On D List of Movie Reviews
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The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
12/15
12/15:
Not exactly The War of the Worlds, The Day the Earth Stood Still is one of the most intelligent,
thought-provoking sci-fi pictures made.
It's the defensive, reactive, and militaristic stance taken by the Americans to protect their soil that has my eyes rolling
because you know it's true. They care about nothing but themselves.
I love the part when the alien visitor gave a demonstration of he could do: turning off the power except for the planes
and hospitals (clever because I was going to point them out, but they covered these bases). Imagine what would
happen if there was no internet connection anymore. Unfortunately, the ending is an open-ended question. The
obvious answer is: the Americans won't keep their promise because they are too undisciplined and selfish.
Michael Rennie doesn't get enough credit for his performance as Klaatu. He has a good presence for an alien visitor. His
character is also unassuming and easygoing yet is observant and knows how to deal with trivial matters which are typical of
Americans.
During my class for differential equations, my professor mentioned an equation used in this film. So, I was curious to see it.
Lo and behold, there it is on the chalkboard. I believe it's the first time I've seen advanced math in movies besides
Good Will Hunting.
All in all, I put off seeing The Day the Earth Stood Still for a long time, but the wait has been worth it.