Jan 04 2009
The Earth Stood Still that Day?
Ok so here are my thoughts about the new popcorn flick, The Day the Earth Stood Still. Well first off, thats exactly what it is: A popcorn flick. I unfortunately did not get the chance to see the original 1951 film before viewing this one, but I am pretty sure it is very different. The big metal robot man is the same because I remember seeing him from the cover of the old version.
The film can boast some pretty cool special effects and some interesting acting talents, but other than that, the film is nothing more than blockbuster Hollywood entertainment. The films opening is strong, you get sucked right in the confusion with Jennifer Connelly’s character. Keanu Reeves did one of his best performances since the Matrix. I think it is because he had to play an alien… so there was not much emotion involved. Kathy Bates did good as always and so did John Cleese in his bit role. And surprisingly Will Smith’s little boy from The Pursuit of Happyness, Jaden Smith, did a wonderful job. He is a good little actor who could use a haircut, but he is still great at emotional scenes.
The film is another “eco-friendly” or environmentalist message following the recent trend like Wall-E and The Happening. Where The Happening failed miserably, Wall-E and The Day the Earth Stood Still triumphed. The message is overt, but not preachy. It is woven into the story and delivered effectively. Also they give hope for us and planet.
There is much more external conflict in this film than another kind. All the danger and conflict centers around physical things being destroyed or chased or caught on fire or eaten. We arent exactly let into the characters emotional state at all during this epic crisis which is something that is severely lacking. I was watching completely objectively and cared really for no character. They tried to have an emotional climax but the fact was I didnt care about the single mother and her step son enough to see them crying all over each other. The eternal conflict was little to none. All objective and not very subjective. Empathy was non existent as I watched the planet under attack. I felt worse for the alien than anyone else.
All that said, the story was well paced and flowed nicely. It was simple and easy to follow and very entertaining. A summer popcorn movie released in December. Nothing more.
