Plot
A remake of the 1951 classic sci-fi film about an alien visitor and his giant robot counterpart who visit Earth.
Release Year: 2008
Rating: 5.5/10 (74,432 voted)
Critic's Score: 40/100
Director:
Scott Derrickson
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates
Storyline Dr. Helen Benson is summoned to a military facility with several other scientists when an alien spacecraft of sorts arrives in New York City. Aboard is a human-like alien and a giant robot of immense size and power. The alien identifies himself as Klaatu and says he has come to save the Earth. The US military and political authorities see him as a threat however and decide to use so-called intensive interrogation techniques on him but Dr. Benson decides to facilitate his escape. When she learns exactly what he means when he says he is there to save the Earth, she tries to convince him to change his intentions.
Writers: David Scarpa, Edmund H. North
Cast: Keanu Reeves
-
Klaatu
Jennifer Connelly
-
Helen Benson
Kathy Bates
-
Regina Jackson
Jaden Smith
-
Jacob Benson
John Cleese
-
Professor Barnhardt
Jon Hamm
-
Michael Granier
Kyle Chandler
-
John Driscoll
Robert Knepper
-
Colonel
James Hong
-
Mr. Wu
John Rothman
-
Dr. Myron
Sunita Prasad
-
Rouhani
Juan Riedinger
-
William Kwan
Sam Gilroy
-
Tom
Tanya Champoux
-
Isabel
Rukiya Bernard
-
Student
Taglines:
12.12.08 is the Day the Earth Stood Still
Filming Locations: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $80,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $31,000,000
(USA)
(12 December 2008)
(3 Screens)
Gross: $230,831,978
(Worldwide)
(29 March 2009)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
Helen drives a Honda Hybrid, an appropriate vehicle for a heroine in a movie with an environmental message.
Goofs:
Continuity:
In the beginning of the movie, when Helen Benson walks into the room of her son, in the background on a shelf you can see an action figure resembling a karate fighter due to its white outfit. However, when Helen leaves the room again, the figure is gone. It is replaced by an entirely different action figure.
Quotes: Helen Benson:
[whispering to Klaatu]
Run.
User Review
Very disappointing
Rating: 4/10
Why do these movies feel they need to include a bratty, spoiled,
overbearing kid?? The ridiculous performance of Jaden Smith added
annoyance to the empty script.
The movie starts off well enough, and then tries miserably to develop
the characters and make us care for them. The Bates role is absurd;
Cleese's role has virtually nothing to say this amazing encounter. The
military point of view is typical; as if there's only one area where
the military is useful (I would expect nothing less from "Hollywood").
There were some very interesting ideas (the sphere-like ship, the
nanobots, the Gort acronym) and the effects were top notch, however
Gort (the one thing the movie had going for it) was on screen for less
then 10 minutes.
Keanu was perfectly cast and Connelly does a good job with what's given
to her. All in all, another flop of a remake. This actually makes the
War of the Worlds remake shine.
I saw this movie in IMAX - if you're going to see it, find an IMAX
theater. Lastly, am I the only sick of seeing the same old New York
back drop? I love New York City, but come on! Be original!
0