The Day the Earth Stood Still

Posted by Victor R Gibson ⋅ January 20, 2017 ⋅ 1 Comment

Filed Under D, Jennifer Connelly, John Cleese, John Hamm, Kathy Bates, Keanu Reeves, Kyle Chandler

Released	2008	Rating (UK)	12A
Source of story	The Edmund H North 1951 screenplay and a story by Harry Bates.
Writer/s script	David Scarpa
Director	Scott Derrickson
Starring	Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, Jaden Smith, John Cleese, John Hamm. Kyle Chandler
Elevator Pitch	A spacecraft lands in Central Park and disgorges a human like alien and an enormous robot. The alien is taken into custody and examined by a number of scientists, one of whom decides to free him. The robot resists attempts to destroy it with ease. The alien, the scientist and her stepson go on the run during which he reveals that the population of earth are to be extinguished. Can she, her father and her stepson convince him otherwise?
Content	Qite a lot of time spent looking at the spacecraft which is a sort of vast variegated marble, and some action as the troops attack the robot. A bit of a car chase as the alien and the scientist and her son go on the run. Some exposition to explain the relationship between a boy (of colour) and a white scientist.
A View	This cost a lot, and nearly made its money back, surprising considering the panning it got from the critics. Won the 2009 Razzie for “Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel”. The attempt to repeat the Terminator II bonding between the boy and the alien totally unsuccessful. But what the hell, you can watch it for nothing.