The Day the Earth Stood Still is a remake of the 1951 science fiction film of the same name. An indestructible robot and mankind’s future will surface in the story of Klaatu (Keanu Reeves), an alien messenger. He heads to Earth with the robot Gort to deliver a warning of planetary destruction. The annihilation of the world will not be stopped unless the people bring peace to their civilizations. Upon their arrival on Earth, scientists and states race to unravel his existence, bringing about a global upheaval. Everyone tries to answer the question of why Klaatu and Gort are there. But microbiologist Helen (Jennifer Connelly) and her stepson Jacob (Jaden Smith) have to understand the results of Klaatu’s proclamation of his being a “friend to the Earth.”

The original Robert Wise-directed film starred Michael Rennie as Klaatu, Lock Martin as Gort, Patricia Neal as Helen, and Billy Gray as her stepson. It was criticized for its explicit message of peace, as well as its allusions to the Catholic religion. It has, however, ranked seventh in Arthur C. Clarke's List of the best Science-Fiction films of all time.

This time, The Day the Earth Stood Still updates the original film’s themes of the Cold War and nuclear warfare. The film now deals with more contemporary concerns like the general violence that man inflicts on Earth and his fellow inhabitants. The remake will supposedly stay faithful to its predecessor, but has more chances of taking more elements from the short story it is based from. The Day the Earth Stood Still is an adaptation of Farewell to the Master by Harry Bates. It also stars Kathy Bates, John Cleese, and Jon Hamm, and is distributed by 20th Century Fox. It was directed by Scott Derrickson, who has also worked on the 2005 horror The Exorcism of Emily Rose.


-Maria Gonzalez, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image courtesy of 20th Century Fox)