Super 8
SUPER 8 (12)
D: J.J. Abrams
Paramount/Amblin/Bad Robot (J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk
& Steven Spielberg)
US 2011
112 mins
Science Fiction/Adventure
W: J.J. Abrams
DP: Larry Fong
Ed: Mary Jo Markey & Maryann Brandon
Mus: Michael Giacchino
Joel Courtney (Joe Lamb), Elle Fanning (Alice
Dainard), Kyle Chandler (Jackson Lamb), Riley Griffiths (Charles Kaznyk), Ryan Lee (Cary McCarthy), Gabriel Basso (Martin Read)
The Goonies meets Cloverfield, apeing Spielberg in a
way only a Hollywood homage can, filmed by J.J. Abrams in the style of a big budget summer blockbuster from the early 1980's.
A group of kids filming a home movie (on super 8
videotape) witness a train crash which sees an alien creature escape and wreak havoc on their small home town.
For youngsters, this is as close an experience to what
those who grew up during the 1980's would enjoy. While, for those who grew up watching the films of Spielberg, Lucas, etc., the film serves reasonably well as a
throwback.
The visual effects are the film's biggest asset,
particularly in the scene involving the breathtaking train crash, but unfortunately they also serve up a disappointing monster in the finale.
6/10
