Super 8 (aka Hommage a Spielberg) arose from Steven Spielberg asking JJ Abrams to clean up some of the original film strips of some of his very first movies, made at home in his youth with his dad's super 8 film camera. In doing this Abrams and Spielberg initiated this idea for a new film, and even went so far as to create a trailer for it, without even having done any real filming or writing. It was a brave gamble, but it has paid off well, especially for those of us who enjoyed the likes of ET, The Goonies, Close Encounters, Flight of the Navigator and Explorers in our youth.
This review may contain spoilers.
A group of friends in small-town America are attempting to make a movie on a - you guessed it - super-8 camera for some fun. In doing this they unwittingly witness a massive train crash, but the train has been carrying something so potent the US Air Force is determined to do almost anything to get it back.
Almost everything about this film has its roots in the late 70's / early 80's adventure movies - the story is reminiscent of ET, mixed with Close Encounters with a bit of The Goonies for good measure (as mentioned earlier). The ideas of a group of kids saving the day, outsmarting the "evil" Air Force, combined with a misunderstood alien and an idyllic portrayal of an American childhood of freedom, bonding, classic toys and fun all add up to provide a very nostalgic, very enjoyable experience. The kids in the cast are very convincing, particularly a oddly mature Elle Fanning and the foul-mouthed child director played by Riley Griffiths, who both steal the scenes from the Joel Courtney in the lead, who still does well as the quiet boy who recently lost his mother. The child cast also exhibit a bonding and camaraderie The human story is never forgotten over the course of events - Joe's relationship with his father and that of Alice and hers, the relationships between the families of the town - and provides some emotional foundation on which the rest of the story can stand on.
There are several aesthetic points that add to that nostalgic feeling - the shots of the older daughter begging her mother for permission to go to a party, a certain shot at the family dinner table, lens flares, focus changes and grainy film effects all attempt to plant us back in those past times. The music is also reminiscent of those great John Williams scores of the time.
It's worth mentioning that there are points where the film drags a little. There is some CG in creating the monster and a few other things and this contradicts somewhat with the nostalgic feeling that the film ostensibly aims for.
I look at this film as a homage to Spielberg and the films of the period - a loving tribute to the adventures that we got on screen as kids that stick in our minds even now. In and of itself it is very enjoyable, and whilst there will be some that claim it to be an imitation and unoriginal, a lot of us who need things like this now won't give a shit. I'm sure that Abrams is well aware that people like me will lap a film like this up, which could have been an excellent bit of pre-emptive marketing on his part, but I think that's secondary to what he was trying to do. Bad Robot continues to reinvigorate our TV and cinema, and I'm loving it.
I will admit that I'm biased and I am yearning for those good old days with films like this.
8.5/10
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