The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

I heard about the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still about a year and half ago from a former co-worker of mine was a fellow cinephile. On a break from work, he was talking about a movie that he loved that was the original 1951 movie.

He was searching on imdb about the film and realized that they were remaking the movie for a December 2008 release. We read the synopsis that it would be changed from the nuclear program from the original to the environmental slant in this version.

I thought it would be a cool modern take on what it happening to Earth and having this alien come to Earth and say you are wrong. They want to right the wrongs of the human race and eliminate them in order to let the Earth survives. I knew that it would come off preachy, like “WALL-E”. I knew that going in.

Updated to modern times, Jennifer Connelly plays Helen Benson, an astrobiologist. Whatever that is. She is recruited with other scienists to find out this oval object that lands in Central Park. Keanu plays Klaatu, the alien emerging from the object. There is also Gort, the robot that protects Klaatu from any harm. Yada yada yada.

I was utterly disappointed with this movie. Nothing happens to almost the end of the movie. It was mind-numbing. Jaden Smith playing Helen’s step-son. He was so annoying, such a brat. I have to question why the screenwriter, David Scarpa, put him in there.

Avoid this movie at all costs.

My rating: * 1/2 stars.