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Super 8 - An Amblin Entertainment Production, a J.J. Abrams Film

post #1 of 79
2/7/11 at 8:20am
Thread Starter 

"Set in Ohio in 1979, Super 8 introduces a troupe of six youngsters who are using a Super 8 camera to make their own zombie movie. One fateful night, their project takes them to a lonely stretch of rural railroad tracks and, as the camera rolls, calamity strikes — a truck collides with an oncoming locomotive and a hellacious derailment fills the night with screaming metal and raining fire. Then something emerges from the wreckage, something decidedly inhuman."

 

After seeing that Super Bowl trailer, this rocketed up to just behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 as my most anticipated movie of 2011. I love the aesthetic of the film, it reminds me of the Steven Speilberg and Joe Dante childrens' pictures of the late seventies and early eighties, like E.T., Gremlins, The Goonies and Explorers, only with a slightly more sinister edge to it.

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post #2 of 79
2/7/11 at 8:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam Lenhardt View Post

I love the aesthetic of the film, it reminds me of the Steven Speilberg and Joe Dante childrens' pictures of the late seventies and early eighties, like E.T., Gremlins, The Goonies and Explorers, only with a slightly more sinister edge to it.



In addition to E.T., it reminded me of Close Encounters as well. Of course, that's probably why the people who have already decided to hate it will say why it's bad.

 

I very rarely watch trailers or commercials (this is probably the 3rd or 4th time that I've watched one online in about 3 years) but this one has me interested me enough to watch it online. From episodes of Alias to the Lost pilot to Mission: Impossible III to Star Trek, J.J. Abrams is rock solid when directing so I'm looking forward to this.

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post #3 of 79
2/7/11 at 8:50am
This was the best movie commercial during the Superbowl. I can't wait to see this.
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post #4 of 79
2/8/11 at 2:18am

Nice use of James Horner's "Cocoon" opening cue here. Adds to the nostalgic feel of the trailer.

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post #5 of 79
3/11/11 at 1:33pm

New full length trailer now available.  I am now 100% excited to see this.

 

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post #6 of 79
3/11/11 at 2:36pm
Wow. Huge 70's Spielberg vibe with this thing. I think it may have just jumped into my most anticipated slot.
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post #7 of 79
3/11/11 at 5:11pm

Damn that looks wicked cool.

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post #8 of 79
3/22/11 at 12:06am

Tv spot I just saw looked pretty interesting! However, the parent character who isn't very supportive of their kid's hobbies/dreams & ambitions/company they keep is getting a little old.

 

If only "77" would finally come out of whatever black hole it seems to have fallen into?

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post #9 of 79
3/22/11 at 8:19am

The trailer makes me think of a live-action "Iron Giant" except for the missing dogs part.

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post #10 of 79
5/13/11 at 8:19am

Any early viewings of this movie yet?

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post #11 of 79
5/16/11 at 7:15am

Yup another one I can't wait to see!!!  Love the feel of this one too.  Can't wait!

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post #12 of 79
5/16/11 at 10:06am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhett_Y View Post

Yup another one I can't wait to see!!!  Love the feel of this one too.  Can't wait!

 

I think that's what J.J. Abrams is good at -- delivering the "feel."  I don't like the way his stories turn out, however.  He doesn't seem to know how to make all the smoke and mirrors pay off.  Hopefully with Spielberg involved, this one will be different.  


 

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post #13 of 79
6/7/11 at 5:55am

Variety has reviewed Super 8 - here is an excerpt from the review - don't read if you want the film to be a total surprise.

 

 

Quote:
A terrifying, spider-like alien interrupts an amateur film crew's attempts to shoot a shoestring zombie movie in "Super 8," investing a sweet, family-friendly drama with big-budget thrills. Rare is the writer-director capable of creating such compelling horror-movie characters, yet one suspects J.J. Abrams' spirited teen ensemble would have sustained our interest even without the CG E.T. Sadly, the helmer seems too smitten working with Steven Spielberg to recognize that his idol-turned-champion created the very paradigm that limits his passion project, forcing this modest nostalgia trip to function as a blockbuster. What could have been a sleeper hit seems ill equipped to attract the broad summer audience its tentpole trappings demand.

Had "Super 8" opened in 1979, the year in which it's set, one might have easily mistaken the film for the work of Spielberg, who had channeled his alien-invasion and suburban-family anxieties into "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" two years earlier. But even though Abrams leans heavily on many of his mentor's stylistic signatures -- lingering on the faces of awestruck kids, withholding the monster for as long as possible and transforming an all-American neighborhood through Klieg lights and crane shots, to name but a few -- "Super 8" owes at least as much to another picture hitting theaters that summer: Ridley Scott's "Alien."

"Super 8" refrains from giving auds a good look at the giant, otherworldly arachnid until so late in the game that it forces our attention on the junior ensemble, who were selected carefully enough to hold their own onscreen. By virtue of his standing, Abrams is able to assemble a top-shelf team of collaborators, including vfx legend Dennis Muren ("E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial"), longtime composer Michael Giacchino and d.p. Larry Fong ("Sucker Punch"), though none has contributed his best work: The monster is a disappointment, Giacchino's score is forgettable and Fong gets distracting lens flares while trying to imitate Allen Daviau's style.
 

 

 

It's Cloverfield with a story and without out all the jerky camera work. Sadly it doesn't look like Abrams has overcome his love for lens flares, smile.gif

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post #14 of 79
6/7/11 at 6:09am
The only thing that is more cliched than Abrams' use of lens flares is people complaining about it. smile.gif
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post #15 of 79
6/8/11 at 9:57am

If you're lucky, Paramount is releasing it one day early in some cities

 

http://www.deadline.com/2011/06/paramount-sneaking-super-8-via-twitter/

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post #16 of 79
6/8/11 at 7:53pm

Yep, I got my tickets for an IMAX showing tomorrow.  I'll have one day of work before summer break starts the next day, so I hope Super 8 is going to get it started off right. The trailer is certainly awesome, and even though I'm not sipping the Abrams/Spielberg kool-aid yet, I have pretty high hopes for it. 

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post #17 of 79
6/9/11 at 8:12am

Three and a half stars from Ebert: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110608/REVIEWS/110609989

 

The things he liked about it are perfectly in line with what everyone seems to be expecting.  I'm really looking forward to this movie.

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post #18 of 79
6/9/11 at 8:17pm
Saw it this morning and loved it. It's a perfect summer "popcorn" flick.
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post #19 of 79
6/9/11 at 9:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cafink View Post

Three and a half stars from Ebert: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110608/REVIEWS/110609989

The things he liked about it are perfectly in line with what everyone seems to be expecting. I'm really looking forward to this movie.


I admit, I thought it was terrible. The script couldn't seem to figure out what it wa. The end was crazy disappointing. And what is with using 'mint' as some sort of slang incessantly? C-
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post #20 of 79
6/10/11 at 12:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mattCR View Post

I admit, I thought it was terrible. The script couldn't seem to figure out what it wa. The end was crazy disappointing. And what is with using 'mint' as some sort of slang incessantly? C-


I couldn't agree more.  I just got back from seeing it, and it was terribly disappointing.  I did find the first hour interesting, but the 2nd half just turned into a run-of-the-mill alien/action movie.  I couldn't wait for it to end.

 

D+

 

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post #21 of 79
6/10/11 at 2:38am

I absolutely LOVED it! A B-movie-like popcorn flick that is a little bit scary, a little bit funny, and a whole heck of a lot of fun! 5 out of 5 stars. A+++ It's a must-see. Don't wait for the home video release. Go see it in a theater with a big screen and a great sound system!

 

BTW, don't leave the theater too soon, there's a treat during the end credits!

 

Mark

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post #22 of 79
6/10/11 at 11:19am
I enjoyed the new X-Men movie quite a bit (to the point where I just assumed it would be my favorite summer movie this year) but Super 8 was even better. The 5 or 6 kid actors actually turn in real performances. Michael Giacchino's score channels John Williams in the best ways and writer/director Abrams does great in 1970's Spielberg mode. If you made movies or read monster magazines when you were a kid, I think you'll love this movie.

Everyone who cries that Hollywood makes too many sequels, remakes and comic book adapatations, go see this! Even if you hate it, at least you supported something that isn't a franchise.
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post #23 of 79
6/10/11 at 11:31am

I thought it was great too.  I loved the young actors in it as I was totally entertained by this film.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crawdaddy

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post #24 of 79
6/10/11 at 2:58pm

I was also disappointed overall. It seems like they forgot to write an ending. No sooner do the kids make "first contact" than it's over.

 

The continuous lens flares were very distracting. Does anyone know why Abrams does this? He needs to stop being so self-indulgent with his style/flair and just tell the story. It doesn't add anything and just keeps pulling me out of the film.

 

Only about 12 people attending in a 450 seat theater. Could be a disappointing weekend for Super 8.

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post #25 of 79
6/10/11 at 3:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Malcolm R View Post

Only about 12 people attending in a 450 seat theater. Could be a disappointing weekend for Super 8.
It was pretty empty in the theater too. I wonder why Hollywood keeps making sequels, remakes and adaptations? Oh, right because that's all that people are interested in.
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post #26 of 79
6/10/11 at 4:36pm

It's kinda like his signature just like John Woo has his "doves."  Not distracted by it at all.  I actually like it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Malcolm R View Post

The continuous lens flares were very distracting. Does anyone know why Abrams does this? He needs to stop being so self-indulgent with his style/flair and just tell the story. It doesn't add anything and just keeps pulling me out of the film.



 

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post #27 of 79
6/10/11 at 7:25pm

Saw 'Super 8' for the second time this afternoon.  Loved it just as much as the first viewing.

 

BTW, #Super8Movie is the number one trending topic on Twitter.  I seriously doubt that it's going to have a weak opening weekend.

 

I've contributed my share!  :)

 

Mark

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post #28 of 79
6/10/11 at 7:37pm
Thread Starter 
Caught a 6:20 show tonight, and had to sit in the bottom (below the stadium seating section) because the top was packed. First time I've seen an usher employed as an usher in a long, long time.

Fun movie that I liked a lot. Somehow, though, I think the whole was less than the sum of its parts. Elle Fanning's performance is the stand out. I think I would have been more interested in a movie without the monster, exploring how these two families are intertwined by this one tragedy. Joe and his father weren't fleshed out as much as I would have liked, even though Joel Courtney and Kyle Chandler did an excellent job with what they had to work with.
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post #29 of 79
6/10/11 at 7:49pm

7:25 showing tonight and it was about half full.  I asked the usher where the crowds were, the whole 12plex was empty.

 

Loved it till the last 10 minutes, very unsatisfying ending.

 

The train crash is one of my favorite sequences in any movie and the bus was up there too.

 

Definitely felt it was inspired heavily by ET, Close Encounters and Iron Giant.  The kids really sold the movie, the female lead is a stunner.  

 

I laughed at the blue damn lens flares from yellowish (sodium vapor???) train lights.  Fricking JJ was just messing with us there.

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post #30 of 79
6/10/11 at 8:02pm

I agree the last ten minutes of the film were the weakest, but I still thought it was a good film.  I used the word "great" earlier which I shouldn't have because it was a good film and an entertaining one, but not "great".

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