Keanu Connection

Review: The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) – 3 Disc Special Edition

Posted on 16. Mar, 2009 by Luciana in Movies

I know, I know. I need to see Robert Wise’s original 1951 version of The Day the Earth Stood Still, but for whatever reason, I haven’t done it. I even owned it for a period of time, but I just never got around to watching it. It happens. On the other hand, if I had seen it, it would conflict with my rule of thumb that seeing the remake first is better, because then you get to experience both on (mostly) their own terms. Thus, without personal attachment to the original looming, I can say that this big-budget remake is a briefly thoughtful, mostly-quiet and artificially action-packed experience that feels like a car wreck between two movies: a fairly entertaining character piece and the sci-fi action extravaganza that 20th Century Fox obviously expected to get.

The movie’s first act shows the most potential. Dr. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) is swept away from her home by a police escort, manned by flustered agents who inform her that even they don’t know why she’s being picked up. She’s rushed into a room with a crowd of other scientists and engineers and told that not only is something from outer space going to impact Earth in the middle of Manhattan, but it’s going to happen in less than 80 minutes. I always question the way government officials act in movies, but there’s a palpable sense of tension and paranoia, and even a few good character touches (Jon Hamm fans should also know that his brief performance is front-loaded). A better movie would have played out closer to real time; the concept that Earth might be destroyed with such little forewarning is a really great idea (although there’s a shade too much 9/11 imagery here). Sadly, it barely makes up the first twenty minutes. At the end of it, a giant swirling orb touches down in the middle of Central Park, and an alien creature steps out, only to be shot by an overzealous soldier. Not the best first impression. [ Read More ]

Tags: Day The Earth Stood Still, Review