Review: CGI effects distract from the point of "The Day the Earth Stood Still"

A science fiction remake after 57 years should put a studio in safe territory. The special effects alone would be enough to get a film made. But let me lay it out this way: The incredible visual effects in "The Day the Earth Stood Still" are so incredible that we've come home — full circle — and, just as then, do not believe they are real and have to ignore the crude fantasies of filmmaking as necessary tools to tell a story.

The wizard behind the curtain has been revealed: CGI (computer generated images) can no longer be the reason for the story or be relied upon to tell the story. "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is a perfect example. The film is so CGI-laden that near the end of the film I realized that with a few tweaks here and there this could be considered an animated movie. A computer generated movie. A cartoon.

In fact there was only one effect in the entire film that made me flinch: a real sport utility vehicle is involved in an explosion and goes end over end. It was effective and real and — this is the point — dangerous. It was as exciting to see, as I'm sure it was to shoot; the "special effect" got me. It worked.

Of course if you've seen the 1951 version, you know the story is not about space ships and special effects, but a story about our moral responsibilities to each other and the Earth. The genre of science fiction was used as a storytelling device. It was used to break human barriers of thought and prejudice. It was a means to an end. It seems that in our modern day of commerce at any cost, dazzling lights and big bangs are becoming our end product.

But why am I highly recommending the film? Because the story is good. It's really good. It's political but not political. It's religious but not religious. It's humane and frightening and so spot-on that every human on this planet knows that Klaatu is speaking the truth.

Here's the facts: The U.S. is tracking an object traveling at incredible speeds heading straight for Earth. With no time to stop or divert the object, the government rounds up it's top scientists from all fields to help deal with the disastrous aftermath. The scientists quickly tell the government that with it's size and speed the crash will surely annihilate Earth. Everything happens so fast that no one can do anything except brace for impact. But then there's no impact.

The object turns out to be a building sized orb, or space ship, that lands safely. An alien being of some sort steps out and seems to offer its hand in friendship to one of the scientists. A soldier thinks it's an aggressive move and shoots it down. This brings on the rage of another type of being that's supersized and looks to cause real damage. When the first being stops the second from going off, the scientists take the opportunity to get the first being to a medical station. There the first being starts losing its outer skin to reveal a human body.

Voila, it's Keanu Reeves as Klaatu, a messenger from a federation of planets here to warn the humans of Earth of their immediate death if they don't stop ruining the planet with their excessive and destructive ways.

Yeah, yeah, we know we're not treating the earth as we should. ... No, we're not getting it. Klaatu is here to save the Earth, not necessarily humans.

Steve E. Turner is a freelance movie reviewer and filmmaker. Read more of his reviews at www.picassofish.blogspot.com.