The Day the Earth Stood Still

Note: May contain spoilers

Read if you have watched it, will not watch it, or if you don’t care.

I just watched The Day the Earth Stood Still (TDESS) last night. I liked it, hence I’m writing down all my thoughts about it.

It was the greatest alien movie I’ve ever seen. Most I know are absurd bordering on pathetic. This movie gave justice to the alien race.

It was a remake of a 1951 film. Of course, this one now has advanced alien weaponry and U.S. government offense and defense technology.

Keanu Reeves (Klaatu) is the star of the movie. He was the alien, who adapted a human form, claiming to save the Earth. As an officemate said, this role suits Keanu. He acts best in roles that require little emotion (e.g., Matrix). Compliment or not, you decide. Jennifer Connely (Helen Benson) is the beautiful nerd who was called, more like forced, by the U.S. government to solve the alien problem. Perhaps of her “hotness,” I find it hard to believe that she is a scientist, but she did okay in the film. Jaden Smith (Jacob Benson), Will Smith’s son, was the orphaned stepson of Helen Benson. The most touching scenes belong to him. That kid is a good actor.

The movie was apocalyptic. Most likely, the viewers know what the conclusion would be. Still, you watch it to know how it unfolds, and I was satisfied. Although there are things that I don’t like about it, specially the cheesy and preachy lines, generally, it was a good film. Here are the good points I have for TDESS:

1. Klaatu did not just take over a human body to pass for human. There was an explanation (scientific) on how he has a human body. Plus, he did not have to be silly, slimy, and green to be identified as an alien. He’s probably one of the best alien characters, Mr. Bean being on top of my list.
2. I like best the scene where Klaatu and a Nobel-winner biologist seemed to be conversing on a blackboard through equations.
3. The Earth will not end through a fireball or smashing explosion. It would disintegrate from one place until all the world is obliterated (although species other than humans are saved). It was unavoidable and it scared me. Apparently, there was nowhere to hide. The minute alien insects were eating away everything, even diamond drills and steel buildings. Imagine that.
4. Two sides of everything. Most portrayed either aliens or humans as bad. Everything is a matter of perspective, so they say.

Klaatu was really here to save the Earth—from us. True enough, we are a destructive species, to the planet (global warming) and to each other (genocide, wars, crimes), and our planet is dying because of that. But we are not JUST that. We are capable of loving and taking care of our loved ones. Perhaps if humans could do that on a larger scale, our world would fare better.

We can change is the significant argument in the movie. I’ve always believed, as Rousseau, that humans are inherently good. We are at our best in the brink of destruction, and in decades, we will be in that place. We have to change. We can. Isn’t that what Obama said?