Saying “Klaatu barada nikto” didn’t make this movie stop no matter how many time I said it to myself and Gort couldn’t put me out of my misery despite my violent thoughts. Remakes are evidence of the cynicism inherent in the film industry. If an old movie did well a generation (or two) ago, then why not retread it for a new audience. Put in some glitzy effects, cast a big name star and you’ll have a box office hit. No need to come up with something new. If they had simply reshot the 1951 classic, they might have had a good movie. The 2008 version, (very, very loosely based on the original SCI-FI epic) is not anywhere near as compelling. Keanu Reeves is not Michael Rennie by any stretch of the imagination. He’s Neo here to save the Earth from us horrible humans, but without the kung-fu. The message is not presented with any degree of subtlety. There’s is the obligatory evil U.S. Government and kill crazy military, naturally. Jennifer Connelly gives a good performance and is as lovely as ever, still that doesn’t carry this picture. The child here is annoying, unlike the innocent boy who takes the ‘stranger in a strange land’ around in the original. The special effects are decent, but that doens’t make up for the convoluted script . Go to Walmart and get a $5 copy of the 1951 movie. You’ll not be disappointed.