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A new sci-fi other than a super hero movie is a nice addition to our theater selection these days. I will admit that I did not do any research at all on this film before I saw it. The previews did not look good but I have learned my lesson about prejudging movies based off previews. I did not even know it was a remake until I was told a few days after I saw it! I also found out that the original movie was also an adaptation of a short story. So this new film is a remake of an adaptation; why does that not seem usual?

Quick Breakdown

Audio Quality: No sign of common audio files. Sound is superb!

Visuals/Effects: No time was wasted on canny special effects. The CG present was well done but I felt the overall atmosphere could have been better.

Acting: Reeves was perfect for the part of Klaatu. Jennifer Connelly and Jaden Smith also did a decent job.

Plot: Well conceived and laid out. It may be hard to understand at some points, but you will leave theaters thinking.

Overall Score: Three and a half stars out of a possible five

Background on the plot:

The movie is a remake of a 1951 film of the same name. How closely it follows I do not know. Keanu Reeves plays an alien visitor named Klaatu whom has flown to Earth in a giant glowing orb. Klaatu is in a human form and he is here to decide whether or not humans should be allowed to continue their existence on earth. If not then he will allow his robot companion “Gort” to destroy mankind. It’s up to Helen Benson and her son Jacob to convince Klaatu that mankind can change. The new screenplay was written by David Scarpa and the film was directed by Scott Derrickson.

My Review

Luckily for me I was pleasantly surprised. The sounds and visuals were well done and the overall plot was very entertaining. Keanu Reeves has been described to me as a stiff actor which made him perfect for the role as an alien visitor. I am very happy that I did not see another typical sci-fi alien that resembles an ugly humanoid. When Klaatu was asked what he originally was his response was the best I have ever heard. Although human, Klaatu does have the power to control electrical devices and heal people.

Jennifer Connelly and Jaden Smith also played their role quite well. The child character Jacob was not very annoying and his dialogue was well chosen. Helen was convincing despite her calmness. Nothing felt overdone or overemphasized. The various other actors throughout the film played their role well enough to keep things convincing, which is all they really needed to do.

On the visual side of things the movie looked very good. The dark atmosphere was appropriate and the CG was not overdone and canny like so many modern day action films. My biggest complaint with the visuals was the lack of people in the shots. Example; at one point the city of Manhattan was evacuated, however I never saw the people leave. I did not see enough crowds of people and their reactions, so essentially I did not get a good grasp on how the world was reacting to the situation in the movie. It really is not a big deal, just a minor disappointment.

The sound was just excellent. In most sci-fi’s the same typical audio clips are played over and over again making things sound so canny. Here the sound is diverse and natural making the overall experience that much more enjoyable.

The plot is my favorite aspect of the film (yes I do watch some films just for the action) and it is the main force driving the movie. I will admit that at times it is not easy to follow or not very clear, but I like this. You must pay attention to what is going on and remember what has been said. This can be irritating to some casual movie goers. If you are into simplistic plots that are easy to follow than I do not recommend this film to you.

The plot is not very predictable, yet it is also not overloaded with twists that you just will not care to guess what is next. You are never sure what Klaatu’s final decision will be. He is being combated with violence as well as reason so the tension is always consistent throughout the film. Klaatu’s actions are always well calculated, but that does not mean you know what he is going to do next which keeps the tension mounting.

Overall I enjoyed this film from start to finish. After some nit-picking it does have its flaws and it will not appeal to very casual movie goers, but it keeps itself entertaining in various ways. If you are absolutely craving something that is both different and intricate, and you don’t mind the sci-fi genre, then this is the perfect move to see in theaters right now! It’s been in theaters for quite some time now so I would catch it while you still can.