The 2008 version of The Day the Earth Stood Still is all bark with no bite. The CGI effects are effective but that’s all it had. Character development is non-existent and the plot has more holes than a Swiss cheese.
Keanu Reeves is just right to play Klaatu because he already perfected the role of an emotionless humanoid. Jaden Smith and Jennifer Connelly did well for what was given to them. John Cleese and Kathy Bates are great thespians and it’s a shame to see their talents wasted in The Day the Earth Stood Still.
The Genetically Organized Robotic Technology or GORT had a lot of potential but just as the giant Oscar-like robot was about to pulverize everything in sight, Klaatu comes out and gets shot in the process. The title should have been The Day the GORT Stood Still.
Klaatu (Keanu Reeves): Klaatu barada nikto.
This phrase was used by Klaatu when he was shot near the start of The Day the Earth Stood Still and in the end to stop the sphere from destroying the planet. The meaning of the phrase was not explained in the remake. In the original it was Helen who uttered this phrase to stop GORT.
The threat of a zombie invasion in World War Z was more believable than The Day the Earth Stood Still remake. The main issue of global warming was not given the importance it deserved. It was just in the background, just like GORT, with a lifeless robot getting all the attention. You know the feeling when time seems to go slow when you’re not having fun? Well, you’ll experience it while watching this movie. Skip the remake and look for the original instead.
