“The Day the Earth Stood Still” debuted in theaters across the country on Friday and revived the 1951 story about aliens and humanity, awareness and extinction, although the frame is much broader this time.

In the new version of the movie, Keanu Reeves is the one to fill the shoes of Klaatu, an extraterrestrial creature that serves both as a judge of human race and as an unpaid executioner whose only faith is duty, in an attempt to save the planet and make people realize that their way of treating their home is imperiling their wellbeing and the environment’s safety as well.

However, Keanu Reeves acts rather stiffly and often gives the impression of awkwardness. Intentionally or not, he manages to portray a somber alien that has no idea about human nature and society order, in spite of the fact that he claims extraterrestrial spies have been living among people for ages. This is only one of the clumsy flaws of the film that make us wonder whether producers forgot these details on their way to creating outstanding special effects.

Klaatu discovers a softer side inside him and humans at the same time while he observes the relationship between astrobiologist Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) and her stepson Jacob (Jaden Smith). He realizes that human beings aren’t as bad as he has initially thought and strives to understand their conduct and beliefs.

Surroundings preserve an uncanny, otherworldly touch, while most scenes take place at night or in shadowy areas, giving the impression of coldness rather than mystery.

The remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic is flat and outdated, although it introduces more or less modern elements. It actually came in the wrong place and at the wrong time.