cinemabon
06-12-2011, 03:12 PM
Super 8 – directed by J. J. Abrams
Take “Close Encounters of the third kind,” sprinkle in some “ET – the extraterrestrial,” and add a dash of “Alien,” and you have the plot to “Super 8.” This film, while directed by the man who brought us a great remake of “Star Trek” (2009) has Steven Spielberg’s signature written all over it. From the close up shots of kids, meaning young boys slightly out of step with the world, to the silly arguments in the middle of a crisis, it’s as if Spielberg went back to his roots and remade “ET” the it should have been made the first time, without the crescendo music of John Williams blaring over certain scenes of the picture, but with the exact same ending. Don’t worry. I’ve given nothing away that you don’t see coming long before the end.
This film crammed every Spielberg trick into it, every emotional tug, every chaotic family scene, every alienation between child and parent along with their reconciliation at the end. I completely expected the final shot to have, “Directed by Steven Spielberg,” superimposed to start the end credits (there are no credits at the beginning of the film).
A group of kids, the nerdy kind, love to make movies. It’s the late 1960’s or early 1970’s. Since they discuss “disco” it must the 70’s. Walter Cronkite is still giving the evening news. Sideburns are in fashion. The guy behind the counter at the “film store” smokes pot and has long hair… the only one in this very small Midwestern (?) town. The main character is a young boy, isolated and estranged from his grieving father after an industrial accident kills his mother. Four months later, school is out for the summer. The boys return to their zombie movie. They decide to film at the local train station, which is located out in the country for some reason. During their first shot, a man intentionally drives his pickup truck onto train tracks and causes a spectacular wreck. Something that was trapped inside one of the boxcars escapes. After that, all the weird stuff starts happening in the town – dogs run away, people disappear, along with many car engines. The young boy, whose father is a one of the towns more respected police officers, seems more perceptive than his classmates in concluding that “something” escaped the wreck.
“I’m telling you… you’ve got to believe me… there’s this… thing out there!” (Steven McQueen – “The Blob”)
In this case, it isn’t the boy who isn’t believed, it’s his father. The more he investigates each strange incident that happens, the more he feels the military, who is combing the countryside, is lying to them. When he confronts an Air Force officer, he disappears, too, but at least we know who nabbed him, the government.
As the film progresses, we see more and more of the alien until the final scene, where Abrams reveals the creature in all of its glory, or rather ugliness. What follows is the “ET” ending.
Abrams delivers on emotion and comic relief sprinkled with several “surprise” moments to make you jump and lose your popcorn. This would be a perfect “date” film, if I was 16. But because of my age and having seen every single science fiction movie ever made… at least five times, I was supremely disappointed in the copout end. What should be the film’s climax, and emotional pay off, is instead a letdown.
“Starman,” alien space craft ascends into the sky with alien aboard.
“ET” alien space craft ascends into the sky at the end with alien aboard.
“CE3K” alien space craft ascends into the sky at the end with alien aboard.
I should also add “misunderstood by the government” because it’s usually the military that is made to enforce some terrible order.
“Star Trek, first contact,” alien space craft descends out of the sky, aliens emerge.
I’m really sorry to poo-poo this film. I’d like to say it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. It has tremendous production values, great acting, wonderful edits (the cuts are spot on), beautiful photography, and good direction. The sets are great. The special effects are great. The problems lies in rehashed old plots… and that is why I can only recommend this film to someone who is young enough NOT to remember any of those other movies. Otherwise, it’s the same old Hollywood, throwing loud sound and lots of “wow, look at those special effects” thrown at you, and in the end, giving nothing but noise and empty sentiment.
Take “Close Encounters of the third kind,” sprinkle in some “ET – the extraterrestrial,” and add a dash of “Alien,” and you have the plot to “Super 8.” This film, while directed by the man who brought us a great remake of “Star Trek” (2009) has Steven Spielberg’s signature written all over it. From the close up shots of kids, meaning young boys slightly out of step with the world, to the silly arguments in the middle of a crisis, it’s as if Spielberg went back to his roots and remade “ET” the it should have been made the first time, without the crescendo music of John Williams blaring over certain scenes of the picture, but with the exact same ending. Don’t worry. I’ve given nothing away that you don’t see coming long before the end.
This film crammed every Spielberg trick into it, every emotional tug, every chaotic family scene, every alienation between child and parent along with their reconciliation at the end. I completely expected the final shot to have, “Directed by Steven Spielberg,” superimposed to start the end credits (there are no credits at the beginning of the film).
A group of kids, the nerdy kind, love to make movies. It’s the late 1960’s or early 1970’s. Since they discuss “disco” it must the 70’s. Walter Cronkite is still giving the evening news. Sideburns are in fashion. The guy behind the counter at the “film store” smokes pot and has long hair… the only one in this very small Midwestern (?) town. The main character is a young boy, isolated and estranged from his grieving father after an industrial accident kills his mother. Four months later, school is out for the summer. The boys return to their zombie movie. They decide to film at the local train station, which is located out in the country for some reason. During their first shot, a man intentionally drives his pickup truck onto train tracks and causes a spectacular wreck. Something that was trapped inside one of the boxcars escapes. After that, all the weird stuff starts happening in the town – dogs run away, people disappear, along with many car engines. The young boy, whose father is a one of the towns more respected police officers, seems more perceptive than his classmates in concluding that “something” escaped the wreck.
“I’m telling you… you’ve got to believe me… there’s this… thing out there!” (Steven McQueen – “The Blob”)
In this case, it isn’t the boy who isn’t believed, it’s his father. The more he investigates each strange incident that happens, the more he feels the military, who is combing the countryside, is lying to them. When he confronts an Air Force officer, he disappears, too, but at least we know who nabbed him, the government.
As the film progresses, we see more and more of the alien until the final scene, where Abrams reveals the creature in all of its glory, or rather ugliness. What follows is the “ET” ending.
Abrams delivers on emotion and comic relief sprinkled with several “surprise” moments to make you jump and lose your popcorn. This would be a perfect “date” film, if I was 16. But because of my age and having seen every single science fiction movie ever made… at least five times, I was supremely disappointed in the copout end. What should be the film’s climax, and emotional pay off, is instead a letdown.
“Starman,” alien space craft ascends into the sky with alien aboard.
“ET” alien space craft ascends into the sky at the end with alien aboard.
“CE3K” alien space craft ascends into the sky at the end with alien aboard.
I should also add “misunderstood by the government” because it’s usually the military that is made to enforce some terrible order.
“Star Trek, first contact,” alien space craft descends out of the sky, aliens emerge.
I’m really sorry to poo-poo this film. I’d like to say it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. It has tremendous production values, great acting, wonderful edits (the cuts are spot on), beautiful photography, and good direction. The sets are great. The special effects are great. The problems lies in rehashed old plots… and that is why I can only recommend this film to someone who is young enough NOT to remember any of those other movies. Otherwise, it’s the same old Hollywood, throwing loud sound and lots of “wow, look at those special effects” thrown at you, and in the end, giving nothing but noise and empty sentiment.