Revisiting a Modern Sci-Fi Reimagining: The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)
When Scott Derrickson’s remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still hit theaters in 2008, it faced the monumental task of updating a masterpiece for a new millennium. While the original was a Cold War allegory about nuclear proliferation, the 2008 version shifted the focus to a more contemporary existential threat: humanity’s impact on the environment. For cinephiles viewing this film today—particularly in 720p BluRay quality—the visual spectacle and Keanu Reeves’ unique performance remain fascinating points of discussion. A Visual Evolution in High Definition
Watching the film in a high-definition format like 720p BluRay highlights the stark, clinical aesthetic Derrickson chose for this retelling. The film’s color palette is intentionally muted, leaning into cool blues and sterile greys to reflect the "alien" perspective of Klaatu.
The digital effects, which were cutting-edge at the time, hold up surprisingly well. In 720p, the transformation of GORT—the iconic robot guardian—from a man in a suit to a massive, nanobot-based swarm is visually arresting. The clarity of the BluRay format allows viewers to appreciate the intricate textures of the "spheres" that descend upon Earth’s cities, contrasting the organic chaos of human life with the smooth, mathematical precision of alien technology. Keanu Reeves as the Ultimate Outsider
The 2008 remake hinges entirely on Keanu Reeves’ portrayal of Klaatu. Eschewing the more charming, humanesque approach of Michael Rennie from the 1951 original, Reeves opts for something truly "other." His Klaatu is stiff, logical, and initially devoid of empathy—a being that has occupied a human body but doesn't quite know how to wear it yet.
Critics at the time were divided on this performance, but in hindsight, it fits the film’s narrative perfectly. This Klaatu isn't here to save us; he is here to save the Earth from us. Alongside Jennifer Connelly’s Dr. Helen Benson, Reeves creates a tension that drives the film toward its climactic realization: that humanity only changes when it is on the brink of extinction. Environmental Themes in the Digital Age
The shift from "nuclear war" to "environmental collapse" as the central conflict makes the 2008 version feel increasingly relevant. The film posits that the Earth is a rare and precious entity, and that the "civilizations" inhabiting it are secondary to the survival of the planet itself.
While the 1951 film ended with a stern warning, the 2008 remake presents a more visceral consequence. The "standing still" of the world isn't just a demonstration of power; it is a global biological reset. Why 720p BluRay Remains a Solid Choice
While 4K and 1080p are the current standards, a 720p BluRay encode still offers a significant leap over standard DVD or early streaming quality. It maintains the filmic grain and provides enough bitrate to handle the complex CGI sequences—specifically the "nanobot storm" in the final act—without the distracting compression artifacts often found in lower-quality files.
For fans of philosophical sci-fi and large-scale disaster cinema, The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) is a slick, somber experience that asks a question we are still struggling to answer: Can we change our nature before it's too late?
The 2008 remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still is a visually striking but narratively thin sci-fi thriller that shifts the original's Cold War nuclear warning to a modern environmental message. While the 720p Blu-ray provides a significant step up from standard definition, the film's reliance on CGI over character depth left many critics and audiences cold. The Film Experience The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008) Blu-ray review
The 2008 remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still is a visually impressive sci-fi thriller that trades the Cold War anxieties of its 1951 predecessor for a modern message about environmental responsibility. While it received mixed critical reception, the 720p BluRay transfer highlights the film's sleek production design and intense audio-visual experience. Review: A High-Def Glimpse at Earth's Judgment Day The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008) Blu-ray review
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The 2008 remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still starring Keanu Reeves is often cited for its high-quality Blu-ray transfer despite polarizing critical reviews. Blu-ray Technical Performance
The high-definition release is widely praised as "demo material" for home theaters: High Def Digest : Reviewers from High-Def Digest
note a sharp 1080p transfer with deep blacks, stable colors, and "reference-quality detail". However,
points out that the high resolution makes some CGI elements, such as the robot Gort, look "cheesy" or "nauseating" compared to their theatrical appearance. DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
track is frequently described as a "show-stopper". It features powerful low-bass extension and an immersive 360-degree soundfield, particularly during destruction scenes. High Def Digest Special Features
The Blu-ray edition is a comprehensive package, often including three discs: High Def Digest Original 1951 Film
: Often considered the best extra, the set includes the complete original classic in high definition. Featurettes
: Includes "Re-imagining The Day" (30 min), "Unleashing Gort" (14 min), and "The Day the Earth Was Green," which discusses the production's environmental efforts. Interactive Content
: Features like "Build Your Own Gort" and "Klaatu’s Unseen Artifacts" (Picture-in-Picture) are included, though some critics found them to be "novelty" or "laughable". High Def Digest Critical Reception While technically impressive, the film itself received a 21% score on Rotten Tomatoes
The 2008 remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still, directed by Scott Derrickson, shifts the focus of the 1951 classic from the anxieties of the Cold War to the modern crisis of environmental collapse. While the original film warned against nuclear proliferation, the 2008 version presents humanity as a parasite that is killing its host—Earth.
The Messenger and the MessageKeanu Reeves portrays Klaatu with a cold, detached efficiency that underscores the alien perspective. Unlike the more diplomatic Klaatu of the 50s, this version is an executioner. His arrival isn't to save humanity, but to save the planet from humanity. This shift reflects a more cynical contemporary outlook: the idea that we have already passed the point of polite warnings.
Visuals and ScaleThe "720p BluRay" quality highlights the film's reliance on grand visual effects, particularly the transformation of GORT. No longer a man in a silver suit, GORT is a massive, swarm-based entity—a literal "gray goo" scenario that visualizes the total erasure of human civilization. The scale of the spheres and the destruction of icons (like Giants Stadium) serve to make humanity feel small and insignificant.
The Human ElementThe emotional core rests with Jennifer Connelly’s Helen Benson and her stepson, Jacob. Through them, the film argues that while humans are destructive, we are also capable of radical change when pushed to the brink. The climax suggests that "only at the precipice do we change," offering a glimmer of hope that fear can be a catalyst for evolution.
ConclusionWhile critics often prefer the original’s tight storytelling, the 2008 remake serves as a visually striking "state of the union" for the 21st century. it replaces the fear of the bomb with the fear of ourselves, posing the uncomfortable question: If the Earth dies, we die; but if we die, does the Earth survive?
A guide to the 2008 reimagining of the sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still
, specifically for those looking at the 720p Blu-ray release. Quick Movie Overview Director: Scott Derrickson.
Lead Cast: Keanu Reeves (Klaatu), Jennifer Connelly (Dr. Helen Benson), Jaden Smith (Jacob Benson). The Day The Earth Stood Still 2008 720p BluRay ...
Plot: A remake of the 1951 film, this version shifts from Cold War nuclear fears to contemporary environmental degradation. Klaatu arrives on Earth to determine if humanity must be eradicated to save the planet itself.
Tone: Dark, contemplative, and pessimistic, focusing on global panic and human nature. Technical Specs (720p Blu-ray/HD)
While the standard physical Blu-ray is typically 1080p, the 720p HD version (common on digital platforms or specific encodes) provides a sharp experience:
Visuals: Dominated by a cool palette of blues and grays. The transfer is known for reference-quality sharpness and strong three-dimensionality.
Audio: Typically features a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track. It is highly praised for its immersive environmental and action sound effects. Runtime: 1 hour and 44 minutes. Reception & Watchability Rating/Score Rotten Tomatoes 21% Critics / 27% Audience
Generally panned for a "heavy-handed" message and lack of story depth. Metacritic Indicates "mixed or average" reviews. CinemaScore Reflects a cool reception from general theater audiences.
Key Criticisms: Many viewers found Jaden Smith’s character frustrating and the overall pacing "glacial". However, Keanu Reeves is often praised for his "stone face" performance, which fits an alien persona well.
To better understand the film's impact and visual style, you can explore these reviews and recaps: The Day The Earth Stood Still Review The Dave Cullen Show
The 2008 reimagining of The Day the Earth Stood Still serves as a stark, modern mirror to the 1951 original, shifting the focus from the Cold War’s nuclear dread to the contemporary anxiety of environmental collapse
. While the 720p BluRay format captures the film's sleek, desaturated aesthetic and high-concept visual effects, the true weight of the movie lies in its philosophical interrogation of humanity's right to exist.
In this version, Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) arrives not as a diplomat, but as an environmental adjudicator
. The film posits a provocative thesis: if the Earth is dying because of human presence, is it more moral to save the species or the planet? Reeves’ stoic, almost robotic performance reinforces the idea that the "aliens" are a force of nature—indifferent and surgical—rather than a traditional enemy.
Critics often point to the film's heavy reliance on CGI—most notably the swarm of nanobots that constitutes the updated GORT—as a departure from the tension of the original. However, the high-definition presentation highlights the metaphorical scale
of the destruction, emphasizing that our undoing wouldn't be a loud explosion, but a quiet, systematic erasure. Ultimately, the film concludes that humanity only changes when it reaches "the brink," leaving the audience to wonder if we are already there. Should we focus this essay more on the visual symbolism of the 2008 remake, or would you like to compare its political themes to the 1951 original?
However, it’s important to clarify that a file name is not a topic for an academic or analytical paper. A 720p BluRay rip refers only to a digital video format and resolution, not to the film’s content, themes, or production. Writing a paper about a file format would be neither informative nor substantive.
Below, I have provided a properly structured, informative paper on the actual film The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008), including relevant notes on its home video releases (such as the 720p BluRay format). You can use this as a foundation for your assignment.
The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008) is a scientifically and thematically distinct remake that replaces Cold War paranoia with environmental urgency. While critically panned for its didactic script and uneven pacing, it remains a culturally significant artifact of late-2000s eco-conscious science fiction. The 720p BluRay format provides a practical means of viewing the film in high definition without the full storage requirements of 1080p, though purists may prefer the original Blu-ray’s higher resolution. Ultimately, the film’s message — that humanity must change or face extinction — is more relevant today than at its release.
Note to the user: If your assignment truly requires discussing the file (e.g., a paper on digital piracy, video compression, or file naming conventions), please clarify. Otherwise, the above paper addresses the film itself — the only substantive topic behind that file name.
The Day The Earth Stood Still 2008 720p BluRay: A Sci-Fi Classic Reborn
In 2008, the science fiction genre was treated to a remake of a classic film that had captivated audiences since its release in 1951. "The Day The Earth Stood Still" was reborn, offering a fresh take on a timeless story that explored the complexities of human nature and our relationship with the planet. The 2008 version, available in high-quality 720p BluRay format, brought the film to life with stunning visuals and a talented cast.
A Legendary Story Reimagined
The original "The Day The Earth Stood Still" was a groundbreaking film directed by Norman Jewison, starring Michael Rennie as Klaatu, an alien visitor to Earth. The movie's themes of peaceful coexistence, scientific responsibility, and humanity's destructive tendencies resonated with audiences worldwide. For the 2008 remake, director Scott Derrickson ("Sinister") took on the challenge of reinterpreting this iconic story for a new generation.
The Plot
The 2008 film stars Keanu Reeves as Klaatu, an extraterrestrial being sent to Earth to assess humanity's worthiness to continue existing. Accompanied by his massive robot companion, Gorts, Klaatu arrives on a spaceship that hovers above New York City. His mission is to evaluate whether humans, with their propensity for violence and environmental degradation, are worthy of survival.
As Klaatu navigates the complexities of human society, he encounters a linguist, Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly), and her stepson, Jacob (Jaden Smith). Through his interactions with this family, Klaatu begins to understand the nuances of human emotions and the capacity for both good and evil.
The Cast
The 2008 version of "The Day The Earth Stood Still" boasts a talented ensemble cast, bringing depth and emotion to the story.
Visual Effects and Cinematography
The 720p BluRay format of "The Day The Earth Stood Still" (2008) offers a visually stunning experience, with crisp and detailed images that bring the film's epic scope to life. The movie's visual effects, handled by Legacy Effects, are seamless and convincing, particularly in the depiction of Gorts, Klaatu's massive robot companion.
The cinematography, led by David Eggby, captures the grandeur of the spaceship and the bustling cityscapes of New York, creating a sense of tension and unease as Klaatu navigates human society. Revisiting a Modern Sci-Fi Reimagining: The Day the
Themes and Messages
The 2008 version of "The Day The Earth Stood Still" retains the core themes of the original, while adding new layers of depth and complexity. The film explores:
Legacy and Impact
"The Day The Earth Stood Still" (2008) has become a sci-fi classic in its own right, with a lasting impact on audiences and the genre. The film's thought-provoking themes and stunning visuals have made it a favorite among fans of science fiction and environmentalism.
The movie's influence can be seen in subsequent sci-fi films and TV shows, which have explored similar themes of environmentalism, coexistence, and the ethics of advanced technology.
Conclusion
The 2008 version of "The Day The Earth Stood Still," available in high-quality 720p BluRay format, is a thought-provoking and visually stunning film that has become a classic of modern science fiction. With a talented cast, impressive visual effects, and a timely message about the importance of coexistence and environmental responsibility, this movie is a must-watch for fans of the genre.
Whether you're a nostalgic viewer who fondly remembers the original or a new fan discovering the film for the first time, "The Day The Earth Stood Still" (2008) offers a compelling and unforgettable cinematic experience.
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Just grabbed the 720p BluRay rip of The Day the Earth Stood Still starring Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly. The visual effects and sound design hold up well, and the 720p encode keeps a good balance between quality and file size.
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The The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008) Blu-ray release is widely recognized for its high-quality technical presentation, even if the film itself received mixed critical reception. Critics from High Def Digest and AVForums describe the 1080p AVC MPEG-4 transfer as "reference quality," featuring razor-sharp detail and deep black levels. Blu-ray Technical Performance
Visual Quality: The transfer is praised for its clarity and depth. Den of Geek notes that blacks and dark scenes are flawless, though IGN points out that this extreme clarity can sometimes make certain CGI elements, like the Gort robot, look "cheesy."
Audio Experience: The English DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround mix is considered a "demo quality" track. Reviewers from AVForums highlight its immersive use of surrounds and powerful LFE (low-frequency effects) for menacing rumbles during major set pieces.
Special Features: The release typically includes several extras, such as:
Commentary: Director Scott Derrickson provides an insightful commentary track.
Reimagining Gort: A featurette detailing the redesign of the iconic robot.
Deleted Scenes: Several scenes that were cut from the theatrical version. Film Overview
The 2008 version is a modern remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic. Directed by Scott Derrickson, it stars Keanu Reeves as Klaatu, an alien messenger sent to Earth with a dire warning about humanity's environmental impact.
Theme Shift: This version replaces the original's Cold War nuclear themes with contemporary concerns regarding environmental degradation.
Cast: Alongside Reeves, the film stars Jennifer Connelly as scientist Helen Benson and Jaden Smith as her stepson, Jacob.
Reception: While critics often find it "heavy on special effects but without a coherent story", it is noted for being a visually impressive, "clean" PG-13 thriller that avoids gratuitous violence or profanity.
The year is 2028. Two decades after Klaatu’s departure, the "standing still" is no longer a miracle—it is a mandatory global protocol. The massive spheres didn’t leave; they settled into the Earth’s crust like silent, emerald mountains, monitoring the planet's pulse.
Dr. Helen Benson lives in a world of enforced equilibrium. Humanity has survived, but at the cost of its ambition. To keep the spheres dormant, the UN mandates the "Great Stasis": no fossil fuels, no heavy industry, and a global population cap. The Earth is green again, but it feels like a museum. One night, the spheres begin to hum.
Helen is summoned to a high-security facility in the Cascades. Inside a containment field sits a small, jagged fragment of Gort—the silver giant that had disintegrated into a cloud of nanites years ago. The fragment is vibrating at a frequency that matches the human heartbeat.
"He’s coming back," a voice whispers. It isn’t Klaatu. It’s Jacob, now a grown man and a lead engineer on the Stasis Project. "But he’s not coming to save us this time. He’s coming to collect." Help find legal ways to watch The Day
A single, blinding beam of light shoots from the Arctic sphere, carving a message into the moon's surface in a language only Helen recognizes: TERM EXPIRED.
The alien collective, "The Group," has seen that humanity didn't change because they wanted to; they changed because they were held at gunpoint. Now, the spheres are beginning to vibrate, preparing to finish what they started in 2008—not by killing the people, but by absorbing the atmosphere itself to seed a younger, more "deserving" world.
Helen and Jacob must find a way to prove that human ingenuity still exists without destroying the fragile peace. They have six hours before the spheres turn the sky into a vacuum. The day the Earth stood still was a warning; the day it wakes up might be the end.
In the 2008 reimagining of The Day the Earth Stood Still , the core message shifts from the original 1951 film's focus on nuclear war to a contemporary warning about environmental degradation Plot Summary
The story begins when a massive, glowing sphere lands in New York City's Central Park. From it emerges
(Keanu Reeves), an alien messenger who takes human form to assess whether humanity is worthy of saving or if it must be eradicated to protect the Earth's biosphere.
: After being met with military aggression and "intensive interrogation" by Secretary of Defense Regina Jackson (Kathy Bates), Klaatu escapes with the help of astrobiologist Dr. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly). The Mission
: Klaatu reveals that he is a "friend to the Earth," but not necessarily to humans. He views humanity as a "diseased host" and has initiated a "process" to save the planet by wiping out its most destructive species. The Resolution
: Through his interactions with Helen and her stepson Jacob (Jaden Smith), Klaatu eventually witnesses humanity's capacity for love and self-sacrifice. He decides to halt the nanobot swarm
(GORT) that has begun consuming man-made objects, but at a heavy cost: he shuts down all electronic technology on Earth before departing, forcing humanity into a "pastoral" new beginning. Thematic Elements
Title: The Silence of the Spheres: A Re-evaluation of the 2008 Reimagining
In the canon of science fiction cinema, Robert Wise’s 1951 original The Day The Earth Stood Still stands as a monolithic warning—a parable of Cold War anxiety delivered by the Christ-like figure of Klaatu. When director Scott Derrickson and 20th Century Fox revisited the property in 2008, they faced a cinematic landscape already saturated with alien invasion tropes. To simply remake the original would have been redundant. Instead, the 2008 version, particularly when viewed in the crisp clarity of a 720p BluRay rip—where the texture of CGI and the nuance of lighting are preserved without the bloat of a 4K stream—reveals itself not as a bombastic action film, but as a somber ecological treatise.
The Shift in Stakes: From Politics to Biology The most profound deviation in the 2008 script is the motivation of the extraterrestrial visitor. In 1951, Klaatu came to warn humanity about the dangers of nuclear proliferation; we were a danger to the galactic community. In 2008, Keanu Reeves’ Klaatu arrives with a verdict already decided: humanity is a danger to the planet itself.
This shift transforms the narrative from a political thriller to a biological imperative. The famous line, "Klaatu barada nikto," is rendered into a grim arbitration. The alien civilization acts not as a policing force, but as immune system antibodies responding to a pathogen (humanity) threatening the host organism (Earth). This reframing gives the film a weight that is often missed by critics expecting a traditional "us vs. them" shootout. The 720p high-definition presentation highlights the clinical, almost surgical precision of the alien technology—the "Orb" vessels appear sterile and heavy, contrasting sharply with the grit of human military hardware.
Keanu Reeves: The Vessel of Detachment The casting of Keanu Reeves was initially met with skepticism, yet in retrospect, it is the film's greatest strength. Reeves excels at playing characters who are "other"—figures removed from the standard emotional spectrum of humanity (Neo, Johnny Mnemonic, John Wick). His Klaatu is not Michael Rennie’s charming gentleman scholar; he is a being of pure logic, uncomfortable in a biological suit.
In the BluRay transfer, the细微之处 (subtleties) of Reeves' performance become apparent. The micro-expressions, the unnatural blinking, the rigid posture—he portrays an entity attempting to pilot a human body with no prior experience. His detachment allows the film’s central question to breathe: Is humanity worth saving? When Klaatu questions Dr. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) about the human capacity for change, the camera lingers on their faces. The clarity of the HD source captures the desperation in Connelly’s eyes—a performance that serves as the emotional anchor against Reeves' stoicism.
The Visual Language of Decay and Salvation Visually, the film is a triumph of the "dirty future" aesthetic, punctuated by the awe-inspiring design of the alien GORT. The 720p resolution strikes a perfect balance for the film's visual effects; it is high enough to render the metallic sheen of the GORT sentinel and the terrifying beauty of the "nanobot swarm" without exposing the low-resolution textures that often plague streaming services.
The climax, featuring the disintegration of human infrastructure by the nanobot cloud, is a sequence of terrifying beauty. The sound design in the BluRay DTS track—deep, resonant bass that shakes the room as the spheres depart—is crucial here. It emphasizes the scale of the event. The "deconstruction" of the Earth is not an explosion; it is a reclamation. The film posits that for the Earth to survive, humanity must be reset, a concept far darker than the original’s plea for peace.
A Muddled Message? However, the film is not without its flaws, and they are magnified under the scrutiny of high definition. The character of Jacob (Jaden Smith) is often the point of contention. He represents the emotional trigger for Klaatu’s change of heart,
It looks like you’re asking for a write-up on a specific file release of The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) — likely from a torrent or Usenet posting, given the “720p BluRay” naming convention.
Since I can’t promote or link to piracy, I’ll instead provide a critical and technical analysis of what that file designation implies, along with a review of the film itself. You can use this as a template for a forum post, blog, or database entry.
Before discussing the technical merits of the 2008 720p BluRay, let’s recap the film for those who may have missed it or only remember the controversy.
The story follows Dr. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly), a brilliant astrobiologist who is summoned by the U.S. government when a massive, sphere-like object enters Earth’s atmosphere. Inside is Klaatu (Keanu Reeves), a humanoid alien, and a towering, terrifying robot named Gort.
Unlike the original’s diplomatic visitor, this Klaatu has a darker, more ecologically-driven mission. Humanity, he observes, is killing the planet. His solution? Not a warning, but an extinction-level event. He plans to unleash a swarm of nano-robotic insects that will devour every human-made structure and artifact, effectively resetting Earth to its pre-human state. Only through the sacrifice of a Nobel Prize-winning scientist (John Cleese in a memorable cameo) and the compassion of a young boy does Klaatu reconsider his verdict.
The film was a moderate box office success but received mixed reviews. Critics lambasted the heavy-handed environmental message, while audiences praised the state-of-the-art visual effects and Reeves’ deliberately stoic performance.
A “720p BluRay” copy of the film refers to a high-definition video encode with a resolution of 1280×720 pixels, typically derived from a Blu-ray disc (which stores 1080p native resolution). The 720p version is a compressed, downscaled file often used for smaller storage sizes while retaining better quality than DVD. For The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008), the official Blu-ray release (1080p) includes a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track and features such as deleted scenes and a making-of documentary. A 720p rip would lack some visual detail but remain suitable for portable devices or bandwidth-limited viewing. The film’s visual effects — including GORT’s nanite swarms and the Earth’s decay — benefit from high-definition presentation, though the 720p format reduces sharpness compared to 1080p or 4K.
One of the most debated aspects of the 2008 film is Keanu Reeves’ performance as Klaatu. His flat, emotionless delivery was either brilliant alien logic or wooden acting, depending on who you ask.
Watching the film in 720p BluRay offers a neutral perspective. In high definition, you notice the micro-expressions Reeves worked with acting coach Larry Moss to perfect. The slight twitch of his lip when he says, "You are so determined to destroy yourselves." The glaze in his eyes when he observes human grief. In standard definition, these subtle nuances are smeared away. In 720p, they are present but not overwhelmingly sharp (as 1080p might highlight makeup flaws). It humanizes the alien performance just enough to make you empathize with Klaatu’s cold logic.
Jennifer Connelly’s emotional breakdown in the forest, the tears cutting through the dirt on her face—this is a reference-quality scene for visual drama. The 720p BluRay captures the texture of her skin and the wetness in her eyes without the "soap opera" hyper-realism of higher definitions.