Many viewers of J. J. Abrams’ Super 8 will associate it with another “kid” movie, Stand By Me. A group of teenagers in a small Ohio town are making a zombie movie and filming it in Super 8 (it’s the Seventies). During a night filming, the kids witness a train crash where a mysterious creature escapes from one of the train cars. The small Ohio town then gets invaded by Air Force military units. The train had been transporting a creature and bizarre materials from Area 51. Then, of course, plenty of mayhem results: power outages, thefts of copper power wires, microwave ovens, metal of various types, etc. And people and pets start disappearing, too. Most of us who’ve been fans of science fiction movies will be able to predict the various plot twists as the kids figure out what the Air Force plans. Super 8 is entertaining if you ignore all the hype surrounding the film. GRADE: B+
The fact the generous George only gave it a B+ makes me worry.
SUPER 8 breaks no new ground and is highly predictable, Patti. The “production values” are good, but don’t look for anything surprising in this movie.
I haven’t seen it yet, but actually thought this looked pretty good–and I generally don’t like movies where kids are front and center. In a way, the set-up reminds me of both ET and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS (perhaps not a surprise seeing as Speilberg is a producer of this movie).
Exactly, Deb! The hype around this movie would have you believe SUPER 8 is in the class of E.T. and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS. It’s not.
I’m sure we’ll see it anyway, even though the reviewers (including George) all spoke about the predictability of it. I usually enjoy (if not love) J. J. Abrams’s stuff.
SUPER 8 is a well-made J. J. Abrams’ movie, Jeff. But there’s nothing in the film that you haven’t seen before.
It’ll be interesting to see how SUPER 8 does at the box office. Despite a vigorous advertising campaign, the studio is worried because teens are showing only a modest interest in watching it.
SUPER 8 doesn’t have the special effects of X-MEN: FIRST CLASS or the upcoming GREEN LANTERN, Drongo. It’s a smaller, more subdued film. The studio suits worry with just cause.
I had a feeling this would be the birthday pick.
It was a toss-up between SUPER 8 and MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, Bill. We hope to see the Woody Allen movie next week.