The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008)

Score: 5/10

A movie that follows the latest trend by saying that human is the one who responsible for the earth destruction. A strange object is heading speedily toward the earth. As typical, U.S. government gathers all scientists, including Dr. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) to figure out how to stop it. Since the time is limited, there is no better way that to destroy it.

Unfortunately, the plan fails in the last minutes because all the earth defense system is disabled. The object, resembling a giant sphere, actually does not hit the earth, but landing slowly in Central Park, New York. Police and Army quickly scatter around the sphere as a typical precaution against invasion.

An alien is coming out of the sphere and someone is perhaps too excited and fire a single shot at it. Medical care is quickly given to heal the alien and later it is found that the alien has a humanoid form (actually it resembles a human male). The alien explains that his name is Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) and he is the alien representative that decides what will happen to human race.

Human does not care about the environment and Klaatu says that sooner or later, we will destroy the earth. The alien will not let this happen because earth is a rare planet that can support lives. Therefore, they decide to eradicate the human race to let the earth lives peacefully. All aggressive efforts are failed to stop the alien and it is up to Dr. Benson and her step son, Jacob (Jaden Smith) to stop the inevitable.

The movie lacks emotions. There is no excitement, no suspense, and no desperation. Everything seems flat as compared to the topic where the fate of human race is at stake. The acting is mediocre, but this is not the fault of the actors because there is nothing to be acted upon.

The dialogues to convince Klaatu to cancel the invasion is terrible, it’s like one of the latest dialogues in the presidential election where the “change” word is used repeatedly. I have no idea why the alien buys it after all the preparations. The CGI is ok, perhaps the best thing about the movie, although the alien robot or a big statue thingy does not appear convincing.

You can check the following links for more info on this movie:
- IMDB: The Day The Earth Stood Still
- Official Site of the Movie

"You're the one! Umm, sorry wrong movie."