The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951)
Posted by J on October 10, 2008
For once, just this once, we’re in favor of the police state. The Day the Earth Stood Still did that to us. This
movie forces us into a choice between a square-jawed prig from outer space, who threatens humanity with annihilation, or the U.S. military’s occupation of Washington D.C. No thanks, Mr. Alien. We’ll take our chances with our fellow earthlings, even if they threaten our liberties with guns, thank you.
At the beginning of the movie this alien, a dude named Klaatu, lands his spaceship in the middle of a park in Washington DC. This doesn’t create mass panic, but it does worry the U.S. army, which surrounds the spaceship with soldiers and tanks. When Klaatu emerges from the spaceship, announcing that he’s come in peace, one of the soldiers gets an itchy trigger finger. Klaatu gets shot, and so we are supposed to weep for the weapons of war that we unjustly use.
As it turns out, it’s unfortunate that Klaatu lives. He bogs down the middle of this movie with his stuffy attitude. The star of any movie is supposed to have charisma greater than zero, but not Klattu. He’s like an uninvited dinner guest who’s overstayed his welcome by, oh, three days. In the end, you’re glad he goes back to Alpha Centauri, hopefully permanently. Please go ruin some other planet’s movies.
Klaatu is supposed to be a genius, but of course he can’t figure out how to evade military checkpoints. Thankfully, for the sake of the movie, the U.S. military is dumber. It posts two guards — that’s right, two — outside of Klaatu’s spaceship. You’d think that the most amazing event in human history would require several brigades’ worth of soldiers, plus 24-hour surveillance by the most advanced technology we have. But nope, Klaatu’s robot uses the old ‘bang-their-heads-together’ trick, and Klaatu walks right back into his spaceship.
It’s Klaatu’s mission that really got us. You see, he’s here on Earth to warn us all that unless we shape up, the United Federation of Planets is going to blow us up real good. We haggle and fight too much on Earth, he says. Well, great point. But then he demands that we “progress” by joining his galactic government. Of course, Klaatu forces us to join his government. If we don’t, he says, his government will kill us all for killing each other. That sort of defeats the purpose of a wonderful, benevolent federation for interplanetary peace, but aliens have their contradictions too, we guess.
Since there is no United Federation of Planets, this is the movie’s way of saying that the United Nations is the only way to go. It’s one world government, or else. All we are saying is give peace a chance, or else we will destroy you for not complying. Some peace.
So when the military guns down Klaatu for a second time, killing Klaatu, we actually sympathized with the aggressor. Only problem is that Klaatu can rise from the dead. His final warning, after his resurrection, is to put up or shut up. That is, get rid of your weapons or my destructive robot will get rid of them for you, permanently, since your molecules will be scattered throughout the universe, hahaha!
If Klattu ever shows up here again, we will unite. We will unite against him. When the 2008 version of this movie appears in theaters, bring your tomatos.
Entertainment: 4
Intelligence: 0
Morality: 0
Mr. Liberal said
Dear “J”: You OBVIOUSLY did not get the point of the movie. But then being a hard headed right winged Republican how could you get the point. Wow, it really amazes this follower of Christ how so many of his disciples have such narrow points of view! You really need to have your mind opened up and refreshed.
J said
Not a Republican.
What if you have the narrow viewpoint and need to have your mind opened?
Glen Rastellini said
This has to be the most clueless piece of trash I’ve ever read. Your poor Christian martyr act would be funny if it weren’t so sad.
It’s also sad that you are so insecure in your faith that you feel so threatened by a mere movie.
You say
“But then he demands that we “progress” by joining his galactic government. Of course, Klaatu forces us to join his government. If we don’t, he says, his government will kill us all for killing each other. That sort of defeats the purpose of a wonderful, benevolent federation for interplanetary peace, but aliens have their contradictions too, we guess.”
But this is EXACTLY what you try to do to non Christians every time you try to make your Christian doctrine public policy.
What part of the teachings of Jesus condone your nasty petty attack?
HYPOCRITE
J said
“Your poor Christian martyr act would be funny if it weren’t so sad.”
Too bad. We aim for funny.
“… you feel so threatened by a mere movie.”
If we ever feel threatened by “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” somebody should put us in an asylum. Quickly.
“… your nasty petty attack?”
And here we thought these were just goofy comments about silly movies. The word “attack” just got a new definition.
So what’s a comment on a blogpost that’s petty? Extra petty?
A. Rationalist said
Dear Sir/Madam,
The character Klaatu explicity states that the aliens were _not_ interested in the various Earth nation’s squabbles until humans had space rockets _and_ atomic weapons. He then tells the assembled people that this represents a threat to the peace and security of _other_ planets. It is that threat to other planets that they “cannot allow”. In this respect the film has been described (rightly, in my opinion) as a “cold war wish fulfillment fantasy”. (ref. Halliwell’s Film Guide)
We would wish for parents to sort out the stupid squabbles between the Cold War leaders. But we adults do realise that it would be impossible.
I’m sure the 50s were a terrifying time to live in, in many ways. So, leaving aside the wish for a parent figure to tell us what to do, this film is one of my favourites.
Of course, you wilfully omit the actual lines from the film.
Why?
Precisely because they do _not_ provide support for your political views. Neither do they help you make your point to your audience, who come to your website to have their views reinforced.
You do not qualify as a film critic if you can’t even get a film’s central message correct, or at least discuss it.
Keep energising that base with your false tales of hand wringing liberals and big government, or worse still _foreign_ governments (ooh! scary!).
Furthermore, I am surprised to find that a self-described christian does not bring up the allegory with Jesus Christ.
The human name Klaatu takes is “Mr. _Carpenter_”, he rises from the dead for a short period. He tells us to live in peace and to follow a set of rules delivered from the heavens. He then rises into those same heavens. Does it need to be spelt it out any more?
Perhaps that would be of interest to those practicing your religion?
I think you could have discussed that, or at least mentioned it, in your 8 paragraphs.
But it seems that would be expecting too much of you.
Good day.
Yours,
a rationalist
J said
But of course we differ on what the film’s central message is. Let’s say I came over to your house and demanded that you and your wife stop arguing so much, or else I’ll kill you. Let’s say I had a robot who shoots laser beams out of his eyes. Let’s say my name is Klaatu. Where exactly do I get my authority to intervene in this situation like I’m threatening to do?
This site has a “death and resurrection” list, which this movie is on, so the allegory is obvious but (as implied above) a perversion. Hence the word “resurrection” in the above review. Realize that I am keeping these comments on movies short. Things must be omitted or not thoroughly discussed.
Christ makes peace with those who rebel against him. Klaatu will kill those who aren’t rebelling against him. Big difference.
Rational said
Again, you fail to address the fact that Klaatu says the Earth is threatened not because it has wars, but because it presents a danger to _other_ planets. The aliens weren’t interested until they felt threatened: by humans having space rockets and atomic weapons.
Your example of a husband and wife fighting is not pertinent, unless they were causing danger to their neighbours by fighting with poorly aimed firearms or something along those lines.
In this example of domestic strife, the “authority” would come from (admittedly pre-emptive) self defence.
“…his government will kill us all for killing each other” is a distortion. “….his government will kill us all for presenting a possible danger to others” would be more honest. That threat (the one actually delivered) isn’t very fair minded anyway, no need to mislead your readers. There’s plenty to complain about in it already.
I would argue the film is wishing for someone to tell us what to do, and to a very large extent take away our free will.
Although who hasn’t wished that a stern father figure could talk some sense into intransigent sides in disputes that are causing trouble for everyone. Anything from workers on strike and their bosses to Northern Ireland to Israel to India and Pakistan.
Such solutions, however benign in intent, would take away an essential part of our humanity.
[As an aside: I would even argue, as a non Christian, that a parallel could possibly be drawn between the threat of death from Gort for not following the rules, and the threat of hell for disobeying God's Laws.]
J. said
Now we are in the realm of the ridiculous, so here goes. Klaatu has a robot that can destroy humanity. Yet he claims that humanity, which can’t travel to other planets, is a threat to other planets. They are as much a threat as a speck of dust is to a rottweiler.
“I would argue the film is wishing for someone to tell us what to do, and to a very large extent take away our free will.”
My point exactly! It’s about sovereignty and the justness thereof. Klaatu hasn’t just cause or proper authority to threaten humanity, just as I wouldn’t have proper authority if I barged into your house and made threats about your behavior.
“I would even argue, as a non Christian, that a parallel could possibly be drawn between the threat of death from Gort for not following the rules, and the threat of hell for disobeying God’s Laws.”
Except Gort isn’t holy, righteous, perfect, and perfectly just.