The Day the Earth Stood Still
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"An alien lands in Washington, D.C. and tells the people of Earth that they must live peacefully or be destroyed as a danger to other planets."
- IMDB
Many Science Fiction stories tell the tale of how humanity is the cause of its own destruction. Our own inventions will turn around and obliterate us all. Whether it be nuclear bombs or AI robots, the fall of humanity would be caused by humans themselves. The Day the Earth Stood Still reflects this very idea (I'm talking about the original today, not the Keanu Reeves remake).
Klaatu is motivated to get the message of peace across to the world. His friendship with Bobby, an innocent child, is a way to show that he really does mean no harm. Klaatu also implies the strength and danger that Gort is capable of, but never intends to use that power to violently force the people of Earth to reason. He allows the people to think for themselves and decide what path to take while also urging what the correct decision would be.
As silly as Gort's design may look now, the concept of Gort is honestly terrifying. Klaatu describes him as a machine with the power to destroy worlds, yet claims that these robots are responsible for keeping peace. Is that really what it would take for all of humanity to actually live in harmony? A robot that will denigrates you even after the slightest flinch of violence? Isn't that a little contradicting?
The end of the film sees Klaatu give his final speech. His speech reinforces the theme of war & self-destruction as Klaatu urges the people to agree to live in peace. He then leaves and it’s unclear if his message really got across in the end. Maybe the people present felt inspired to accept his philosophy, but there’s no indication if the rest of the world did.
Overall, the Day the Earth Stood Still is a classic Science Fiction film that was made under the influence of the Cold War. The story & theme is still pretty relevant today & Gort is iconic.
My Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆
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