"The Day the Earth Stood Still" Movie Review Main Characters: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, Jaden Smith

Finally, a 5 Star Movie! This was a great movie starring Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, and Jaden Smith, at their best. Basically, this movie follows a similar plot as "Signs" and "Independence Day". There's an alien invasion but the main difference is the awesome graphics. The use of light and color are very well employed.

Keanu is somewhere in the very, very cold arctic when he uncovers a glowing sphere-like object in the snow. Jennifer Connelly plays Doctor Helen Benson, in which her specialty is micro-biology. Benson has custody of Jacob, whose father past away during a military coup. Jacob, played by Jaden Smith, doesn't like his step mother and is very bitter from his father's early passing.

While Benson is preparing dinner, she receives a phone call and the FBI shows up at her door. She is forced to go with them but no one can tell her why; it's top secret. Finally she arrives at a military base and joins a team of soldiers and scientists. There, they are briefed and learn that some kind of spaceship has landed in Central Park. Originally, they thought the ship was going to crash into the earth, but right before impact, it slows down and lands.

Something that I found odd was that the FBI convoy was lead by motorcycles even though it was raining; there was a total of 8 motorcycles and 4 SUVs, and the highway was closed, all for just one person. The main character, Klaatu, played by Reeves comes out of the space-orb and is taken into custody. During the interview, he asks to speak to the United Nations to define his reason for coming to earth. Cathy Bates plays the role of Secretary of State (both the President and Vice President are in hiding), and she is very tough as she insists that Klaatu explain to her why he is here.

Klaatu escapes with the help of Dr. Benson and they later meet up. I should also make mention that the space-orb is protected by a giant robotic machine who only fights when provoked. It is able to interfere with radio waves and can take control of any aircraft that tries to get near it. He is indestructible at best.

Klaatu explains to the good doctor that his purpose is to represent many groups of civilizations and that the earth's inhabitants are destroying themselves and are heading for a great doom. As we have seen in real history, humans tend to be ethnocentric and think they are invincible. In spite of the ignorance of the human race, Klaatu displays genuine empathy toward them.

I'm not much of a Sci-Fi fan, but I have to tell you that this is an excellent movie! There is a lot of conflict between Benson and Jacob, but with the help of Klaatu, they are able to settle the past. There is a scene where they heal from the loss of Jacob's father at his grave site. A long story short, Klaatu sacrifices himself for Jacob and all man-kind. I think that this movie along with "The Pursuit of Happyness", is the spring board to Jaden Smith's future career in the movies. I can't wait for 20 years from now to see the whole Smith family together on screen.