Summer is one of my favorite times to see movies. Why? I get free AC when it’s sweltering outside and this is usually prime movie release time so I have plenty of options to entertain me. And one summer release I was really looking forward to is Super 8 by one of my favorite director/producers, JJ Abrams. Ever since I saw a teaser trailer for this movie last year, I was hooked. Let’s take a closer look.
Movie: Super 8
Rating: PG-13
Release date: June 10, 2011
Everyday Adventures’ grade: A-
Summary: It’s 1979 (great year!) and four friends are making a horror movie on a Super 8 camera, until they happen to stumble upon a train derailment while shooting one night…and that derailment happens to set off a chain of events around a valuable piece of government property that escapes. You know, no big deal.
My thoughts: The best way to describe this movie is – E.T. meets Cloverfield meets War of the Worlds. Sounds random but considering its the brainchild collaboration of JJ Abrams and Spielberg, it is pretty accurate. And as a huge JJ Abrams fan, I had very high expectations for this. I like Abrams because he is smart at storytelling, direction and getting great, real performances out of non-big name stars (they’re just like us!) I am still a Spielberg fan too but my interest in him has waned a bit since his more recent projects focus more on childhood nostalgia and (at times) overly touchy feely moments that don’t always add to a story. I don’t dislike him, but he just isn’t speaking to me as much right now. So where I could have been lost in a movie centered around the late 1970s and both men’s nostaliga for Super 8 cameras, Abrams appeals to the current generation with action, smart dialogue and direction.
The only reason this got an A- as opposed to A is that one insanely hammy scene near the end just killed the momentum for me, so I had to take a few points off.
And let me say this, holy crap there were some intense scenes. I don’t want to give any spoilers or too much away about the “thing” that escapes from the government but I will say that TC and I both screamed at parts and hid behind our hands because the tension and action was that intense. Abrams has a great way of weaving in action and monsters without being too gorey or graphic and how they are integrated within the real-life actors does seem realistic and not too “green screened.”
Acting wise, the kids are the main stars of the show, sort of like a Goonies bunch, with lots of yelling and insulting each other but deep friendship underneath. The main character, Joe, is perfect as wide eyed kid who evolves from quiet and reserved to a leader in his group. After the recent death of his mother, the result of the train derailment allows his character to grow and evolve, which many of his friends don’t, but that’s not a big deal.
And as a massive “Friday Night Lights” fan, it was great to see my dreamboat Kyle Chandler (aka Coach Taylor) in a leading role too, although we don’t see as much of him as I’d like. But his quiet pain and conflict as Joe’s dad (and recent widower) is very reminiscent of the great and subtle work he did on FNL. Plus, in uniform, RAWR!
I loved Abrams movie Cloverfield and hope that after seeing this similar monster movie, more people will check it out.
Verdict: Go see it in theaters. Like Cloverfield, you will lose a lot when it’s on TV, but the story and action itself is totally worth it.
What did you see this weekend?
