Tag Archives: Keanu Reeves

The Day the Earth Stood Still (DVD)

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I was actually intrigued by the idea of aliens coming to earth to save the planet from its unappreciative human inhabitants, but I found much of this film to be a chore to watch. In many of the reviews I’ve read across the web, The Day the Earth Stood Still had been compared to its 1951 predecessor directed by Robert Wise. Having never seen the original, I had hoped to watch this film without bias and/or prejudice, but by its midpoint I understood why it received such poor ratings.

My first reaction after screening the film was that it definitely could have been done alot better. It actually started off quite well and maintained a sort of mystique and sense of wonder until the initial human contact with extraterrestrial life. From there it completely loses its credibility. There were just so many things wrong with this film. The character development was non existent, the plot was filled with many holes, and the ending was completely bland and uneventful.

In comparison, this film distinctly reminds of M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening. Shyamalan’s attempt at environmental awareness was quite admirable, but the film itself was just mediocre at best. Thats the best way I can describe this remake. One thing The Day the Earth Stood Still definitely reaffirms is this : All the special effects in the world can never replace good logic and excellent character development and dialogue. Just ask all the fans of the 1951 version.

Trailer : The Day the Earth Stood Still (Extended)

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Keanu Reeves tops this adaptation of the seminal 1951 sci-fi film The Day the Earth Stood Still with this 20th Century Fox production. Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) helms the story of an alien traveler, Klaatu (Reeves), who heads to Earth along with his bodyguard robot, Gort, to deliver a warning of planetary destruction if the people of the world fail to bring peace to their civilizations. Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, and Kathy Bates co-star in the Ryne Douglas Pearson-penned film. – Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide

Street Kings (DVD)

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So who is the king of all cop corruption action flicks? Writer and director David Ayer of course. Ayer who is probably best known for his Oscar Award winning film Training Day put together yet another solid action drama in the movie Street Kings.

As a fan of most of Ayer’s films, I found it quite difficult to say anything really bad about this movie. It wasn’t Oscar award winning by any means, but I found some of reviews across the net to be pretty harsh and critical.

The plot although linear and predictable was still quite entertaining and suspenseful, both Keanu Reeves and Forest Whitaker put on creditable performances, and the appearance of House M.D. (Hugh Laurie) and his sarcastic monotone self, actually caught me off guard.

The action was everything that it was expected to be. It had all the gunfights, chases, and trash talk one could ask for. Although it was hardly as brutal as some of Ayer’s other films, it still had enough umph to satisfy most action movie buffs.

Would I recommend this film to others? Most definitely. It makes for a good rental and is perhaps Keanu’s best performance since the Matrix Trilogy. Come into this film without expectations and I’m sure you’ll find some enjoyment in this film.

Synopsis: In the wake of the L.A. riots, an LAPD vice detective who always went above and beyond the call of duty to keep the streets safe receives a startling wake-up call that leaves him convinced he can no longer employ the tactics that made him so effective in his work. LAPD veteran Tom Ludlow has borne personal witness to the worst that the streets have to offer, and when his partner, Detective Terrance Washington, is killed the violence strikes a bit too close to home. Now Ludlow is on a mission to bring his partner’s killer to justice, though Captain Walker is concerned that the hotheaded detective is taking the case too personally. Now, as Captain Walker attempts to convince Ludlow to work within the confines of the law, Internal Affairs Captain Biggs begins following the vengeful lawman’s every move. In order to accomplish his mission, Ludlow recruits fresh-faced Robbery Homicide Detective Diskant to trace Washington’s killers through the winding streets of Los Angeles. Later, when Ludlow and Diskant come face to face with the remorseless cop killers, they must chose between upholding the law and seeking bitter vengeance. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide