The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

Director:

Scott Derrickson

Writers (WGA):

David Scarpa (screenplay)
Edmund H. North (1951 screenplay)

Release Date:

12 December 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

12.12.08 is the Day the Earth Stood Still

Plot:

A remake of the 1951 classic sci-fi film about an alien visitor and his giant robot counterpart who visit Earth.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Robot | Military | Scientist | Earth

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Keanu Reeves	...	Klaatu
Jennifer Connelly	...	Helen Benson
Kathy Bates	...	Regina Jackson
Jaden Smith	...	Jacob Benson
John Cleese	...	Professor Barnhardt
Jon Hamm	...	Michael Granier
Kyle Chandler	...	John Driscoll
Robert Knepper	...	Colonel
James Hong	...	Mr. Wu
John Rothman	...	Dr. Myron
Sunita Prasad	...	Rouhani
Juan Riedinger	...	William Kwan
Sam Gilroy	...	Tom
Tanya Champoux	...	Isabel
Rukiya Bernard	...	Student

Also Known As:

D.T.E.S.S. (USA) (promotional abbreviation)
The Day the Earth Stood Still: The IMAX Experience (USA) (IMAX version)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sci-fi disaster images and violence.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS | Sonics-DDP (IMAX version)

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #44866) | UK:12A | Ireland:12A | Finland:K-11 | South Korea:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Singapore:PG | Norway:11 | Germany:12 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Portugal:M/12 | Czech Republic:12 | Malaysia:U | Sweden:11 | Australia:M | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | South Africa:10V | Brazil:10 | Taiwan:GP | Peru:PT | Netherlands:12 | Mexico:B

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Gort's trademark eye beam is only used once in the entire movie.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Klaatu was bleeding from the wound on the right side of his chest, yet when he smeared the wound with medicine, it was on the left side. The first time, Klaatu was looking in a mirror.

Quotes:

Jacob Benson: I told Helen we should kill you.
Klaatu: Yes, I heard that.
Jacob Benson: I didn't mean it though.
Klaatu: You didn't?
Jacob Benson: Well, not *anymore*. So what's going to happen to us?
Klaatu: I was just wondering the same thing.

Movie Connections:

References Independence Day (1996)

Soundtrack:

The Goldberg Variations: Aria Da Capo and Variation No. 1

Very disappointing

Why do these movies feel they need to include a bratty, spoiled, overbearing kid?? The ridiculous performance of Jaden Smith added annoyance to the empty script.

The movie starts off well enough, and then tries miserably to develop the characters and make us care for them. The Bates role is absurd; Cleese's role has virtually nothing to say this amazing encounter. The military point of view is typical; as if there's only one area where the military is useful (I would expect nothing less from "Hollywood").

There were some very interesting ideas (the sphere-like ship, the nanobots, the Gort acronym) and the effects were top notch, however Gort (the one thing the movie had going for it) was on screen for less then 10 minutes.

Keanu was perfectly cast and Connelly does a good job with what's given to her. All in all, another flop of a remake. This actually makes the War of the Worlds remake shine.

I saw this movie in IMAX - if you're going to see it, find an IMAX theater. Lastly, am I the only sick of seeing the same old New York back drop? I love New York City, but come on! Be original!