The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

A remake of the 1951 classic science fiction 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 | scientist | giant robot | 

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Taglines:

He came to save the Earth. Not us.

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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 [France] 20th Century Fox [United States]

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 USA:

$31,000,000, 12 December 2008, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$79,366,978

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$233,093,859

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, 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

The orb was supposed to be filled with white limbo light, but Director Scott Derrickson felt the concept would then be unoriginal, and changed the color to greenish, a more appropriate color for an environmentally conservative race.

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Goofs

The scene where he discovers blood on his shirt (right side) does not match the later scene with the bullet wound (left side).

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Quotes

Klaatu: [repeated line with minor variations] I need to get back to the city.

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Connections

Referenced in Real Time with Bill Maher: Episode #14.35 (2016)

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Soundtracks

On the Radio
Written and Performed by Larry Bagby
Courtesy of California Country Records

User Reviews

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!