Decoding 'Klaatu Barada Nikto': Science Fiction as Metaphor (2008)
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
Another highly entertaining featurette that can be found on Fox's release of THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. Richard Keenan, Curtis Peebles, Guy V. Beckwith and Arne Westad are some of the historians who comment on everything from what was going on in the world at the time the film was being made and they also discuss the various metaphors in the film including Klaatu being modeled after Jesus Christ. Other subjects discussed include the meaning of the now legendary Klaatu Barada Nikto. Fans of the Robert Wise film will certainly be interesting in what this thing has to offer. Being a fan of classic movies I always like to read about what was going on during history at the same time a movie was in the theater so it's fascinating to hear how troubled the country and world for that matter were leading up to this being put onto movie screens. We get some very interesting stories that make you think about the film's message and how it even relates to today's times.
