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:

psychotronic film | alien | military | earth | scientist | 

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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

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:

$30,480,153, 14 December 2008

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 film was primarily filmed in tones of green and blue, the Earth's natural colors.

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Goofs

The colonel commands the controllers of the MQ-9 Reaper to fire their Sidewinder air-to-air missiles at GORT in his robot form. The Reaper carries only GBU-12 Paveway II or AGM-114 Hellfire II air-to-ground missiles. Considering the situation, the most likely payload would be the Hellfires. In addition to this, when we see the drones in flight, there are no Sidewinders visible on the wings; only what appear to be Hellfires.

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Quotes

Helen Benson: I need to know what's happening.
Klaatu: This planet is dying. The human race is killing it.
Helen Benson: So you've come here to help us.
Klaatu: No, *I* didn't.
Helen Benson: You said you came to save us.
Klaatu: I said I came to save the Earth.
Helen Benson: You came to save the Earth... from us. You came to save the Earth *from* us.
Klaatu: We can't risk the survival of this planet for the sake of one species.
Helen Benson: What are you saying?
Klaatu: If the Earth dies, you die. If you die, the Earth survives. There are only a handful of planets in the cosmos that are capable of ...
[...]

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Connections

References The X-Files (1993)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Grand, as a stand alone title.

I've seen the original twice or so in the past, and when seeing the announcement trailer for the remake i didn't hit the ceiling and cry to the pagan gods of old to destroy the MTV Generation. Some human beings dare i say like (rarely) to enjoy the apple of the cinematic garden.

Without doubt this film was as pretentious as the above statement, preaching about how we should change our world-killing ways. The legendary James Hong makes an appearance and he doesn't seem too fussed about all the world ending, humbling himself with a MacDonalds. Animation was brilliant, however a lot of the world-wide full CG scenes weren't called for - giving the film in places a strange glowing sensation. It's certainly too expensive for itself, with little cgi-bug things ripping up central park and generally looking expensive at the same time.

Keanu Reeves does his thing, this time cast appropriately, however characterised so jarringly bi-polar he can drag the film into a wishy-washy sentimental shite-horn parade whenever there's an on-screen hug. The protagonist cast tend to be fairly varied, enjoyable - taking predictable turns and so on. The bonding between Conelly and Mini-Smith certainly doesn't feel as solid and Cruise and old-whats-her-face in 'War of The Worlds.' There's a 'queer' moment where suddenly sympathy is due for the idiot-military and ruling body when they realise they've done wrong. Sympathy however is not given.

But, despite what grumbles i may have i set them aside for a film that is beautifully shot, epic, scored delightfully and edited perfectly.

Go and see it, just don't go in your 'Day The Earth Stood Still' 1957 t shirt and be the obnoxious one who spoils it for others.

cheers. Ginger Dave.