The black swarm of alien insects that decimate Shea Stadium, parts of Central Park and the U.S. military’s armored elite in an underground chamber during the remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic “The Day the Earth Stood Still” will paralyze you with the amount of fear a pesky throng of gnats could cause.
And of course, the slaying insects don’t vaporize two central figures who outmaneuver them by simply hurrying five feet to the right.
But the problems with the modern visit from Klaatu (Keanu Reeves,) the iconic alien with a human body, and his giant robot Gort, are more fatal than the computer-generated insects’ illogical paths and innocuous effect.
Screenwriter David Scarpa, who wrote the 2001 military prison flick “The Last Castle” turns what could be a very timely cautionary tale into a series of predictable sermons about how we should listen to foreign visitors or potential invaders before shooting them, stop destroying the Earth, remember we don’t own the Earth — home to thousands of other species, and about how we can change if we have the will to.
This remake doesn’t stand a chance in the eyes of purists. But even if you consider 2008’s take on an intergalactic traveler invading Earth without preconceived notions and baggage, “The Day the Earth Stood Still” 2.0 version still lacks tension, frightening scenes, character and common sense.
For instance, the sophisticated alien civilizations, who want to save the planet by killing us for ravaging the environment, have studied our less advanced society for generations, but have never encountered a mom-and-son hug or the exquisite sound of Bach’s “Goldberg Variations” until right after they pull the plug on humanity.
The plot relies on the anticlimactic moment Klaatu will learn we are worth saving, an idea Jennifer Connelly’s astrobiologist and stepmom character argues with her disobedient son (Jayden Smith) in tow, as the script relegates her to Klaatu’s chauffeur once he escapes government custody.
But before you vow never to shout “Klaatu barada nikto!” again, know Director Scott Derrickson’s flat but great-looking film isn’t a total loss. The impressive sights and sounds in the IMAX Experience version almost make up for the other weakness that will lead you to root for the aliens to go ahead and kill us to give us something to watch.
“The Day the Earth Stood Still” Two and a half out of five stars
» Starring: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly
» Rated: PG-13 for some sci-fi disaster images and violence
» Run time: 103 minutes
