Title: The Day the Earth Stood Still
Director: Scott Derrickson
Running Time: 1 hour 44 minutes
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller
I have been craning my neck for this movie. I mean, it's Keanu! Who doesn't like Keanu? Boyish looks, innocent face and those blank but cute expressions... I'm talking on behalf of the girls, okay... I have this one friend who like Keanu so much that she actually attempted to watch this movie at the first week of its screening! I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's big... she usually watch movies at the very last moment... the time where only a selected few cinema is still showing that particular movie.
Well, enough blabbering... let's talk about the movie. It is good to see an escape to those terrorist-themed movies... I mean, there's only THAT many ways you can shoot someone, you know. Anyway, this movie's plot is nothing new. It talks about an alien, Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) being sent to Earth to monitor the humans and to decide whether to "save the Earth from humans". Predictably, he announced that humans are a destructive a species and should be purged to allow the Earth to regenerate and to be repopulated. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly), a famed astrobiologist, with her stepson attempted to sway Klaatu from his decision.
Even before watching the movie, I already know what would be the ending of the movie... of course the power of human compassion and love wins. It doesn't matter that the Earth is dying, and it doesn't matter that more than 50% of the Earth's population is fighting against one another... as long as there is a tiny spark of love left, it will be alright. Just in case you didn't realise it, I'm being sarcastic here.
So, does knowing the storyline before watching it make the movie terrible? Well, astoundingly, no. While this movie will not last even a year in our minds, it is still executed nicely. The plot is thin but you won't feel bored throughout the movie and there are no squeamish love scenes in this movie which seemed to be available in any type of movies; romance, horror, thriller, action, comedy and even animation!
Keanu once again nailed the character with stunning effect. Generally, his acting skills are not considered brilliant. However, his semi-wooden face is perfect for roles like aliens, robots, clones... all the hi-tech expressionless roles. Hope to see more of him in the future.
There's also something that I realised in the movie. The ability of the US government to allow such demeaning movies to be screened is admirable. When you watch this movie, you'd be laughing at how stupid they are at reacting to their encounter with unknown beings. Just a side note, I think there's a law that says that it is illegal for a common citizen with no approval to contact with alien life forms too!
I supposed that apart from the environmental message that the film is trying to send, it is also trying to say that technology would be our ultimate unmaking. He repeatedly shows how all our technologies are used against us when the US is battling one single automaton.
Well, it a movie with Keanu, message on environment and technology and alien technology! What's not to like?
Observation: When the automaton is purging the life on Earth with its tiny critters, Keanu's clothes are surprisingly resistant to it even though it managed to disintegrate a stadium in seconds.
Bottomline: A surprisingly simple but enjoyable movie
Bamboo Ranking: 3.8 / 5.0
Director: Scott Derrickson
Running Time: 1 hour 44 minutes
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller
I have been craning my neck for this movie. I mean, it's Keanu! Who doesn't like Keanu? Boyish looks, innocent face and those blank but cute expressions... I'm talking on behalf of the girls, okay... I have this one friend who like Keanu so much that she actually attempted to watch this movie at the first week of its screening! I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's big... she usually watch movies at the very last moment... the time where only a selected few cinema is still showing that particular movie.
Well, enough blabbering... let's talk about the movie. It is good to see an escape to those terrorist-themed movies... I mean, there's only THAT many ways you can shoot someone, you know. Anyway, this movie's plot is nothing new. It talks about an alien, Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) being sent to Earth to monitor the humans and to decide whether to "save the Earth from humans". Predictably, he announced that humans are a destructive a species and should be purged to allow the Earth to regenerate and to be repopulated. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly), a famed astrobiologist, with her stepson attempted to sway Klaatu from his decision.
Even before watching the movie, I already know what would be the ending of the movie... of course the power of human compassion and love wins. It doesn't matter that the Earth is dying, and it doesn't matter that more than 50% of the Earth's population is fighting against one another... as long as there is a tiny spark of love left, it will be alright. Just in case you didn't realise it, I'm being sarcastic here.
So, does knowing the storyline before watching it make the movie terrible? Well, astoundingly, no. While this movie will not last even a year in our minds, it is still executed nicely. The plot is thin but you won't feel bored throughout the movie and there are no squeamish love scenes in this movie which seemed to be available in any type of movies; romance, horror, thriller, action, comedy and even animation!
Keanu once again nailed the character with stunning effect. Generally, his acting skills are not considered brilliant. However, his semi-wooden face is perfect for roles like aliens, robots, clones... all the hi-tech expressionless roles. Hope to see more of him in the future.
There's also something that I realised in the movie. The ability of the US government to allow such demeaning movies to be screened is admirable. When you watch this movie, you'd be laughing at how stupid they are at reacting to their encounter with unknown beings. Just a side note, I think there's a law that says that it is illegal for a common citizen with no approval to contact with alien life forms too!
I supposed that apart from the environmental message that the film is trying to send, it is also trying to say that technology would be our ultimate unmaking. He repeatedly shows how all our technologies are used against us when the US is battling one single automaton.
Well, it a movie with Keanu, message on environment and technology and alien technology! What's not to like?
Observation: When the automaton is purging the life on Earth with its tiny critters, Keanu's clothes are surprisingly resistant to it even though it managed to disintegrate a stadium in seconds.
Bottomline: A surprisingly simple but enjoyable movie
Bamboo Ranking: 3.8 / 5.0
2 comments:
oi, 3.8?? Keanu is damn good looking, but the story line was very lousy ler!!!
That's why I gave 3.8 instead of 4.0 :P
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