In a season of Superheroes, J.J Abrams (“Lost”, “Cloverfield”, “Star Trek”) gambles on an old school adventure flick, the kind Mr. Steven Spielberg used to make. It isn’t coincidential really, since everything about “Super 8” has Spielberg written all over it. If you’re wondering if it’s any good, I can put your mind at ease by telling you that it’s really good. It doesn’t surprise me one bit that the story takes place in 1979, way before the age of Facebook and Blackberry. That’s also the period in which Spielberg captured the hearts of millions with such films as “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind” and “E.T”. Abrams is obviously trying to match Spielberg here, but “Super 8” never feels like a ripoff. It does feel a bit old school though, and it might be interesting to see how today’s audience would react to such a film. All I can say is that I had a great time watching it, despite a few bumps along the way.
“Super 8” opens during a time when kids embarked on a journey to make home movies without the benefits of a digital camera. The setting is a steel-mill town in Ohio, and our hero is a boy named Joe whose mother recently died in a tragic accident. Filmmaking is his way of escapism, all the more so when his friends invite a girl from school (the talented Elle Fanning) to be their leading lady. The monster subplot kicks off during a shoot at a train station late one night, where the kids bear witness to a horrific train wreck (the best I’ve seen on film in a very long time). Later, you’ll see the same scene as recorded by the boys’s super 8 camera. Can you spot the monster?
I realise that “Super 8” might sound a bit cheesy or deja vu. That’s not entirely true however. Abrams might have put together riffs from genre movies he loves, but damn it, it works. The man’s a skillful storyteller (fans of “Lost” will most certainly agree) who knows how to keep his audience on the edge of their seats. That’s exactly what makes “Super 8” such a good film. And in case the ending fails to leave you entirely satisfied, make sure you stick around for a very funny short film entitled “The Case”. Michael Bay, I hope you’re watching.
Rating: 3/4
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