The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) User Reviews

This movies pays homage to a finely directed 1951 film that still places in the top 30 greatest sci-fi films of all time. I thought that this film was edited so beautifully to flow from one scene to the next without in-between garbage that sometimes is enough to disrupt plots. Sci-fi movies should be made to keep audiences on the edge of their seats, or at least have the audience captive with special affects or storyline. No scene was wasted. Everything that was said had some significant message in it. As one major newspaper put it, the movie gets right to the point and moves on. I didn’t see one person get up and go to the refreshment stand or leave the showroom once the show began. This, to me, indicates that the audience was under the spell of either the special effects or the plot kept them going. For me it was both. Keanu Reeves plays Klaatu, the emissary from another galaxy who is shot down, interrogated, and refused a chance to speak with the United Nations because of the protocol of our Homeland Security. They have to obey the orders of the president. The old "take me to your leader," may not work iregardless of where the aliens land if the leader is arrogant enough to make the decision for the entire planet. Klaatu has an embryonic skin which will allow him to be born as a human on Earth and while in captivity he evolves into a human whose DNA was cloned from a mountain climber in India many years before. All of this evolution takes place in a matter of hours. Klaatu has brought with him a gigantic robot that from its first behavior, appears to be only his protector. Actually...it is a weapon of mass destruction...the terminator of only one species on Earth... human. Protocal of our gorvernment prevents Klaatu from meeting with world leaders to solve a problem...he is from an alien life form that protects planets and their ecosystems. Klaatu's mission is to exterminate the parasites destroying the Earth...humans. How would we stop him? This movie shows the reason why man is worth his salt. A lot of accusations came out that this was an environmentalist movie. Not so, it is exactly the opposite. Now what would you show an alien to prove your case in point that man is worth saving? This movie shows you the answer to that question. I was moved when I saw what changed Klaatu's mind., but too late, he has already cast the dye and termination is in progress.

12/21/2008, 5:15 am

I haven't seen this movie yet, but I have to agree with Jim 100%. VERY rarely do I agree with Ebert. I can think of 3 or 4 times in the last 15 years. I am going to see this movie this afternoon in IMAX and I am friggin stoked!

12/12/2008, 10:30 am