Director
JJ
Abram's
fantasy-adventure
Super
8
is
an
original
story
and
a
high-profile
movie
in
2-D.
This
popcorn
entertainment
is
all
about
the
riveting,
coming-of-age,
sci-fi,
adventure,
buddy,
young
love,
conspiracy.
Its
special
effects
are
state-of-the-art,
but
are
not
used
gratuitously.
Abrams'
script
operates
according
to
a
predictable
rhythm.
The
movie
cobbles
together
dozens
of
movie
references
but
not
enough
of
the
emotionalism.
The
director
brings
an
element
of
biography
to
Super
8
by
exploding
onto
the
scene
in
the
late
'70s
and
early
'80s.
Super
8
is
set
in
1979
and
has
been
shot
full
of
this
kind
of
pop-cult
arcana.
This
also
allows
for
a
dose
of
well-earned
nostalgia
when
it
comes
to
music,
clothing,
attitudes
and
technology.
The
movie
contains
several
of
the
ideas
that
populate
of
Spielberg"s
family
orientated
films.
But
it
is
a
little
faster,
sharper,
and
edgier
than
Spielberg's
movies.
Joe
Lamb
(Joel
Courtney)
is
a
14-year-old
boy,
who
has
lost
his
mother
in
an
industrial
accident
at
the
steel
mill.
Joe's
father
(Kyle
Chandler)
tries
to
pack
him
off
to
camp
for
the
summer,
but
Joe
refuses
to
go.
He
wants
to
help
his
friend
Charles
(Riley
Griffiths)
finish
their
film
project
Super
8,
a
zombie
movie
they
plan
to
enter
in
a
local
contest.
Joe,
Charles
and
three
of
their
friends
are
filming
a
scene
at
an
empty
train
station
one
night
when
they
witness
a
spectacular
and
inexplicable
train
derailment.
Over
the
next
few
days,
weird
things
begin
to
happen
in
Lillian:
All
the
town's
dogs
flee
in
packs,
and
microwaves
and
car
engines
disappear
overnight.
Soon,
armed
military
police
swarm
the
town,
shutting
down
the
deputy
sheriff's
inquiries
with
menacing
non
sequiturs.
The
debutant
actors
bring
believability
without
baggage
to
the
film.
The
one
with
the
most
experience
is
Elle
Fanning
and
Super
8
will
enhance
her
reputation.
Joel
Courtney
shows
more
poise
than
one
might
reasonably
expect.
Ryan
Leehas
delivered
a
notable
performance
and
his
off-kilter
portrayal
provides
comedic
relief.
The
title
of
Super
8
refers
to
an
extinct
film
format
that
Spielberg
used
as
a
kid.
The
movie
can
be
good
entertainer
for
kids
and
their
parents.
Producer:
Steven
Spielberg,
JJ
Abrams,
Bryan
Burk
Director:
JJ
Abram
Cast:
Joel
Courtney,
Elle
Fanning,
Kyle
Chandler,
Music:
Michael
Giacchino
Cinematographer:
Larry
Fong