SUPER 8
Writer/director J.J. Abrams teams with producer Steven Spielberg for this period sci-fi thriller set in the late '70s, and centering on a mysterious train crash in a small Ohio town. Summer, 1979: a group of young friends are filming a Super-8 movie when a pickup truck derails a speeding train. When the locals start to disappear and even the inquisitive deputy can't come up with answers, suspicions emerge that the incident was anything but an accident. As the truth finally begins emerge, no one is prepared to learn what now stalks the unsuspecting citizens of this once quiet community. Kyle Chandler and Elle Fanning star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: J.J. Abrams
Cast: Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning, Noah Emmerich, Ron Eldard, Katie Lowes
Release Date: Jun 10, 2011
Rated PG-13 Intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language and some nudity
Runtime: 1 hr. 52 min.
Genres: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Review:
Super 8 is an ambitious homage that tries incredibly hard to pay respects to Steven Spielberg’s 80’s films like ET and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. J.J. Abrams never reaches those levels, instead delivering a hodgepodge of clichés that lacks any real thrills. Abrams borrows from a variety of sources with ET and The Goonies being the most obvious. Thematically he set his film up nicely and the child actors used are all impressive with Elle Fanning delivering an impressive performance. The main issue that permeates this film is a sense of pandering to the children of the 80’s. Yes the nostalgia is nice but if you are going to try and emulate the films from that era at least give the audience something new and fresh. Abrams, along with his trademark lens flare, directs the film with impressive gusto and keeps a steady pace throughout. Once the trip down memory lane ends, Abrams takes up down another familiar road with a Cloverfield, which Abrams produced, type second half which is watchable but lacks the thrills you’d expect. The creature itself, which is hidden for the better part of the film, even looks like the Cloverfield monster to a certain extent. Like the first part of the film, that latter is all very familiar territory stacked with macguffins that even the casual movie goers will recognize. Super 8 isn’t a bad film it’s just not a very original film, that being said the children in the cast are all very impressive and be sure to stick around during the credits to see the kid’s finished film.
C-
I think I might enjoy this one better if I take the younger cousins along.......
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity this isn't better as E.T meets The Goonies sounds like such a good film!
I know what you mean, ET meets the Goonies should be a home run, might have to give it another whirl on disk to see if I have a change of heart.
ReplyDeleteI was expecting something more like Cloverfield. So I was disappointed it was so ET-like. I found the first half or more very slow although it good. Glad we had some of the same thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThis is certaily dividing opinions. It is one you either love or just think is rubbish. I think it is rubbish as you know and I can't believe there are those out there raving about how great it is!!
ReplyDeleteIt is extremely poor and should have been promoted at its target audienece.
@ Lew, I know what you mean, I kind of walked out wishing it had been a prequel for Cloverfield like originally reported.
ReplyDelete@Brent, the marketing really is kind of odd on this because it's a very different movie than what's shown via the trailers.
I haven't seen it yet, but I've been wanting to. Thanks to your review I'll go into it not expecting much. Maybe I'll save myself the disappointment if I lower my standards? Perhaps find something more redeeming?
ReplyDeleteWe'll see...
It's an ambitious movie and there really is a lot to like about it esp if you are a fan of 80s era Speilburg.
ReplyDeleteIf it had been promoted as it should have been then maybe I would look at it differently. I just feel somewhat decieved by it all. Problem is too one of my pet gripes with manistream Hollywood..just the total lack of originality. Here there is none as it really is ET and The Goonies mashed together and called a homage. In essence it is nothing more than a poor man's re-boot of those two movies for a new generation.
ReplyDeleteOne review I've read has called it ' cultural polluting filth'!!!!!! It has been a long time since I've been so anti a movie I can tell you!!
I have problem with homages but there has to be something to it besides that. I understand why some people are so against it and other so for it. I personally ended up in the middle, kind of indifferent. Don't feel too bad Brent, I've had movies like that as well, ones I just end up hating with a passion.
ReplyDelete