""You should let me go.""
This remake of the 1951 classic is not far from matching it, but is far from impressing me with its cast, and the absence of Klaatu's alien language from the original which stands tall today as one of the most memorable elements of the movie.
The plot revolves around a mysterious alien who calls itself Klaatu that's come to Earth to speak to the United Nations on an urgent matter, but when it's denied that by the Secretary of Defense, a global devastation scheme is set in motion. This plot begins to unfold as emerald green orbs arrive and grow in size all over the planet, causing fear and panic, while a scientist and her son try and figure out how Klaatu will accomplish his ultimatum, and ultimately, try to change it.
Keanu Reeves tried his best to bring Klaatu back to life, but not down to earth as his performance was similar in nature to his role as Neo in the Matrix sequels from 2003, as it relied on looking and sounding intimidating rather than excelling with an actual performance. The role was too serious, and completely comes off like a serious version of Ted, which as anyone can imagine, wouldn't be taken seriously, as was the case here. For Keanu sounded very dull, acted dull, and moved dull, so to speak. For I've never liked him in serious roles, and this was no exception. The best he's done was "Speed"(1994) & "The Matrix" (1999). Possibly "Point Break" (1991)having heard good things about it, but I haven't seen that yet. Point being, that I'm not surprised that he hasn't landed many major acting roles since his Matrix days, as his performance here, or lack of one, certainly proves.
Jennifer Connelly plays Dr. Helen Benson, one of many scientists swooped up by the military to investigate the giant orb in Central Park. Through a series of bizarre events, including Klaatu's emergence from the orb, his transportation to a facility for interrogation by the U.S. Secretary of Defense Regina Jackson (Kathy Bates), and subsequent escape from the facility with Helen's help, the duo find themselves fleeing the U.S. military through Newark & Highlands, New Jersey, the latter being a heavily forested area providing safe hiding for them. Connelly plays her character as being skeptical throughout her performance, as she doubts Klaatu's ability to get anything accomplished by fleeing through the woods, or going to the United Nations since she thinks there's no possible way that the appointed represenatives of the world could agree on anything, even if an alien threatened death otherwise. She plays this role nicely, but it's nothing special.
Tagging along is Benson's son Jacob (Jaden Smith) whose narrow minded view of things proves Klaatu's point in its eyes that the human race is incapable of change, or selflessness, as all Jacob does is complain about trivial things, for he is a foster child who thinks the military is always right because his father was in it, and could careless about Klaatu if its' view of things contradicts the military. So this clearly provides just another burden for Helen in the journey. Jaden on the other hand is just like any other annoying kid that we know from down the street. Nothing special, but he shines a bit better in his performance towards the ending.
Making a surprise appearance as a Nobel Prize winning Professor is John Cleese, whose minimal role provides words of wisdom for Klaatu, and some solace for the viewer who've been wishing for a decent acting stint throughout the movie, as Kathy Bates' role is short lived, as she's not much use to the story after the beginning of Klaatu's journey north. Cleese gave the best performance of all of them pretty much, with Kathy Bates in a close second.
And of course, who can forget GORT (Genetically Organized Robotic Technology), the human sized robot that kidnaps the leading lady and takes her to Klaatu's saucer in the original that fought off a band of military forces. Well, if you didn't remember, then you may remember to forget this GORT, who's about fifty feet tall and doesn't move whatsoever, but it does have the power to shut down the electric power of all New York City, as well as its' military forces. While it looks dazzling, and is easily the best visual in the movie, you can't help but crave seeing GORT move around and cause havoc, but he doesn't, so no hide and seek from the powerful short guy in this one earthlings, just a tin can with a red eye that shines brightest at the center.
Playing John Driscoll who works at a military experimental facility is Kyle Chandler. While his role is also small, it's funny to watch military scientists tackle GORT's neck to try and get inside its head, as GORT was transferred to an underground base via a tin can like trap, and it's at this point in the film where you route for GORT and see all its amazing power, which sadly, is commissioned by millions of flying metallic insects rather than the giant GORT itself, providing another letdown as you'd expect a giant security guard to strut his stuff, but that never happens, making it a real dumb move by screenwriter David Scarpa & story writer Harry Bates.
While the special effects were great as they always are in this movie, it's all just stuff we've seen before, but all overshadowed by the disappointment that is GORT's performance, as yes, we know now that digital characters are capable of giving good ones. Though not this time around. But the emerald orb's are actually rather mesmerizing to stare at, giving you something to do in those scenes featuring it if you become to bored with the movie, as the acting isn't compelling enough to get me enthralled, (not that '50s B movie acting is supposed to be enthralling, as it's typically hilarious) cuz believe me, if they cast better actors, and made GORT kick ass, then I'm sure I would've rated this a 4 or a 3.5.
So all these disappointments, being the acting, lack of GORT kicking ass, and a flawed storyline which proposes that an alien being sent to annihilate the human race can possibly change it's mind because of three different people when an alien spy that's been on Earth for centuries cannot see any reason to change it's mind, then the movie seems even quirkier, making me seriously question the logic to the resolution to Klaatu's ultimatum at the end of the film where the planet is on the brink of devastation.
So overall, some of us will get over these things for their love of scifi movies, and others like me will not, and only see this as another '50s B movie but less funny, which doesn't make it better, or worse, just sub-par. And that I blame on the director Scott Derrikson, whom I haven't heard of, and probably won't again in the near future.
And while I'm not really a fan of the 1951 original, it was very much taken out of context here, as the Earth does not "stand still" for Klaatu's message and arrival as was in the original, in which the title was nearly literally featured, thus clearly selling the point to the viewer. Plus it was displayed in a much more serious and threatening way in this remake, as the cheezy special effects of the original prevented the film makers from honing in on the destructive aspect, and instead focused on the character aspect, as they rather than amazing special effects seemed to be steering the story then, but not here, though because I didn't like the acting I may have been turned off to that aspect of the storytelling. More to the point, the original is still regarded today as something extra special in oldie scifi movies, seeing as you can think of any plot for a '50s scifi/horror flick and its probably already been made into a movie, while this one was rather unique for its time, and even today as nobody could've predicted a story like this, for it didn't ever seem like a movie about aliens wanting to exterminate the human race, despite it being just that, but displayed in a different light on a much more personal level than say, "Plan 9 From Outer Space" (1959) which can't be any more ridiculous to viewers today than any other '50s scifi flick, again, if you were to watch them in today's day and age in contrast to what studios are capable of accomplishing now. But this remake just isn't that unique, and even if this was a brand new plot, it still wouldn't be that great of a movie.
Oh, and one more thing, in the future, if you or your friends ever plan to engage in a very destructive endeavor, then please pick a better place to decide the fate of your mission than a McDonalds. It will make us all very, very happy.
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