The Day The Earth Stood Still review

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of The Day the Earth Stood Still is that Keanu Reeves isn't the film's biggest problem. This remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic just doesn't make much sense. The film ends abruptly, leaving you to scratch your head and wonder whether the projectionist had inadvertently misplaced the critical reel that explained everything.

There is a brilliant simplicity to the original, directed with style and clarity by the great Robert Wise. It's the one element that director Scott Derrickson and screenwriter David Scarpa would have been well advised to have emulated here. Instead, by over complicating things, they lose grip on the story's very strength. Many would question the wisdom of updating such an iconic movie, but it could equally be argued that the factors that prompted Harry Bates' original story are equally relevant today. The main difference being that back in the 1950s it was the very real fear of atomic warfare that threatened man's annihilation whereas today it is global warming.

When a spaceship lands in New York's Central Park it is greeted by the full might of the U.S. military, reflecting man's core sense of hostility. As the humanoid figure of Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) emerges, he is shot by a trigger-happy soldier. The astro biologist Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) is the first to offer aid to the injured alien. As she does so a giant robot emerges from the spaceship. Prompted by the attack on Klaatu, the robot offers an immediate and impressive demonstration of its immense powers.

Under the instructions of the Secretary of State (Kathy Bates), Klaatu is secreted away to a special facility. His otherworldly composition means he is able to heal himself. Having done so he reveals he has come with a directive for mankind that they will not be allowed to continue on their present path of destroying the earth.

The set up is an intriguing one. Indeed there are many parallels between the 1951 version and this. One fundamental difference though is in the way the central character of Klaatu is portrayed. Michael Rennie played him with a nuanced balance of humanity and extraterrestrial aloofness. Reeves depicts him more as an automaton, something his distinctive acting limitations are well suited to.

One big advantage Derrickson had over Wise is the sophistication of effects. Though with it comes the temptation to overuse them. The genius of the original was recognizing its technical limitations and focusing instead on the story and characters. In defence of this contemporary version there are some impressive scenes, which only serve to emphasize the potential in updating the film. The disappointment is however that this potential is never realized.

Kevin Murphy