The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

I'd heard mixed reviews of this modern remake on a 1951 classic. Empire magazine gave it a 3 'surprisingly decent' out of 5 mark and many described it as 'not THAT bad'. Well dear readers I offer you this - The Day the Earth Stood Still is dreadful.

Many times throughout this dreary attempt at a catastrophic disaster movie I reached for the STOP button on the DVD player but willed myself on, each time to become more and more disappointed with myself.

The story is very simple. Keanu Reeves is an alien who comes to Earth to destroy mankind (and save the planet). Jennifer Connolly is a scientist that changes his mind by showing how mankind are actually good *pukes*

Whilst the original movie was a clever B Movie with a decent message within, this remake just wants desperately to be Independence Day (and why anybody would want that is beyond me little brain). It fails on every level really and any time you think the story is picking up Jaden Smith turns up to make you throw things at the screen.

The real shame comes from wasted opportunity. The cast is fine (even Keanu seems to play the role of the alien Klatuu well in his own unique way) but they're given so very little to do. Poor little Jaden Smith just whines throughout; Connolly (always worth watching) isn't; and John Clease is in a blink and you'll miss him role.

There is no real feel oftension as you simply don't care for any of the characters and the end doesn't really make much sense **SPOLIER** because Klaatu sacrifices himself to save the gun totting mad humans that have been trying to blow up his space ship for the last hour simply because Jennifer Connolly and Jaden Smith ummm actually I've no idea why **END SPOILER**

Quite simply this is a very weak special effects blockbuster with Roland Emmerich aspirations. If this isn't reason enough to not watch it then how about this? The 1951 version is infinitly better in every department (including special effects).

Where to start, I guess after seeing the original I was subconsciously comparing the plot but even had I been seeing it for the first time I dont think I would have liked it.

The effects were good, the plot was weak and the acting was bad to mediocre. Keanu Reeves was probably picked due to his ability to look either puzzled or a piece of wood but I would have picked an actor who has a larger acting range, someone who could actually lend gravitas to the part.

Basically the film failed to engage me and I found 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' dull.

I never really thought this film, "The Day the Earth Stood Still" had the plot to make it a blockbuster. Basically a giant ball falls from the sky and lands in america. A man the alien(main character) walks out. After several other scenes it emerges that there our these balls all over the earth and they are collecting 2 of each life form like Noahs Ark and that the aliens decide that they are going to use the earth as one of there own planets as it is very valuable.

The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008). I put the date in there so as not to confuse this film with the far superior 1951 version of the same basic story. Keanu Reeves was a good choice to play Klaatu, the alien being devoid of all emotion, because Reeves is good at that, if you'll remember his charecter Neo from THE MATRIX. In this 2008 version, a giant sphere lands in New York's Central Park and scientists from around the nation are brought to the scene to find out what they can about what it might be. Jennifer Connelly is the biological specialist and as Reeves emerges from the fog surrounding the sphere he is promptly shot by one of the myriad of police and soldiers stationed there, falling into the arms of Connelly. Immediately a metallic giant, GORT, steps forward and starts to blast away at the weapons and people surrounding them. Klaatu stops him and GORT goes into a dormant state. Klaatu is taken to a government facility to treat his gunsot wound and so begins the quest to find out just who he is and what he wants. Mildly entertaining, with great visual effects (I saw it in IMAX) I cannot recommend this with much conviction. If you like SciFi, or any of the actors, or want to compare it to the original or if you've never seen the original, then go, knowing it probably won't blow you away but isn't a complete waste of your time and money.

I do want to tease one thing, GORT is not just what he first appears to be and it's partly those effects associated with that fact that makes for the great visual effects.