Review of The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) by Amanda C — 20 Jun 2011

This film completely missed the point. Actually it goes further than to just miss the point, it doesn't have one. This film is just a special effects vehicle, as while they are great effects there is nothing else to the film. It bounces around between preaching that we're destroying the world and a support our fallen troupes message, never actually driving either point home through a mish mash of awful script. This is essentially an alien invasion film, minus the cool alien or the suspense that the genre requires. Keanu Reeves is truly awful, giving his worst performance to date and Jennifer Connelly maintains the same concerned teary eyed look the entire film.

The original was effective because it was subtle. It took it's time, let you know and care about the characters and gave Klaatu a personality that one could relate to, not just a super human atomiton intent on destroying humanity. This version has none or the substance or heart that made the first film great and it doesn't even have anything interesting to update the previous story. It's got no legs to stand on and as a result falls flat.