Alright, let's get this train a moving. That's an interesting phrase to start out with, seeing how the movie we will be reviewing this week has one of the most exciting crash sequences involving an oncoming train. Super 8 was a fascinating movie that was very much a love letter to Steven Spielburg. I grew up watching Spielburg films that had a certain charm that only he as a filmmaker could produce. J.J. Abrams has obviously been influenced in some way or another, because this movie seemed much more like a tribute than an original work.
This was an exciting, touching, and frightening (at times) film that focuses much more on the relationships of the characters than the science fiction story-line (which wasn't bad at all considering what gets produced in Hollywood these days). The story revolves around a group of middle school kids in 1979 who are in the middle of making a zombie movie to enter into a film festival. The story takes a serious and abrupt turn when a train derails in the middle of their film shoot. The kids soon realize that this was no accident and their lives are about to change. The makeup/special effects/lighting designer is a young boy named Joe Lamb, who is trying to deal with the recent loss of his mother. His deputy father (who felt very similar to Sheriff Brody in Jaws) doesn't understand his son anymore than he understands what's going on in his little Ohio town.
I really enjoyed this movie for many reasons. This movie gave me the same thrill that Alien did many years ago. The monster in this movie was hidden, leaving us to wonder, "What is it?" Keeping the monster hidden gives more suspense than just revealing everything. On top of being entertained with the suspense, I was touched by the sweet relationship of Joe and Alice Dainard, who have a troubled past. One of my favorite scenes involved a conversation where Joe tries to apply makeup to Alice's face.
Was it a perfect movie? No. I left the movie theater with a feeling of confusion. Many things were left unexplained. Maybe that's the intention, but I felt dissatisfied with the ending. This movie has many great elements and I highly recommend it.
Well, sweetheart, I absolutely agree with you. The most charming and genuine scenes in the movie took place between the children, whose earnestness in filming their zombie movie is honest and possibly autobiographical. I've heard rumors that J.J. Abrams identified himself with one of the characters, and whether or not that is hearsay, the children are well-rounded characters that we grow to like. The least satisfying scenes featured the monster. Its character and goals were confusing. It eats people, but feels their emotions and thoughts when it touches them. That seems terribly inconvenient to the monster, and it mainly serves to allow for a scene in which the monster has mercy on Joe because he, well, thinks so hard at him. My other problem was with the ending. If the monster could put together his ship any time, why did he need Joe to tell him to do it?
But we should give credit where it is due. Early in the film, Charles, played by the talented Riley Griffiths (his first appearance in a film), comments that he's added a scene to his zombie movie. The detective needs a wife, someone to tell him that she loves him, so that the audience doesn't want him to die. Watching a previously filmed scene, Joe congratulates Charles on the good zombie death, and Charles rightly complains that it isn't enough. It needs a story and it needs emotion. This film successfully delivers the characters, the story, and the emotion that are so crucial to making action scenes (like dying zombies or exploding trains) mean something to the audience. Charles is giving a message both to a too complacent audience and to confused writers and directors (read Michael Bay). This film was an enjoyable experience and I would recommend it for a date night.
Yeah, I think we're on the same page. Do you remember when I leaned over to you and asked if that monster actually ate that person, right after it was explained that he just wanted to go home. I was genuinely confused. That doesn't sound like E.T. at all. A more successful relatable alien would be found in District 9. But you are absolutely right, this movie puts the Sci-Fi on hold to create wonderful moments with these kids.
Final ratings:
Andrea: 
Wyn:
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