20th Century Fox
3 Arts Entertainment
Not part of a collection.
The Day the Earth Stood Still
We thought the Earth was ours. We were wrong.
A representative of an alien race that went through drastic evolution to survive its own climate change, Klaatu comes to Earth to assess whether humanity can prevent the environmental damage they have inflicted on their own planet. When barred from speaking to the United Nations, he decides humankind shall be exterminated so the planet can survive.
- Original title
- The Day the Earth Stood Still
- Language
- EN
- Country
- CA,US
- Budget
- $80,000,000
- Revenue
- $233,093,859
Wuchak
Nov 28, 2019 · via TMDB
***Intriguing, Spiritual, Insightful, Moving*** "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (2008) is an intriguing, powerful and even moving modern sci-fi blockbuster. I particularly like the symbolism: Klaatu=Christ, GORT=YaHWeH, as well as the numerous biblical references: Noah's Ark, the death plague, human beings trying to put God in a box literally, the sacrificial nature of agape love, etc. In other words, the film tackles subjects of great depth that every human being can relate to whatever their belief system. This itself separates it from the usual idiotic blockbuster fare. Now let me address some common criticisms (please see the film first before reading further due to **SPOILERS**): The kid is initially quite annoying but this is understandable as he's an archetype for what humankind is: an annoying, untrusting, simpleminded child-race. His sudden change into "maturity" represents how humanity needs to "grow-up." This helps make sense of the kid's repeated statements about killing Klaatu, which were magnified by the media's slander of Klaatu as a dangerous escaped convict. Klaatu's strange actions helped feed this negative mindset. As for the kid's dead father, the boy was only 9 years old and understood his father to be a soldier. Why wouldn't he have a mythical impression that he killed 'bad guys' for a living, likely with his bare hands? The judgment of mass human destruction was already set for the earth after hundreds of years of observation, including an Asian scout who lived with humans for 70 years. Klaatu was sent to activate the judgment UNLESS he observed some clear indication that the harsh judgment wasn't necessary yet. Klaatu didn't change the original plan UNTIL very late in the story, which is why he stated to Helen that he wasn't sure if he could overturn it. Although Klaatu was the primary agent, he wasn’t necessarily alone. Gort was there and he was only partially robotic, as well as Mr. Wu. There were probably hundreds/thousands of other aliens involved in one way or another. The military attacks because their modus operandi is to defend the nation, which was augmented by the destructive nature of humanity in general. When Bate's character finally decides to send Helen out to talk with Klaatu she was the government’s proverbial last hope. All other governmental attempts to prevent the judgment failed abysmally up to this point, not to mention the judgment of mass destruction was ALREADY well into motion. Other national leaders were concerned with saving their own. The biggest sphere was the central command orb. Klaatu didn't possess the power to stop the swarm himself; he had to get to the central orb to attempt to stop the mass destruction. Even then, he wasn't sure if he could do it. In fact, it cost him dearly. The alien swarm only destroyed humanity and all human imprints (like the stadium, the the installation and the semi); I saw no evidence of the swarms destroying trees or animal life. The animal ark-orbs were obviously precautionary in nature; in other words, the aliens knew there would be collateral damage due to the nature of the swarms so they snatched away all manner of animal life as a precaution. Klaatu made it quite clear what he was doing: saving the earth by destroying humanity and their intrinsic bent toward destruction. The way he put it was: If humanity lives the earth will die, but if humanity dies the earth will live. The Aliens are powerful, but it's inaccurate to call them careless. They monitored the planet for centuries and their decision was carefully decided. To write-off humanity's destructive bent as "minor-league carelessness" is shallow and un-enlightened, as well as wholly inaccurate. The aliens' actions had nothing to do with "might makes right" but everything to do with saving a planet from the infection that would wholly destroy it (people) if they failed to act. Their celestial judgment was that the cancer HAD to be cut out and time was of the essence. Really, the only "detestable characters" are the government as a whole, which is displayed as a cold machine. Helen (Jennifer Connelly) is a character of beauty, reverence and wisdom while the professor plays humanity's wise intercessor. Kathy Bates' character is unlikable because she represents the government and comes off as an arrogant machine-like biyatch. After she's completely humbled, however, she changes her tune. Meanwhile the kid is only 9 years old and lost both of his biological parents; cut him some slack. Besides, he also changes his tune and Klaatu takes on the role of his spiritual father. How can you NOT feel for Jacob when he falls on his face at his dad's grave? So none of the common gripes hold water. The insane bashing of the film is simply the result of an unjust critical feeding frenzy. If people would disregard the monkey-see-monkey-do panning and view the film with an open mind they might actually enjoy it and possibly discover something worthwhile. The film runs 1 hour, 43 minutes. GRADE: A-
Rob
Aug 10, 2015 · via TMDB
Terrible remake, original vastly superior
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Keanu Reeves
Klaatu
Jennifer Connelly
Helen Benson
Jaden Smith
Jacob Benson
Jon Hamm
Michael Granier
Kathy Bates
Regina Jackson
John Cleese
Professor Barnhardt
Kyle Chandler
John Driscoll
Robert Knepper
Colonel
Brandon T. Jackson
Target Tech
James Hong
Mr. Wu
Jake McLaughlin
Soldier
John Rothman
Dr. Myron
Sunita Prasad
Rouhani
Juan Riedinger
William Kwan
Sam Gilroy
Tom
Tanya Champoux
Isabel
Rukiya Bernard
Student
Mousa Kraish
Yusef
J.C. MacKenzie
Grossman
Kurt Max Runte
Civil Engineer
Daniel Bacon
Winslow
Reese Alexander
Sergeant
Richard Keats
Helicopter Scientist #1
Bill Mondy
Helicopter Scientist #2
Judith Maxie
Helicopter Scientist #3
Serge Houde
Scientist #1
Lorena Gale
Scientist #2
Stefanie Samuels
Guardswoman
Richard Tillman
Army Sergeant
Camille Atebe
NYPD #1
Thomas Bradshaw
NYPD #2
Terence Dament
NYPD #3
Patrick Sabongui
Soldier #1
Jacob Blair
Soldier #2
Shaine Jones
Soldier #3
George Sharperson
Cop
Shaker Paleja
Medic #1
Doug Chapman
Medic #2
Marci T. House
Medic #3
Aaron Craven
Technician
Roger Cross
General Quinn
Heather Doerksen
Regina's Aide
Hiro Kanagawa
Dr. Ikegawa
Craig Stanghetta
Grey Man
Stefan Busse
Grey Man
Dean Redman
Military Policeman
David Richmond-Peck
Polygraph Operator
Darien Provost
Little Boy
Daniel St. Andrews
Train Passenger #1
Brad Dryborough
Train Passenger #2
Ken Kirzinger
Arguing Evacuee
Blair Redford
Army Fighter Pilot #1
Daniel Wisler
Army Fighter Pilot #2
Mark Kogan
Air Traffic Controller
Ed Fong
Wu's Grandson
Sandy Colton
Army Corps Engineer Captain
Ty Olsson
Flash Chamber Colonel
Jay-Nicolas Hackleman
State Trooper
Dawn Chubai
News Anchor
Joshua Close
Flash Chamber Engineer
Leanne Adachi
Flash Chamber Tech
Geoff Meed
Field Commander Communications Officer
Michael Hogan
General
Ben Cotton
Truck Driver
Kevan Kase
Pickup Truck Driver
Josue Aguirre
Humvee Soldier
Matt Adler
(voice)
Andrew Li
Assistant Art Director
Ken Rabehl
Production Illustrator
Benton Jew
Storyboard Artist
David Tattersall
Director of Photography
Doane Gregory
Still Photographer
Allan A. Apone
Makeup Department Head
Todd Masters
Special Effects Makeup Artist
Andrew Roberts
CG Supervisor
Daniel Mellitz
Compositor
Matt Aitken
Digital Effects Supervisor
Frédéric North
Pilot
Brian Machleit
Stunt Coordinator
J.J. Makaro
Stunt Coordinator
Steve M. Davison
Stunt Coordinator
Larissa Stadnichuk
Stunt Double
Pete Turner
Stunt Double
Simon Burnett
Stunt Double
Aaron Au
Stunts
Buddy Joe Hooker
Stunts
Fraser Aitcheson
Stunts
Guy Bews
Stunts
Hugo Steele
Stunts
Ieisha Auyeung
Stunts
Jeff Dashnaw
Stunts
Laura Lee Connery
Stunts
Maja Aro
Stunts
Melissa R. Stubbs
Stunts
Nick Brandon
Stunts
Nickolas Baric
Stunts
Noah Beggs
Stunts
Rick Pearce
Stunts
Shawn Beaton
Stunts
Scott Derrickson
Director
Jeff Habberstad
Second Unit Director
Erwin Stoff
Producer
Gregory Goodman
Producer
Paul Harris Boardman
Producer
Tyler Bates
Original Music Composer
Artemis Oikonomopoulou
CG Artist
Phillip Leonhardt
Compositing Supervisor
Paul Story
Lead Animator
Matsune Suzuki
Modeling
Ben Shepherd
Visual Effects Supervisor
R. Christopher White
Visual Effects Supervisor
David Scarpa
Screenplay
Contact
AEON
The Lives of Others
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Boyz n the Hood
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The Man Who Knew Too Much
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Doctor Who: The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe
October (Ten Days that Shook the World)
Heart Blackened
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City of Angels
The Thomas Crown Affair
Men in Black II
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Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
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Nightwatch
Jaws 2
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Earth Girls Are Easy
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The Core
Dec 12, 2008
Apr 7, 2009
DVD & Blu-Ray Release
