

We owe a mad world for mis-steps in Global War on Terror.


US Economy

(1951)

* Post-War Prosperity

* Dow Jones Industrial Average(DJIA): High 200s level

* We make it all for the world!


(2008)

* New Economy slide into recession

* DJIA 8000s level

* We buy it from the world.



Pop Music (1951)

Top Pop Male Single Hitmakers: Nat King Cole, Johnnie Ray, Mario Lanza

Top Pop Female Artist(s): Rosemary Clooney

Pop Music (2008)

Top Pop Male Single Hitmakers: Kanye West, Jonas Brothers, Lil’ Wayne, Coldplay

Top Pop Female Artist(s): Beyonce, Rihanna, Pink, Mylie Cyrus, Christina Aguilera in 2008



Fun & Enlightenment


1951

Books at the Public library & Comic books


2008)

Internet (wired or wireless)

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