jensleeroth I don't understand why people dislike this movie so much. Many seems to compare it with the original, which I have never seen, but I still think each movie deserves to be judged independently either way. Secondly, people seem to have some problem with Jaden Smith? Sure, he might be a spoiled brat, but in the movie it makes perfect sense why he's acting the way he does towards Helen since he feels that she's not her real parent and probably wouldn't want to be around him if the circumstances were different. Keanu Reeves as an unemotional (at least according to human standards) alien makes perfect sense and he fits the role well. Sure the CGI is cheap, and it's a bit low to have product placement in big movies, but it's not like it distracted me that much. Overall the plot is good, the motives make sense and all in all it's just another satisfying Sci-Fi movie with some geopolitical and philosophical elements. Sure, it might not be a 10 star movie, but it surely doesn't deserve the massive hate and outrage of 1 star votes that it got here. And according to me deserves a higher average score than 5.5,

docm-32304 After seeing the other reviews, it sounded like this movie would be terrible, but sometimes you just have to take a chance on making up your own mind. I love movies, especially if they see themselves for what they should be...good clean entertainment. I live in the world so I don't need to watch life as it is, nor do I need snooty artsy films. I watch movies to be entertained and if you are the same, you will find this film entertaining. I own the original movie and will not compare this one to it. It is a great stand alone sci-fi movie. I did not find the kid irritating as many reviewers commented. As a retired professional I found his character completely in line with a child who had lost his parents at that age. The only negative I found was that it ended abruptly..

Erica Pettersson (faith_hope_love_88) I'll begin by saying that I haven't watched the original movie from 1951. Therefore no comparisons will be made one way or the other.This is a movie that I wanted to like more than I actually did. I feel that the story has potential. The idea of an alien coming to earth, as far as I can figure, being the first alien encounter for mankind is intriguing. The acting and the special effects are good, and I like Keanu Reeves from before so it was fun to see another movie with him.But there were some things that just didn't agree with me very well. I think the major problem, for me, was that there were too many questions left unanswered. Or perhaps it was just me missing the point? But either way I had a hard time fully understanding the alien protagonist and his intentions. Not to mention the motives behind those intentions. That he somehow had the authority to do as he saw fit didn't make much sense to me. Who was he and his race to decide over a planet that isn't theirs? I would have wanted a deeper meaning here. I would have wanted more of a backstory to the alien and what he was up to. And as to the people's reaction, or most of the people anyway... well, that made me almost ashamed to be human. The only character that I can say I liked was Helen Benson played by Jennifer Conelly.

Weezy-LUiGi This is a film that truly holds up, even outside of its particularly problematic and quaint setting. By that, I mean that the goggles have never been on in my case regarding the 1950s. Many of the population wants to kid themselves that those were the wonder years, with no issues or problems whatsoever, while I am reminded of the McCarthy trials, civil sit-ins, and the Cold War paranoia overriding the quasi-intelligence of the nation. This is a film that stands as a true notable time capsule of said paranoia that plays out much like I imagine something like a visit from the extraterrestrial could happen, before the extremists decide that difference and "the other" is just too scary to handle, as illustrated so perfectly in the likes of Villeneuve's ARRIVAL and Zemeckis' CONTACT.Patricia Neal is the MVP of this movie. Her face is so expressive and her body language is filled with cool calm. Rennie does the job he was hired to and Hugh Marlowe is the perfect subversive prick who's only in it for the personal glory. Take that, clean-cut America. Not so respectable now, are ye?A mandatory viewing for all interested in anything approaching smart fictional allegories.