This weekend, the Beloved and I ended up with a surprisingly unscheduled Saturday so after an early trip to Coronado Dog Beach, we decided to do something we don’t do too often in these busy days: go to the movies.
After a perusal of the last of the pre-Potter theater listings, we opted to go see JJ Abrams’ science fiction film Super 8. I’d been interested in this movie ever since I saw the trailer many months ago. I’m an Abrams fan and Spielberg’s movies shaped a lot of my adolescence – Jaws, Close Encounters, Raiders, and E.T. – man, that’s a lot of influence right there.
The bromance between Abrams and Spielberg has been pretty well publicized and in many ways this film was an homage to Spielberg by Abrams – an attempt to capture the feeling of the Spielbergian alien classics – Close Encounters and E.T.
Super 8
The film follows a group of filmmaking teen nerds as they attempt to make their zombie movie for a local film festival as they become entangled in a horrific train crash in their small Ohio town – a crash that unleashes something into their midst and begins wreaking havoc on the town.
The teen cast is exceptional and covers the entire gamut of nerds: bossy filmmaking guy, big talking scaredy-cat, firebug, winsome lass, and troubled dreamer. I bought every one of them. Having been 14 years old in 1979 (when the film is set) I felt a strong connection to the kids and could have been one of them, you know if you substituted Dungeons & Dragons for filmmaking.
Train Crash Reaction
The film centers on the mysterious happenings after the crash and includes a slew of Spielberg staples: resourceful kids, menacing military men and normal folks dealing with the extraordinary — I’m pretty sure that a list of the winks and nods to moments from Spielberg’s movies could fill some film student’s dissertation. Coupled with this is the personal story of Joe Lamb – the central teen character – as he deals with the accidental death of his mother and discovers love for the first time. Throughout, the personal and SF elements are balanced effectively. The special effects – in particular the train crash – are well done and the anxiety in the film builds effectively without resorting to gore.
Overall, the movie had a chance to be “great” instead of “good”, but they sort of family-movied their way to the ending which is okay, because I guess it’s supposed to be a family movie. I’m sure I’ll watch this one several more times, just because it was fun.
Stevil 
I saw the trailer some months ago in the theatre and (sad to say) I thought it looked “too scary” for me. I’m a huge wuss.
There are some tense moments and good suspense, but nothing gross.
Gross doesn’t compute. I grew up slaughtering animals. Too much suspence fs with my PTS.
Just misspelled suspense. ::sigh:: I’m trying to work & play at the same time (cos I’ve been called back to the press room to help — so, another job today!).
“Bromance” – New word for me. Thank you.
We do what we can…. :)
I saw this movie, too, and I really did think they did a great job of making it a decent family movie; there aren’t a lot of good family movies out there right now. I think that this is one of the many reasons it has been so successful and will continue to be one of those movies families watch again and again.
EM – yes, I thought the trailers did a great job of conveying the “this is going to be a little scary” without sending it over the top.
Totally agree. Great flick.
SS — completely. Looking forward to when it comes on cable so I can see it again.