A sphere originating from outer space falls to earth in the Central Park, Manhattan. Called by the Secretary of Defense to investigate the occurrence, a group of scientists gather to explore the foreign object. In the process, a “reborn alien” called Klaatu is found. The scientists bring the alien being to military facility for further exploration. Throughout the movie, a character named Dr. Helen Benson makes the decision to assist the alien in his escape with the intention of saving all mankind from destruction.
Playing the role of alien (Klaatu) is Keanu Reeves with Jennifer Connelly playing the role of Dr. Helen Benson. Other actors and actresses in “The Day the Earth Stood Still” include: Kathy Bates (as Secretary of Defense Regina Jackson), Jaden Smith (as Jacob Benson), John Cleese (as Professor Barnhardt), and Jon Hamm (as Michael Granier).
Awards and Recognition
“The Day the Earth Stood Still” received recognition for its visual effects and other movie touches. Below you will find some of the award nominations, as well as a win associated with the film:
The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films nominated Jaden Smith for a Saturn Award in the category of Best Performance by a Younger Actor. They also nominated the movie for Best Science Fiction Film.
At the MovieGuide Awards, Scott Derrickson took home an award for Best Film for Mature Audiences.
The Satellite Awards nominated William R. Dean and David Husby in the category of Best Sound (Mixing & Editing) for their work on “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” Jeffrey A. Okun was also nominated for his contribution in Best Visual Effects.
The Visual Effects Society Awards nominated four individuals for a VES Award for Best Single Visual Effect of the Year. It was the scene that involved the newborn Klaatu which caught the eye of committee members.
“The Day the Earth Stood Still” Trivia and Facts
The director of the movie was Scott Derrickson, who wrote the “Exorcism of Emily Rose.”
The film was released on December 12th, 2008, which was the same day as one of the actress’s birthday , Jennifer Connelly. She turned 38 years old.
“The Day the Earth Stood Still” lasted 104 minutes.
In the original film, a flying saucer orbits the Earth and lands in Washington DC. Emerging from the craft, the main character (Klaatu) is shot. Following his companion, Gort, an indestructible robot appears out of the spacecraft and causes all of the weapons to melt, including the tanks. If only the people knew that Gort was capable of much more. While the movie was a remake of a 1951 version, Scott Derrickson made changes to the new adaptation. For example, the design of Gort is quite similar to the original portrayal, but instead of being a mechanical character, Derrickson chose to create a biological form. He felt that extraterrestrial races in the future should highlight advancements.