Story
Dr Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly), a biologist with a young stepson Jacob (Jaden Smith), is bundled into a government car and taken to a rendezvous. Along with dozens of other scientists, she is told that an object is approaching Earth at great speed. It will crash into Manhattan’s Central Park in less than 90 minutes.
The object, a giant glowing sphere, lands and an alien walks out. Just as Helen is about to make physical contact with the alien, it is shot by one of the police or soldiers surrounding the sphere. As soon as the alien falls to the ground, a giant robot comes out of the sphere and emits a high-pitched sound that causes everyone to fall to the ground stunned. At this point, the alien gives a command and the robot shuts down.
The alien is rushed to hospital where the bullet is removed, and he takes on human form (Keanu Reeves). The alien’s name is Klaatu. He represents a delegation of planetary leaders and wishes to speak to our world leaders. Rather than taking Klaatu to meet with world leaders, the Secretary of Defence, Regina Jackson (Kathy Bates), instructs Helen to drug him so that he can be taken to a secure location. Helen secretly assists the alien to escape.
It turns out that Klaatu is here not to save the human race but to save the Earth and its animals by ridding the Earth of humans. Helen begs him to give her a chance to prove that humans can change and takes him to meet her mentor, Professor Barnhardt (John Cleese). Professor Barnhardt attempts to sway Klaatu’s opinion by arguing that humans will evolve when faced with crisis. The authorities arrive and Klaatu, Helen and Jacob flee into the forest.
Meanwhile, Klaatu’s protector, the giant robot, which the military has dubbed GORT (Genetically Organic Robotic Technology), has been moved to a secret underground location where the military attempt to find out what makes it work. GORT responds by transforming into a swarm of billions of metallic insect-like creatures, which destroy everything in their path.
The film becomes a race against time as Helen tries to convince Klaatu to give humankind a second chance before it is too late.
Themes
Extraterrestrial beings; the end of humankind
Violence
The Day the Earth Stood Still contains violence throughout, including mass destruction and battle violence, some brutal violence, and some low-level blood and gore. For example:
Sexual references
None of concern
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
There is some use of substances in this movie. For example:
- Klaatu and Jacob ride in the back of a pick-up truck. When they are dropped off, a woman holding a can of beer hangs her head and shoulders out of the truck’s window in an intoxicated manner and shouts at them before the truck speeds away.
- We hear talk about sedating Klaatu and see a woman holding a drug vial with Classified written on it. A woman gives Klaatu an injection without his consent.
Nudity and sexual activity
There is some nudity and sexual activity in this movie, including a nude man lying on his side, who is shown from behind.
Product placement
The following products are displayed or used in this movie:
- LG phones and computers
- action figures based on a computer game (Halo).
Coarse language
None of concern
Ideas to discuss with your children
The Day the Earth Stood Still is a remake of a 1951 sci-fi classic. Although the film has the advantages of modern day CGI effects, sci-fi fans may be disappointed.
The main messages from this movie are that:
- Humans are self-destructive and can be their own worst enemies.
- Humans are capable of making life-altering behavioural changes, but need to be faced with crisis or extinction to be moved enough to make the changes. This process is part of our evolution.
Values in this movie that you might wish to reinforce with your children include:
- love and empathy, as shown by Helen towards her frightened and angry stepson, Jacob
- mercy and compassion, as shown by Klaatu several times when he saves human lives
- understanding, trust and friendship, as shown in Jacob’s developing relationship with Klaatu.
You could also talk about:
- the relationship of humans to planet Earth
- the idea that human civilisations must reach crisis point before they can evolve to deal with problems.