It’s surprising that a film about ecological disaster would turn out to be such an example of mediocrity. But that’s the case with “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” an example of Hollywood remaking a classic into something that’s loud, explosive and uninteresting. The film starts promisingly with Helen Benson ((Jennifer Connolly), a working mom and astrobiologist, being whisked from her home under mysterious circumstances. It’s all part of a massive mobilization response to the news that something is coming. What lands in Central Park is a large, gaseous orb (one of many that eventually arrive to collect animals), Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) wrapped in a placenta-like covering, and a huge robot standing maybe 40 feet tall. The United States’ knee-jerk reaction is to shoot first and ask questions later. When the shooting proves futile, the follow-up questions and answers prove shocking. Klaatu has come to save earth from the stupid humans destroying it and there's nothing anyone can do. That is, unless Helen can use what little time is left to prove to Klaatu that we deserve a second chance.
Like many previous movies, including Pixar’s hit “Wall*E,” the crisis of the future is ecological, not world domination and that one change is not enough to merit a remake. Reeve’s typically wooden acting is more appropriate here given his character’s presumed awkwardness with human form. However, director Scott Kerrickson does not use this to his advantage. Instead he fills the screen with CGI effects in an attempt to add dynamism to the narrative. And then the movie just ends. Hard-core science fiction fans might enjoy the latest iteration of “The Day the Earth Stood Still;” however, most of you will want to find something else to see. 12/12/08
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