TGWTG User Blogs

Classic sci-fi fans know good movies when the see one, and this wonder from 1951 dazzled and amazed us with damn fine effects and a message that still rings true to this day. I have a digitally remastered DVD copy of this movie, and it was one of the best presents I have recieved.

It's astonishing in the beginning how the army is mobilized to keep their missles and guns trained carefully on the current spacecraft, ready to assault it at the slightest sign of provocation. The tension mounts as the hatch opens, and out walks a "man", garbed in a uniform and helmet. He pauses to hold his hand out in a gesture of goodwill, stating, "We have come to visit you in peace, and with goodwill." He walks slowly, carefully towards the eager and terrified crowd, producing a device of some sort. He activates it with a sudden opening motion...and is promptly shot. As the army soldiers closest to him investigate the poor creature they look up to see...

Well, it's best to let the scene speak for itself.

Gort cannot be dissuaded. He cannot be bargained with, cannot be stopped, cannot be harmed. Gort is a robot ahead of his time in film-making: his design was simple as opposed to ostentatious, he had NO SPEAKING PARTS (the only sound was his laser firing), and what's more, he was the forerunner for the robot who can say volumes without making a single sound. (Note the slight nuance as he lowers his head to gaze upon the frightened soldiers.)

You know that a character has had an impact on fans when the studios plan a remake and the fans raise a riot when that character is not even mentioned in trailer. I can tell you with relative authority (I've read "Entertainment Weekly") that Gort will indeed be in the remake of "The Day the Earth Stood Still". Groan all you like about Keanu Reeves playing Klaatu, but Gort is the one thing that fans will be looking forward to see. And that is why Gort is one of the things that I KNOW is awesome.