Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney) and his sci-fi gang freak are making an amateur zombie movie. Since they need a female character for the movie love interest, they recruited Alice (Elle Fanning), whose father was involved in a freak accident costing the life of Joe’s mother. Thus, this band of kids were shooting a scene in a railway station, when a train had suddenly derailed and causing havoc in the neighbourhood. Apparently, there is ‘something’ in the cargo which belongs to the military, and it was set loose in Joe’s small town. Accidentally recorded the whole train crash thing, these kids notice strange happenings going around, and begin to investigate it. Local deputy, Jackson who happens to be Joe’s father (Kyle Chandler) has to deal with the town anxiety and uncover the creepy truth behind all this catastrophe, after people starting to went missing.
Review:
It’s been a full year since that incredible train-crash trailer hit up the screens, left many people with imaginations on the new J.J. Abram’s project. Fear no more sci-fi and movie geeks! Super 8 is here, the waiting time is over! And believe me, it’s totally worth every damn penny and your time. Go to the cinema and catch it!
Foreword, J.J. Abrams is a truly gifted director and writer. I happen to follow some of his previous works, from TV (Alias and Lost), and his big screen flicks (M:I 3, Cloverfield – as producer, and most notably, Star Trek reboot), and I must say, he has a bright future ahead. Abrams seems like creates this thing from the heart, as if it’s a personal project from his childhood dream. Backed up by the maestro Spielberg, Super 8 is an emotional movie about friendship and characters dealt with love and loss, all wrapped up with the secretive creature as the backdrop story. Master of story-teller and quite comfortable with big special effects, Abrams is also capable of displaying the heart and arousing the audience with his ‘wow’ factor.
Watching Super 8 brings out the sci-fi memories of 80’s flick such as E.T, Close Encounter of the Third Kind, and the Goonies (one of Spielberg’s triumphant period). Using the children (unknown stars except Fanning) as the main character reminds me of the classic Stand By Me. The whole monster/alien character and the train crash is the engine for a greater emotional plot. There are many relationships between characters which are explored by Abrams, 2 single fathers with their children, a circle of besties, and not to mention a triangle crush affair between the kids. If you watched the incredible Korean The Host, I can probably say Super 8 got some influences from it, since The Host also focusing on the family issues, and even the monster didn’t show up early.
Abrams and Spielberg are people who are able to maintain the secrecy surrounding the whole movie. Even we don’t have a clear picture of what’s really happening on the trailer. I guess their objective is to gain people interest not just by showing off the monster/creature, but also they try to sell the story simultaneously. In the end, I got more than what I’ve expected, and trust me, Abrams still has lots of thing hidden in this flick to throw into your amazement.
One of his great skill is to bring out the unknown actors. Courtney, the lead kid, truly shines in all scenes (mind you, this kid has all the burden in order this movie to be successful). What even makes it better, the chemistry of Courtney and the so talented (and gorgeous) Elle Fanning is so spot on and astounding. I mean, after watching this, who does not love Elle Fanning? The scene when she faked the zombie thing toward Courtney was so cute. Who’s Dakota again? Another great cast must be the Joe friends of amateur movie maker team. The hilarious Riley Griffiths as the director and not to mention Ryan Lee as the pyromaniac/fake zombie kicks me out for lots of laughter. Probably the best kids’ movie since Stand By Me, I really amazed on how these kids acting look so real, natural, and so bound together despite the insanity of the situation they are trapped within. All I can say, it’s been rare since Hollywood is able to produce a mature movie with a bunch of kids with it.
On the technical side, I gave my thumbs up on how a $50 million movie can come up with a fantastic, net, and efficient CGI usage. The train crash is probably one of the craziest scenes due to its level of insanity. And Abrams’ trademark is back with his signature lens flare and shaky camera techniques. He uses them a lot, but don’t worry, you won’t be left nauseating or having glare issues. They worked perfectly and adequately well.
However, I mentioned above that Super 8 is kind of homage of 80’s flick. The lowdown, there’s nothing new from Abrams here, feels like he’s making a some kind of tribute (a proper one, of course) for Spielberg’s magnificent movies back on that 80’s era. All those emotions and experience of watching Jaws, E.T, or Close Encounters are brought back by Abrams. Suffice to say, if there’s anyone who is capable to fit in Spielberg’s shoes, look no more, Abrams is the perfect guy for it.
Super 8 perhaps is not a movie for all viewers, the first half-hour may bore some, and the weak ending may leave you a bit disappointed (like me for one). Abrams successfully builds up the tension and suspense, but pity the paying off doesn’t go well. But for me who have lived through 80’s movies, reminiscing the old era in this modern flick brings some excitement which I haven’t felt in recent Hollywood movies. It’s fresh, something different, and not your ordinary monster movie. Last but not least (not trying to be paedophile), I gotta say, I have a crush on Elle Fanning.
My Review: 8.5/10
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