SHOCKING! CNN thinks the Keanu Reeves "The Day the Earth Stood Still" remake sucks.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

But the movie never comes up with a convincing explanation for why his superpowers don't extend to, say, picking up a telephone. Apparently the aliens have been monitoring us for at least 70 years, but Klaatu is taken aback to discover our emotional side. Mostly he learns this from Jaden Smith, who plays Dr. Benson's stepson Jacob. It's not necessarily a good emotional side: Jacob is a whiny, obstinate and disobedient little boy that would lead most extraterrestrials -- and not a few of the rest of us -- to reach for the destruct button.

Still, it's surely remiss to wipe out the species before lending an ear to Johann Sebastian Bach.

The original movie is beginning to show its age, but at least it holds up as a story. That's more than you can say for a preachy, draggy blockbuster that espouses a radical message of Luddite technophobia at the same time as it conspicuously plugs Honda and LG Electronics, and dresses up its half-baked thinking in blinding (but not that brilliant) CGI wizardry.

Johnny Carson used to joke that his 1964 bomb "Looking for Love" was so bad it was transferred to flammable nitrate film stock. If they're so determined to be green, perhaps the producers of "The Day the Earth Stood Still" would consider something biodegradable.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/12/review.day.earth.still/index.html

[pokerfan]

1. The original is such a classic

EXT. ARLINGTON CEMETERY - CLOSE SHOT

in one of the many rows are crosses that extend beyond CAMERA
RANGE. CAMERA MOVES IN on one of the crosses. It bears the
name LT. ROBERT BENSON.

TWO SHOT - KLAATU AND B0BBY

as they come into scene and look down at the grave.

BOBBY
That's my father.

(Klaatu glances at
the boy, then nods
understandingly)

He was killed at a place called Anzio.

Klaatu's glance roves out thoughtfully to the infinite rows
of crosses, and his eyes are sad as they return to Bobby.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. ARLINGTON CEMETERY - MED. SHOT - DAY

Klaatu and Bobby are approaching a bench beside a pathway
overhung with trees. Bobby leads the way to the bench and
they sit down. Klaatu's eyes stray out to the myriad crosses.

KLAATU
(Reflectively)
Did all these people die in wars?

BOBBY
(somewhat surprised)
Sure. Didn't you ever hear of
Arlington Cemetery?

KLAATU
No -- I'm afraid not.

BOBBY
(very serious)
Mr. Carpenter" -- you don't seem to
know about anything.

KLAATU
(Amused)
I'll tell you, Bobby -- I've been
away for a long time. Very far away.

BOBBY
Is it different where you've been?
(indicating the cemetery)
Don't they have places like this?

KLAATU
(slowly)
They have cemeteries. But not like
this one... You see, they don't have
any wars.

Bobby looks at him, puzzled and impressed by this
incomprehensible notion.

BOBBY
Gee -- that's a good idea.

[BlueJazz]

2. I'm probably a handful of the people on DU who actually like Reeves a Lot.

He's left wing and although some of his films are not "The Best", I enjoy watching him...

[Amerigo Vespucci]

3. I enjoyed "Speed," but...

...it was an effort to "suspend disbelief" in order to do so. The movie should have fit comfortably on the shelf next to the "Die Hard" and "Lethal Weapon" films, but the acting...not only from Reeves, but from Bullock and Hopper as well...felt really wooden to me.

It was like Marvel Comics in the 70s, where you'd have a cool and legendary artist like Jack Kirby or Neal Adams on a series for a while, then they would suddenly move on and the next issue you'd pick up would be drawn by George Tuska or someone of his ilk. You'd think "The STORY is there, but somehow it's just not jumping off the page."

I didn't buy the "heat" between Reeves and Bullock, and I though Hopper phoned in his performance (no pun intended).

I know what the movie was supposed to be...it just didn't grab me. It's one of those movies that I'll pull off the shelf every once in a while, and I find myself getting bored halfway through and wandering off and doing something else.

[Skittles]

4. I like Keanu

I don't think he is a great actor, yet I find him entertaining

[tigereye]

5. the original is great... not sure why they bothered

[KamaAina]

6. I hadn't realized Keanu was in it

they should probably have called it "The Day The Actors Stood Still". :P