The Day the Earth Stood Still
December 22, 2008
Image by wenn.com
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Here are the top 10 weekend box office estimates from December 19-21:
Yes Man: $18.1 million
Seven Pounds: $16 million
The Tale of Despereaux: $10.5 million
The Day the Earth Stood Still: $10.1 million
Four Christmases: $7.7 million
Twilight: $5.2 million
Bolt: $4.2 million
Slumdog Millionaire: $3.1 million
Australia: $2.3 million
Quantum of Solace: $2.1 million
December 17, 2008
Image by wenn.com
During the Cold War, the 1951 Robert Wise classic featured an alien named Klaatu (Michael Rennie) with a warning for the Earth: stop your warring ways or your planet will be 'burned to a crisp." It's too bad he didn't throw in "and don’t make bad movies."
Keanu Reeves is the new Klaatu, but he's not here to warn us. He's here to save the Earth by eliminating its biggest problem: humanity. It's up to a cute and trusting scientist Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) to show him (vexatious at times) that "We can change."
Our capacity to change is seen in how everyone from the military to Helen's stepson Jacob (Jaden Smith..son of Will) wants Klaatu dead. This could've been a good Earth Day cautionary tale, but can't decide if it's an environmental thriller, sci-fi film or a way to put McDonald's into a scene. Connelly tries to convince Klaatu to call off the omnipotent GORT, the scariest robot ever (until it turns into matter eating bugs). Even John Cleese is forced to implore that humans always change just at the brink of destruction. Now, that's something to brag about.
Director Scott Derrickson ('The Exorcism of Emily Rose') has all the nice toys of a great sci fi film: pretty people, special effects and a budget. I mean, the only thing lacking was a script that wouldn't put you to sleep. Writer David Scarpa delivers a script that produces the energy of a Nyquil smoothie. Scarpa should've stopped here before sending this one in. The story not only lacks any interspecies love connection between Connelly and Reeves, but Jaden's character even made me hate humanity. As characters whine "We can change," you just wished they had started with this movie.
Billy Tatum gives "The Day the Earth Stood Still" 2 (out of 5) Scoops
The Day the Earth Stood Still: MPAA Rated PG-13 for some violence and some disaster images. Running Time: 105 minutes. Playing Nationwide.
December 15, 2008
The Day the Earth Stood Still: $31 million
Four Christmases: $13.2 million
Twilight: $8 million
Bolt: $7.5 million
Australia: $4.2 million
Quantum of Solace: $3.8 million
Nothing Like the Holidays: $3.5 million
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa: $3.2 million
Milk: $2.6 million
Transporter 3: $2.2 million
December 12, 2008
Image by wenn.com
Doubt: Set at a Catholic school in the Bronx, it centers on a nun who grows suspicious when a priest begins taking too much interest in the life of a young black student.
The Reader:
"The Reader" opens in post-WWII Germany when teenager Michael Berg becomes ill and is helped home by Hanna, a stranger twice his age. Michael recovers from scarlet fever and seeks out Hanna to thank her. The two are quickly drawn into a passionate but secretive affair...
The Day the Earth Stood Still:
A remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic about a humanoid alien named Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) who arrives on Earth accompanied by an indestructible, heavily armed robot and a warning to world leaders that their continued aggression will lead to annihilation by species watching from afar.
Gran Torino:
Disgruntled Korean War vet Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) sets out to reform his neighbor, a young Hmong teenager, who tried to steal Kowalski's prized possesion: his 1972 Gran Torino.
Check out the trailer and Los Angeles movie premiere for 'Nothing Like the Holidays' below...
Read more The Day the Earth Stood Still News
