MOVIE: The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

The Day the Earth Stood Still
1951
direction: Wise, R.
screenplay: North, E.

quickie:
Aliens have arrived! And we shot them for no good reason! Good thing they’re pacifists!

general impression:
Surprisingly smart.

lows:
It’s… science fiction.

highs:
Really, really smart. The misanthropes will be pleased.

notes:
After watching this movie, I wanted to just promote to everyone I know. Which I didn’t do because I don’t know a lot of people who enjoy movies.

That aside, The Day the Earth Stood Still is a great, great film. It is not cinematic genius and not particularly engaging but it illustrates what is wrong with us as a society.

The alien eloquently puts it this way “you’re letting fear get in the way of logic”

I originally was not at all interested in seeing this film because I hate science fiction and aliens aren’t really my thing. But this is not about aliens at all. It’s about us.

The alien. Klaatu, is a brilliant character. He is the kind of hero that would inspire you. He works with the problems he encounters along the way. The fun bit is that he does not contradict the things that his society or whatever stands for. It’s just brilliant how his character was written and fleshed out.

The movie is concise and moves at a great pace which makes it easy to watch despite the fact that it is decades old and is in monochrome. I highly suggest seeing this movie.

FINAL RATING:
[5] out of [5]