Film Review - Super 8

Yesterday, J.J Abrams' highly anticipated film, Super 8, which kicked off the summer flicks for 2011 was released across the states. But did Abrams', "Keep you guessing 'till the very end," formula bring justice to the hype he gave to audience?-- Yes it did.


                                 A Cloverfield prequel? Sadly, no.

After seeing the teaser trailer for Super 8, I ultimately believed that it would've turned out to be some sort of a Cloverfield prequel, dating back to 1979. However, my first impression of the trailer was that it oddly resembled a scene from perhaps my favorite film of all time, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. What was even more odd was the fact that the writer and director of Close Encounters, Steven Spielberg, would end up producing Super 8.

After watching Super 8, I began to realize why my initial reaction of the first trailer reminded me of Steven Spielberg's work. Simply put, Abrams' pays tribute to Spielberg's films, more noticeably, Close Encounters of the Third kind and E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial.

In Abrams' perspective, A group of kids venture out into the night to shoot a film about zombies so they could enter in a film festival. This brings our protagonist group to a remote train station. While shooting a scene, Joe Lamb, the main focus of the group, notices a truck turning onto the train tracks and drives straight into the incoming train, thus causing a, what seems to take forever, collision explosion. After the Michael Bay-like explosion cools down, Joe then realizes that something is being held captive in one of the boxcars, but doesn't tune in for long after 'it' punches its' way out of the car. The kids, full of shock, then flee the scene after noticing a group of officials heading their way. Days after the incident, strange things occur throughout their small town of Lillian, Ohio; And after seeing the military bombarding their town and start conducting investigations about the train wreck, it's up to the group of inquisitive kids to find out who or what is causing all the mysterious occurrences haunting their town.

At first, I did not expect this film to be what it is, and that's a film of what Steven Spielberg would've written 30 years ago. But with that being said, it worked very well in the end. Like E.T., you are attached to the development of the characters and their relation to the creature at the end. And just like Close Encounters, you are being rushed by the adventure and chaos the military brings with their tactics of denial and cover ups.

I would recommend this film to everyone who has enjoyed a Steven Spielberg film and to viewers who enjoy adventure flicks with mild suspense and a bit of comic relief. I give Super 8.....3.5 out of 5 Stars.

Introduction to a New Begining.

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen. Always looking for new ways to keep myself out of boredom, I have conformed to making a site dedicated to writing down my thoughts and in return that people read it to keep themselves out of boredom as well. If you enjoy playing/collecting video games, watching films, listening/playing music, or just reading nonsense, then this is the place for you. Here's to the start of a new chapter and let's begin dissecting.....

-Mr. F