It was hardly accidental that The Day the Earth Stood Still DVD was released a couple of weeks before Earth Day with its, “humans are killing the earth” message. Then again, like most good science fiction movies, it’s a reflection of the time it’s made in. However, unlike the original 1951 version of The Day the Earth Stood Still, which was a Cold War parable, it misses its mark by relying too heavily on special effects and not enough on story.
The original movie didn’t have the budget (and the technology didn’t exist) to blow you away with special effects. Instead it had to rely on acting, direction, plot and dialogue to deliver its important message of peace and cooperation – and to make you think long after you left the theater. While the classic movie seems a bit quaint today, it holds it own even after multiple viewings because it’s well done.
2008: The Day the Earth Stood Still
The 2008 version of The Day the Earth Stood Still is all special effects and watered down sentimentality and eco-friendly message. However, the cast is impressive and they do a good job with what they’re given. Keanu Reeves (as Klaatu) is at his Matrix-like, alien best. Jennifer Connelly is somewhat believable as Dr. Benson, but didn’t need to have a step-son (played by Jaden Smith) to show she was loving and concerned.
In the classic movie, it’s the child that introduces Klaatu to the adults and bridges the relationship between human and alien. In the 2008 version, the kid was a distraction, though the interaction between the kid and Klaatu was kind of nice.
Mad Men's Jon Hamm shows up here and there, as does Kathy Bates as the secretary of state. Even less screen time was given to John Cleese as a wise and kind Nobel Prize Winning scientist. I wanted to see their characters much more than Connelly’s or Smith’s, probably because I like them more as actors and their characters were more interesting.
**MAJOR SPOILER ALERT**
What bothered me most was the ending. By the closing last 20 minutes we know that Klaatu has decided to destroy the earth and has preserved all the animal species in “arks.” The destruction – and the cool special effects – start happening. There goes a stadium. There goes the Eiffel Tower. Whoopee! More fun than Independence Day!
Then Dr. Benson persuades him to change his mind, and he barely saves human kind from total destruction. Aw, shoot. Throughout the end Dr. Benson tells Klaatu that humans can change so often that you feel she must have worked for the Obama campaign. It’s only through being challenged that humans will evolve into superior beings, Klaatu’s reasons. So he takes away our technology and sends us back to a symbolic “Garden of Eden” – and everybody’s happy about it.
Not!
If you’re a fan of science fiction, you know catastrophes (alien invasion, nuclear war, epidemics, etc.) where human kind goes back to being essentially cavemen are when we’re at our worse. The lack of the veneer of civilization, even with all its negativity like turning the planet into a sewer, is actually a cause of mass panic, starvation, and violence – not a pathway to peace and advancement.
Instead, after he saved us, Klaatu should have given humans an advanced technology like an unlimited, eco-friendly, energy source - and a big fat message to use it wisely or he’d be back to kick our ass in the sequel. Well, that’s how I would have written The Day the Earth Stood Still anyway.
The movie is available as a 3-Disc Special Edition in Blu-ray, which includes the original 1951 movie or a two disk version
(Thanks to Click Communications for the review copy.)
