It ain’t the 50s no more, thank God, so here’s your shiny new remake of the apocalyptic sci-fi cult classic just in time for Christmas. Keanu Reeves is Klaatu, a mysterious being from a far off intergalactic location who may know something about those strange orbs that are popping up all over the face of the earth. If he does, it’ll be Jennifer Connelly as astro-biologist Helen Benson who gets to the bottom of any potential alien invasions.
So the stage is set for an epic effects laden battle for supremacy. That is until the story swerves away from its conventional action set up and instead turns into a moralising diatribe about the need to change our behaviour and respect mother earth. Now, this is not necessarily a bad thing in and of itself as the message is definitely a valid one. However, making the trailer, marketing material and first half of the film look like false advertising to bludgeon the audience with social commentary seems iffy at best. You’re left hankering for blockbuster spectacles that never arrive.
On the plus side, distant, emotionless Klaatu is the role Keanu Reeves with his wooden acting style was born to play. Back handed compliments ahoy! Jaden Smith on the other hand is the most grating child actor doing the rounds and makes you hope the anti-smacking bill is overturned.
Green crusaders like Jeanette Fitzsimmons, Al Gore et al will no doubt love the message of the movie. Conversely, the average movie fan may not be as happy with the fact that it cuts into the precious escapist entertainment time they were promised.
