The Day the Earth Stood Still *

I'm sure I won't be the only one to remark that Keanu Reeves as an expressionless alien is typecasting. Despite the IMAX screen, "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is a lifeless concoction of unimaginative special effects and a script that eviscerates the original. Jennifer Connelly tries, but she can't save this turkey, and those who pin their hopes on Kathy Bates will be sorely disappointed with how little she's given to work with. Even darling little Jaden Smith misses. Rent the 1951 original and marvel at what Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal did with the material, which at least made some sense and presented mankind with a choice.

Rated PG-13. 103 minutes. Scott Derrickson - Director, David Scarpa - Writer (screenplay), Edmund H. North - Writer (1951 screenplay), Paul Harris Boardman - Producer, Gregory Goodman - Producer, Erwin Stoff - Producer, David Tattersall - Cinematographer, Tyler Bates - Composer, David Brisbin - Production Designer, Wayne Wahrman - Editor. Produced and distributed by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.

Principal actors: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, John Cleese, James Hong, Jaden Smith, and Kathy Bates.