Romantic woes affect an interconnected group of Baltimore singles and marrieds. The Baltimore-set movie of interconnecting story arcs deals with the challenges of reading or misreading human behavior.

We thought 2008 was all about 80s retro, but this movie looks to kick up the breezy nostalgia of the late 90s — back when most of Into You’s cast was in ascension. The source material here, the best-selling book by former Sex and the City story editor Greg Behrendt, is also responsible for the wayback effect. We wish star/producer Drew Barrymore would have shelled out for more reliable behind-the-camera talent, since the writer-direction trio makes us say yikes. Speaking of Ms. Barrymore, who is directing her first feature with Ellen Page in the lead role, she hooked up with co-star Justin Long during filming (and then they broke up — old news!); elsewhere, Jennifer Aniston was linked to Bradley Cooper for a bit. But no one wanted to even flirt with Ben Affleck. Here’zzzzz the trailer.

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and brief strong language.

Director: Ken Kwapis
Stars: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly
Studio: New Line Cinema
Release Date: 6 February 2009 (USA)

In the original movie, a flying saucer orbits Earth, and lands in Washington, DC, on the Mall. Klaatu (Michael Rennie) steps out and is shot by a jumpy soldier. Gort (Lock Martin), an indestructible robot, steps out of the spacecraft and proceeds to melt all the weapons, including tanks. Later, the Earth comes to realize that Gort has used very little of his power to make this happen.

While lying on the ground, Klaatu orders Gort to stop and is then taken by the military to a hospital, from which he later escapes in order to learn more about this planet called Earth and its human inhabitants. He meets Helen Benson (Patricia Neal) and her son Bobby (Billy Gray); takes Klaatu on a tour of Washington, DC; and finally stops in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Klaatu reads the words uttered by Lincoln many years ago and realizes that there might be hope for Earth.

When they begin to suspect the alien man, he reveals himself, along with the news that Gort is a member of a race of super-robot enforcers invented to keep the peace of the galaxy and will destroy the Earth if provoked. Klaatu is pursued and shot and killed by the military. Before Klaatu dies, he tells Helen to go to Gort, and say the words “Klaatu barada nikto.” If she does not, Klaatu tells her Gort will destroy the Earth. Helen makes her way to the ship and finds Gort. As the robot moves towards her, she repeats the phrase over and over. The robot picks her up and takes her into the ship. It then retrieves Klaatu’s body and, through their alien science, resurrects Klaatu.

The Day the Earth Stood Still … read more »