The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951)

Star Rating: 2
Length of Film: 92 minutes
Director: Robert Wise
Cast: Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, Sam Jaffe, Billy Gray, Frances Bavier, Lock Martin

 





Living in the 21st century, we are used to watching amazing special effect movies that blow our mind, and it spoils us. This is what happened to me. This 1951 movie was too old and the special effects are really corny, that it wasn't enjoyable for me. 

The movie starts out with Klaatu (Michael Rennie) and Gort (Lock Martin) flying in a space ship in Washington D.C. Klaatu was sent to warn Earth, but was injured as soon as he left ship. They captured Klaatu leaving is giant robot guarding the ship. The actor stood at 7 foot, 7 inches.

Klaatu heals and escapes from the hospital and decides to live among the people. While at a boarding house, he meets boyfriend  Tom Stevens (Hugh Marlowe), Helen Benson (Patricia Neal) , and her son Bobby (Billy Gray). She allows a complete stranger, Klaatu to babysit her son, where Bobby shows him around and educates him on worldly things.


Klaatu was sent to earth because other planets are worried about their creation of atomic power. To get the worlds attention, he makes everything freeze, by neutralizing all electric power. A scene where we view national monuments around the world, frozen.


Here are 3 reasons why I didn't like this movie.


1. You can view the ropes that's holding up Helen Benson while Gort is carrying her.
2. Klaatu tells one of the characters in the film that at the hospital, he escaped from room 309, when it was actually 306.
3. In the advertising poster, is sees Gort holding a blonde lady captive NEVER was there a blonde lady that was held by Gort.

 I can understand why this movie was a big deal and iconic in 1951, but watching a sci-fi movie in 2012, it just looks ridiculous and like it's made by a 12 year old. Gort's laser that shoots out of his helmet, is really cool to watch, but other than that...the movies just really, really dull.