Day the Earth Stood Still, The (2008, USA/CDN) C-104m. SCOPE **½ D: Scott Derickson. Starring Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, Jaden Smith, John Cleese, James Hong. Big-budget remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic, about astro-biologist Connelly, who is whisked away to Manhattan, where an extra-terrestrial object is calculated to impact. It turns out to be a spaceship which lands in Central Park, and its terrifying mission is slowly disclosed to her and her foster son Smith by alien-turned-human Reeves. Fast-paced CGI-adventure does provide a timely message, but it still seems hollow, maybe because most of the characters are stereotypes. Not so bad if you go along for the ride.



© Ron Altman @ www.cultfilmz.com