The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

Really, just make a sci-fi movie better than the average Sci-Fi Channel fare and I'm relieved. Make it better than the War of the Worlds remake and I'm pleased. This remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still is better than some would have you believe. (I suppose it helps if you are a parent.) It is certainly better than the remake of The War of the Worlds for story and special effects but, more importantly, it involved me emotionally, even without comparing it to the original The Day the Earth Stood Still. In fact, I liked this remake quite a bit and would watch it again. (I picked it up as a redbox free Monday rental.) Yes, the plot was a little murky but it ambled along. This adaptation frequently reminded me of two favorite apocalyptic sci-fi novels from Greg Bear, The Forge of God for the extraterrestrial pronouncement of doom and Blood Music for the all-consuming nanocytes. It left me unclear about the big swirly balls of light: Were they weapons or arks for animal life (or a mix, since the one in Central Park remained)? The changes from the original movie esp. those involving Gort left more room for special effects and worked out in the end but made me wonder: Why make so many changes esp. since they left the exact mechanism and extent of Earth's imminent destruction somewhat cloudy (unless the cyberlocusts greatly multiplied and the swirly globes packed more oomph than they had let on)? I appreciated the human touches added to this version: Kathy Bates channeling Hillary Clinton channeling a gutsy Secretary of Defense, the Visitor's conversation in Chinese then English in the cafe, the Visitor's dialog with John Cleese, and Jennifer Connolly's emotional plea for humanity. Cleese, Connolly, and the Chinese gentleman (James Hong) all represented humanity well and I also appreciated the adoptive son (Jaden Smith), who did a yeoman's job in an unpretentious role surrounded by portentious adults. Keanu Reeves has turned his wooden countenance into a bankable asset whenever he plays the taciturn harbinger of doom. Similar to The Forge of God's "Ask important questions" scene, I don't view it as hamhanded for an unprepossessing alien Visitor threatening genocide to speak forthrightly: "No, it's not your planet. If Earth dies, you die. If you die, Earth lives. The decision has been made." Any crisis forms a crux of transformation. The Day the Earth Stood Still delivers. 4 stars.