Renowned scientist Dr. Helen Benson finds herself face to face with an alien called Klaatu, who travels across the universe to warn of an impending global crisis. When forces beyond Helen’s control treat the extraterrestrial as a hostile and deny his request to address the world’s leaders, she and her estranged stepson Jacob quickly discover the deadly ramifications of Klaatu’s claim that he is a friend to the Earth. Now Helen must find a way to convince the entity who was sent to destroy us that mankind is worth saving--but it may be too late. The process has begun.

I wish Hollywood would learn that sometimes movies really just don't need to be remade, updated or changed for any reason. The original The Day the Earth Stood Still is a fantastic movie that still stands the test of time even sixty years after it was made. Its message of anti violence is more profound now days as society as degenerated even more since it’s making but it is a movie that didn't really need to be remade or updated. That’s not to say the remake is an absolute failure, the remake was enjoyable in a popcorn big blockbuster sort of way but it really didn't even hold a candle to the original. That is what made it so unnecessary; sometimes I think they make movies for the brain dead. For those people unwilling to watch a classic or a black and white movie and that always makes me a little sad.

They really don't add much to the story, they really don't use any political climate to make it more relevant for today's times over that of the 1950's when the movie was originally made. They do chance the reason the earth is in dire straights because of an eco dire message over the 1950's with the nuclear dire message but this is the third movie this year already with an eco message and its becoming almost expected out of Hollywood now. They also make you afraid of your own government even more because they strike so close to home with how hot headed and unwilling to listen to reason those in power are. Faced with world destruction, out gunned and without the technology to truly do any harm they continue to provoke the alien forces who could so easily wipe them out. Its like watching a kid trying to beat up an adult, swinging and flailing widely as the adult puts his hand on the kids head to keep him at a distance. It would be kind of funny if it wasn't so sad and scary.

What the remake was about wasn't about them trying to update the story or even adding more to it, what it was about instead was them trying to see how much they could update the effects and the visuals of the movie. That is why the movie feels like a big blockbuster extravaganza rather than anything more substantial. sure the effects are great and vastly improved over the original but that wasn't what the movie was about and it didn't really need the effects to work. The movie is an ok blockbuster, it is entertaining but it is also a cop out because they didn't come up with any original ideas of their own.

I really liked Jaden Christopher Smith in the Pursuit of Happyness but to say he is annoying in the Day the Earth Stood Still would be an understatement. I don't think it is entirely his fault as for some reason the screenwriters decided to turn his character into the typical whinny annoying preteen kid that you want to strangle before the movie is half way over. The kid in the original film was a likable child who was out to help not whine the entire movie and drive you crazy. And I know a lot of people are going to reference how the emotionless alien like indifference of Klaatu is perfect for Keanu Reeves and his very wooden like performances but it is true. Honestly the character almost seems to be tailor made for him and I don't see the problem in that. The movie was ok but thats the most you can say about it.

Grade: C