Super 8 is Good Retro Fun
Super 8, the new JJ Abrams movie is retro in a couple of ways. Firstly, it's set in 1979 - and they get it pitch perfect. I was close to the same age as the ensemble adolescent cast and I instantly felt whisked back to that time period. The cars, hair and music are all spot on. There were a couple bits of dialog that I thought might have been off. Were kids beginning sentences with "Totally" in its slang sense back then? Maybe in the Valley. Also one of the characters calls someone a douche. I don't remember having that word in my vocab until much later - but I'm quibbling.
The other way it's retro is in the type of film it is. It reminds me of those early 80s ensemble kids' flicks like Stand by Me, The Goonies and The Lost Boys. And while Spielberg is listed only as the producer, I felt at times that Super 8 was a homage to some of his early 80s, small town movies like E.T. and The Goonies.
The acting performances by the whole cast were excellent. The kids didn't seem like precocious children hamming it up or growth stunted teenagers playing it young. The relationships were believable and interesting - and mainly what the movie focused on. I'm thankful to Abrams for that - he wrote the script. It's not another CGI sploogefest - the alien's role is actually very small. Instead, Super 8 is an adolescent adventure dramedy that leaves you satisfied at the end - if only a little nostalgic for the era - but that effect may only be for people of my vintage. Go see it.
The other way it's retro is in the type of film it is. It reminds me of those early 80s ensemble kids' flicks like Stand by Me, The Goonies and The Lost Boys. And while Spielberg is listed only as the producer, I felt at times that Super 8 was a homage to some of his early 80s, small town movies like E.T. and The Goonies.
The acting performances by the whole cast were excellent. The kids didn't seem like precocious children hamming it up or growth stunted teenagers playing it young. The relationships were believable and interesting - and mainly what the movie focused on. I'm thankful to Abrams for that - he wrote the script. It's not another CGI sploogefest - the alien's role is actually very small. Instead, Super 8 is an adolescent adventure dramedy that leaves you satisfied at the end - if only a little nostalgic for the era - but that effect may only be for people of my vintage. Go see it.
18 Comments
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
The Tomatoes are with me, yay! http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/super_8/
MaxWilderI agree for the most part. The depth of the character interactions was a great pleasure, as was the complex plot for what is really a simple story.
I have to deduct points for some over-the-top Michael Bay style explosion scenes. And a few silly details that were ignored/overlooked. And one or two "Hey! Look! This is the 70's!" moments.
Other than that, great movie. Definitely going into my Blu-Ray collection.
Also, Speilberg was the producer, JJ Abrams was director. I suspect that's what you meant to type.
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
Oh, I did - thanks for that, fixed.>> ^MaxWilder:
I agree for the most part. The depth of the character interactions was a great pleasure, as was the complex plot for what is really a simple story.
I have to deduct points for some over-the-top Michael Bay style explosion scenes. And a few silly details that were ignored/overlooked. And one or two "Hey! Look! This is the 70's!" moments.
Other than that, great movie. Definitely going into my Blu-Ray collection.
Also, Speilberg was the producer, JJ Abrams was director. I suspect that's what you meant to type.
dotdudeI liked it. However, I would like retire the word "MINT" from movie dialogues. It got OLD, REAL QUICK.
campionidelmondoFrom the looks of the trailer I'm not at all motivated to watch this one. Then again, the same was true for "The Adjustment Bureau" and that turned out to be enjoyable. I guess it's sometimes difficult to make a good trailer that's really representative of the movie.
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
Yeah, but mint rings true. I remember saying that, along with "rad" and "choice" as in: Synchronicity II is rad. >> ^dotdude:
I liked it. However, I would like retire the word "MINT" from movie dialogues. It got OLD, REAL QUICK.
SarzyA) Agreed, Super 8 was awesome. It's probably my favourite movie of the year so far.
B) I rewatched E.T. a few days ago, and a character uses the word "douchebag" in it -- if that word was in use in the early '80s, I'm guessing it was in '79 as well.
dystopianfuturetodayLooking forward to this.
JanuariWhat is this 1979 you speak of?... ohhh like a period piece?...
blankfistI'm adding some spoilers to the mix. You've been forewarned.
I agree, excellent homage to the kid ensemble films of the 80s. Each scene with the five or so boys never felt as if they were waiting for their line reading. Each of them were given things to dwell on that differed from the overarching through line of each scene. During important scenes the kids took time to be kids, called each other names, have their own conversation objectives, etc. Those scenes were rich. And I really wish nearly every blockbuster movie was made like that.
The story itself didn't live up to what the film delivered in tone and pacing. If you disagree, then let me ask you a question. What exactly did the deputy father do the latter half of the movie? During the first half, he sets himself up as a major player when he starts sleuthing around the train wreckage, goes against the sheriff's wishes to investigate further and ultimately gets arrested by the Air Force.
And then what did he do to advance the story forward? Virtually nothing. He contributes nearly zilch outside of freeing the little girl's father, and at that point they have a little "them" time to heal their rift. He was set up as a major role that advanced the plot in the beginning, then he was given busywork to finish out the movie while the children picked up where he left off.
I'm not sure yet if I like or dislike the scene where the alien picks up the protagonist kid, does some psychic exchange, then when the boy tells him "bad things happen, but you can live," the alien thinks, "yeah, that's sound advice," then gets the hell out of dodge. I don't know, am I just too cynical now? Maybe I am, because...
The movie was rated PG-13 even though it had cigarette smoking, pot smoking and hard liquor drinking in it. I don't think those things are deserving of an R rating, but the MPAA sure as shit does, but only when it's [edit] NOT an industry darling's movie. If you're an indie filmmaker and put a cigarette in your movie you're pretty much guaranteed to get an R. Spielberg and Abrams do it, add some hard drinking, a couple shits, a fuck, guts splattering and a hell of a lot of focus on getting high, and the MPAA bends at the knees.
Also did you notice when the stoned guy passes out cold and the kids leave him, it appeared that they had to ADR in a new line for one of the kids: "Drugs are bad!"
But other than that, the film was great.
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
That's a good point about the deputy dad. I have a feeling that his expanded role might be on the edit-room floor. The pacing was very tight, and I bet they chopped a fair bit out to keep the momentum.
>> ^blankfist:
I'm adding some spoilers to the mix. You've been forewarned.
I agree, excellent homage to the kid ensemble films of the 80s. Each scene with the five or so boys never felt as if they were waiting for their line reading. Each of them were given things to dwell on that differed from the overarching through line of each scene. During important scenes the kids took time to be kids, called each other names, have their own conversation objectives, etc. Those scenes were rich. And I really wish nearly every blockbuster movie was made like that.
The story itself didn't live up to what the film delivered in tone and pacing. If you disagree, then let me ask you a question. What exactly did the deputy father do the latter half of the movie? During the first half, he sets himself up as a major player when he starts sleuthing around the train wreckage, goes against the sheriff's wishes to investigate further and ultimately gets arrested by the Air Force.
And then what did he do to advance the story forward? Virtually nothing. He contributes nearly zilch outside of freeing the little girl's father, and at that point they have a little "them" time to heal their rift. He was set up as a major role that advanced the plot in the beginning, then he was given busywork to finish out the movie while the children picked up where he left off.
I'm not sure yet if I like or dislike the scene where the alien picks up the protagonist kid, does some psychic exchange, then when the boy tells him "bad things happen, but you can live," the alien thinks, "yeah, that's sound advice," then gets the hell out of dodge. I don't know, am I just too cynical now? Maybe I am, because...
The movie was rated PG-13 even though it had cigarette smoking, pot smoking and hard liquor drinking in it. I don't think those things are deserving of an R rating, but the MPAA sure as shit does, but only when it's an industry darling's movie. If you're an indie filmmaker and put a cigarette in your movie you're pretty much guaranteed to get an R. Spielberg and Abrams do it, add some hard drinking, a couple shits, a fuck, guts splattering and a hell of a lot of focus on getting high, and the MPAA bends at the knees.
Also did you notice when the stoned guy passes out cold and the kids leave him, it appeared that they had to ADR in a new line for one of the kids: "Drugs are bad!"
But other than that, the film was great.
blankfistWell, if it was integral to the plot, they wouldn't cut it I don't think. If it was superfluous, then sure.
blankfist@dag, also my friend brought up a good point, why for three days when the air force knew of this alien do they not do anything about it? They wait until the 3rd act (ahem) to evacuate the city.
Playing devil's advocate, obviously. I did like the movie.
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
I don't think that's a huge plot hole - they were hoping for a quick capture, underestimating the smarts of their opponent - as the military is wont to do. then they realized they needed to go to Plan B.
Saw Brides Maids on the weekend - a damn good movie.
>> ^blankfist:
@dag, also my friend brought up a good point, why for three days when the air force know of this alien do they not do anything about it? They wait until the 3rd act (ahem) to evacuate the city.
Playing devil's advocate, obviously. I did like the movie.
blankfistYes it is. Great movie.
dystopianfuturetoday@dag
Issy and I saw this last night and dug it. JJA really nailed the style and feel of a Speilberg flick, with some help from the composer, Giacchino, who did an impressive John Williams homage. I don't think the film had the depth of an ET or Close Encounters, but it was still 2 hours of pure inner child fun. And as far as plot holes go, this is intended as a childhood fantasy. If this were Cloverfield, those kids would have been eaten in the opening frames of the film.
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
I didn't even really think about it, but if it was a John Williams-esque score that probably contributed to the Spielberg feeling.>> ^dystopianfuturetoday:
@dag
Issy and I saw this last night and dug it. JJA really nailed the style and feel of a Speilberg flick, with some help from the composer, Giacchino, who did an impressive John Williams homage. I don't think the film had the depth of an ET or Close Encounters, but it was still 2 hours of pure inner child fun. And as far as plot holes go, this is intended as a childhood fantasy. If this were Cloverfield, those kids would have been eaten in the opening frames of the film.
dystopianfuturetodayGiacchino also did the Oscar winning score for Up, as well as the score for the show Lost. Talented dude.
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