Movie Review: The Day the Earth Stood Still
The Twilight Zone meets Independence Day: A remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic about an alien and his giant robot who land on Earth to save the planet from mankind.
If you were still wondering whether Keanu Reeves is an alien, then this should put all such doubts to rest. The impassive Reeves is the perfect “Klaatu”, adamant off-worldly exterminator of mankind in director Scott Derrickson’s (THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE) remake of the 1951 classic. Unfortunately, that is the only perfect thing about it.
So what happened? The Robert Wise original, though far from perfect itself, was a compelling film with a strong message. In 1951, only six years after WW ll, in the early days of the cold war, it was a statement against mankind’s tendency towards MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction), today it is global warming and man’s destruction of his environment. It should have been as eloquent today as in yesteryear. But although this latest version tackles some of the elements of the original, it creates new logistical problems and entirely lacks the sensitivity and intelligence of its predecessor.
In essence, the story is true to the original: life on earth as we know it changes abruptly as several huge spherical space craft land on the planet, the largest touching down in the middle of Central Park. From it emerges Klaatu (Reeves), together with a giant robot, Gort. Klaatu is promptly shot down by the military, who has turned out in force as a welcoming committee, and is bundled off to a secret medical facility for emergency surgery and, of course, extensive examination. Scientist Dr. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) is among those fighting to save the life of the alien, who emerges in human form, frees himself from the humanoids’ pathetic attempts to restrain him and announces that he has come to address the world’s leaders.
In flight from the US military under orders from Secretary of Defence Jackson (Kathy Bates), Helen becomes Klaatu’s only confidant, to whom he reveals the purpose of his mission: he has come to save the planet earth, which is too precious to be destroyed by its people. After much consideration, his race has decided that humankind must be annihilated if their world is to be saved.
The 1951 original is a true cinematic milestone, which had not only a lasting influence on science fiction cinema, but also on the literature of the genre. The cult sci-fi phrase “Klaatu Barada Nikto”, for example, is nowhere to be heard in this half-hearted remake, although the filmmakers swear it is there - if you listen. Apparently it is drowned out by the soundtrack. The same with the dialog, I suppose, which seems to be drowned out by special effects, clichés, and pointless action sequences, courtesy of the director and his screenwriter David Scarpa.
One of the few highlights is the brief appearance of John Cleese as a scientific colleague of Helen’s who logically argues for giving the human race one more chance. He then suggests that Helen try another, less logical approach to dissuade Klaatu from its destruction. Instead of exploring this aspect, however, the film moves on to the saccharine: focusing on the relationship between Helen and her hugely irritating, 10-year old stepson Jacob (played by Will Smith’s son Jaden): who represents a major argument for the immediate elimination of mankind, in my opinion. Their characters and conflicts are so hackneyed and contrived that they throw a real monkey wrench into any suspense the film might have generated.
But THE TWILIGHT ZONE meets INDEPENDENCE DAY contains some good visual effects, as you would imagine; part of the producers’ constipated efforts to attract a young target audience by eliminating any gravitas or intelligent dialogue and adding a young identification character - at the cost of destroying everything of artistic value. And these efforts have been rewarded. THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL has already grossed nearly $76 million worldwide and topped the US box office in its opening weekend. It has likewise reached number one in the UK cinema charts, knocking Madagascar 2 into second place.
Despite this and the fact that it has been nominated for two Satellite Awards (for Best Sound and Best Visual Effects), the film falls flat. There is too little tension or drama, no characters we can possibly care about, and even the big climax lacks any true excitement. All in all, it is an uninspired tribute and certainly a mediocre piece of film making.
THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (USA 2008) (German title: DER TAG AN DEM DIE ERDE STILLSTAND); Genre: Sci-Fi; Rated PG-13; Running time: 109 minutes; Distributor: 20th Century Fox; US release date: 12.12.08; German release date: 11.12.08; Director: Scott Derrickson; Screenplay: David Scarpa; 1951 Screenplay: Edmund H. North; Main cast: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, John Cleese, Jon Hamm; Cinematographer: David Tattersall; Composer: Tyler Bates; Production designer: David Brisbin; Editor: Wayne Wahrman
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Ooh oops i just wrote a huge comment and when i hit reply it came up blank! Please please tell me it worked properly? I dont want to sumit it again if i dont have to! Either the blog glitced out or i am just stuipd, the second option doesnt surprise me lol.