This was a much anticipated remake of the classic Science Fiction movie of 1951.  Keanu Reeves plays a stoic Klaatu who has come across the universe to warn the world's population that unless they mend their ways and stop the violence and killing of the Earth's species , we will not be allowed to live.  Poignant in 1951 and for all the same reasons an so many just as poignant.  However that is about as good I can say for the movie.

 In 1951 this was cutting edge and scary.  A machine capable of destroying the Earth, activated by violence has a chilling affect.  Today's society is desensitised to this type of coercion. We have scary types in current politicians like Mugabe from Zimbabwe or for some, our current president George Bush.  It doesn't help that although the movie is interesting to a point, the acting is pretty much a no brainier and I felt like people showed up to work to get paid.  Even Keanu Revees had a pretty easy time of his role.  Almost robot like.  A present day Mr. Spock, emotionless and analytical. 

Similar and just as irrelevant to the plot are the personal lives and circumstances of some of the characters.  Are we trying to fill in time, like all the blather about Jacob Benson and his dead father, the trauma he is living with and the abandonment he feels.

One bright spot, and very short , is the presence of Professor Barnhardt, played by John Cleese.  Cleese plays the Absent minded, "somewhere else" professor perfectly.

Then with almost no ceremony or fanfare, the movie is just over. Klaatu presumably has stopped GORT from destroying our planet because he has seen compassion.

Sorry it just didn't do it for me. I recommned the 1951 version.