The Day the Audience Could Not Be Moved

At the tender age of 25, Hollywood icon Keanu Reeves scored a role that would forever be ingrained within the hearts and minds of movie buffs everywhere, as totally excellent. After all, where else would we learn that San Dimas High School football rules, or that Socrates considers Sigmund Freud quite the geek?

It would have been utterly fantastic if all consequent pictures of this limited performer were the roaring successes of this highly iconic predecessor. “Speed” was to a certain extent, and many reacted favorably toward his portrayal of Neo in the now celebrated “Matrix” trilogy. Unfortunately, the creation of consistent gems is nearly impossible.

Even more so is his recent effort, the remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic, “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” which stands at the farthest possible point of the brilliance spectrum from its considerably awe-worthy original.

With the world – both fictional and creative – in chaotic disarray, a visitor from a faraway cosmos (Reeves) lands on Earth. His motives are undetermined, though the population at large reacts in a variety of ways.

The Secretary of Defense of the United States, Regina Jackson (Kathy Bates), however, rages supreme as the primary aggressor to the visitor Klaatu’s mission. He wants to be taken to Earth’s leaders to discuss a dire situation; she represents the U.S. government and insists that he must be interrogated instead.

A sympathetic force comes in the form of Doctor Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly), a widowed scientist hired to join a team to examine the bizarre circumstances surrounding Klaatu’s arrival. Due to a series of somewhat contrived but altogether entertaining events, Klaatu easily escapes the facility with the help of Benson and her step-son, Jacob (Jaden Smith). افضل موقع مراهنات كرة القدم

Meanwhile, Klaatu’s gigantic, organic automaton protector, GORT, begins an all-out assault on humanity, though to be perfectly honest, they started it.

While this film is admittedly captivating at times and the references to global warming and violence are at once poignant and timely, something is still missing. Maybe it’s the realistic character development or lack of plot holes or the desperate wish for something more than wooden acting from Reeves.

Whatever the case may be, the woefully unnecessary (and insulting, to some) remake of “The Day the Earth Stood Still” does more than pale in comparison to the original: it eviscerates its sensitive charm and wisdom with the might of a billion mechanical locusts.

Though – holy plot holes – these very mechanical monstrosities are admittedly inconsistent in their demolition deliveries: Hollywood logic at its finest.

That said, there may be a hidden genius to Reeves’ tragic performance (though it’s doubtful). لعبة الحظ الحقيقية He is an alien creature, after all – completely unfamiliar with our way of life, and therefore a complete lack of any emotion is highly realistic.

Right.

On the other hand, Bates does deliver another powerhouse performance and any film lucky enough to feature her in all her machismo-oozing greatness is worth at least a glance.

Connelly and Smith are touching in their respective roles of step-mother and step-son and the film, in general, is watchable.

But merely being tolerable and mildly entertaining does not quality cinema make, since that pesky originality requirement continues to rear its ugly head at the most inopportune times.

So in honor of the film’s cliché, here’s another: “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”