The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

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

Director:

Scott Derrickson

Writers:

David Scarpa (screenplay), Edmund H. North

Stars:

Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates

3 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

Storyline

Dr. Helen Benson is summoned to a military facility with several other scientists when an alien spacecraft of sorts arrives in New York City. Aboard is a human-like alien and a giant robot of immense size and power. The alien identifies himself as Klaatu and says he has come to save the Earth. The US military and political authorities see him as a threat however and decide to use so-called intensive interrogation techniques on him but Dr. Benson decides to facilitate his escape. When she learns exactly what he means when he says he is there to save the Earth, she tries to convince him to change his intentions.

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Plot Keywords:

alien | military | earth | escape | scientist | 

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Taglines:

12.12.08 is the Day the Earth Stood Still

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

20th Century Fox [fr] 20th Century Fox [us]

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English Mandarin

Release Date:

12 December 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

D.T.E.S.S.

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£2,752,132 (UK) (12 December 2008)

Gross:

$79,363,785 (USA) (27 March 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, 3 Arts Entertainment, Dune Entertainment III

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS Sonics-DDP (IMAX version)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In The Day the Earth Stood Still, Klaatu instructed Helen to say the famous line "Klaatu Barada Nikto" to Gort in the event of his death, which she did. In this film, Klaatu himself says the famous line to Gort shortly after arriving on Earth, after being shot by the army.

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Goofs

During the car ride with Jacob in the rear seat, he is shown buckled-up on the driver's side of the car and in the next shot, he is suddenly on the passenger's side (buckled-up as well).

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Quotes

Klaatu: [to Helen] Your professor is right. At the precipice we change.

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Connections

Remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

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Soundtracks

"The Goldberg Variations: Aria Da Capo and Variation No. 1"
Written by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Ryan Franks
Courtesy of Crucial Music

User Reviews

Keanu as Klaatu and other comical touches

Laughter makes the almost two hours not a total loss. But I don't think, somehow, that "The Day The Earth Stood Still" was meant as a comedy. They must have realize however, that having John Cleese as the scientist was bound to provoke some giggles. Keanu Reeves is priceless as the wooden, expressionless alien. A great, unintentional, comic creation. Kathy Bates, in pantsuits if you please, plays the American Secretary of Defense and the whole thing doesn't have a single ingredient of the elements that made the Robert Wise original one of the classics of its genre. The visual tricks are good but repetitive and rather confusing. I must admit I wasn't bored I was just puzzled.