Viewed twice in theaters
It's 1979. Imagine you're a 14-year-old kid with a group of friends who are out in the middle of the night filming your very first zombie movie. Suddenly, a pickup truck rams into the train that is passing by you at an alarming rate of speed--so hard, in fact, that the train has a three-minute temper-tantrum of explosions and screeching metal. After this has happened and you've survived, you think you see something escaping from the train. Soon, some weird, almost supernatural stuff starts happening, and people are missing from your small Ohio town. The military is being strangely cryptic, and nobody knows what's happening. Your best friend, being the opportunist that he is, follows the events with your Super 8 mm film camera, screaming, "Production value for the zombie movie!!!"
This is the world of Super 8, one of the most entertaining and foul-mouthed creature flicks to hit theaters in years. Steven Spielberg (who is the producer) basically invented the modern-day critter-thriller, with classics such as Jaws, Jurassic Park, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., Jurassic Park...I could continue on. Then you have writer/director J. J. Abrams, who has been showing his Spielberg-esque chops with specials like Lost and the recent (magnificent) Star Trek. Add in some amazingly talented teenage actors and a really great feel for suspense, and you have the fantastically creepy Super 8. This is one of my top picks for Summer 2011.
Unfortunately, this film does not come without its flaws. The biggest problem (and boy, is it ever!) is the level of profanity in the dialogue. Plugged In counts over 80 swear words (I'm not going to list them, but if you want to know, go to their review). Because this film centers on characters who are teenagers, you have an uncomfortably large amount of profanity coming from the mouths of kids. It's not enjoyable and, frankly, detracts from the pleasure of the film, so much so that it's difficult on first viewing to see past all of the language. If you have some way to block out most of the language, I would highly encourage using it. It's mainly for this reason that I strongly recommend kids do not see this film.
However, if you can get past the level of verbal obscenity, this is honestly one of the best films I've seen in years. There are more than one genuine "SURPRISE!" moments that make you jump in your seat. The suspense is masterful, creating a 112-minute white-knuckler. (At a few choice moments, I was literally shrinking back in my seat because I just knew that stupid critter would jump out at me.) Alot of armchair critics complain about the fact that you don't see the creature until around the 85-minute mark; I personally think that this style of filmmaking creates a much higher level of suspense and contributes greatly to the overall experience of the thriller. Plus, it's a refreshing change from the "Show it all!" approach to monster movies in recent years.
Looking at Super 8 from a filmmaker's standpoint, I love the style of the film. The camera angles, lighting, set design, special effects--it's all stylized and adventurously fun. (Really, Abrams? The number of blue lens flares is a bit ridiculous. Cool-looking, but ridiculous. Car headlights don't do that.) The way the creature looks is pretty darn cool, and it's some really interesting CGI work.
Be prepared--the train crash sequence is one of the most intense disaster sequences I've ever seen. EVER. Plugged In says it perfectly:
"The train wreck that kicks off the movie's action is probably the most
electrifying, ear-pummeling, physics-bending freight train crash ever
recorded on film. It is intensely realistic. (Except when it's intensely
unrealistic!) That scene alone contains more explosions and
theater-shaking thumps than many smaller-budget action films include in
their entire length."
It's rockingly awe-inspiringly disastrous. It's been a while since I was pulled so far into a film that I was legitimately a bit worried about personal injury. The violence level of the film is pretty intense: people get dragged to their (apparent) deaths; explosions happen left and right; a bus scene is edge-of-your-seat thrilling; characters get shot, thrown, crushed, and apparently eaten by the creature. It's mostly without gore, except for one scene where a character is involved in an explosion and experiences a broken leg bone (the bone is visibly poking out from the character's leg).
Messages being preached through this film are pretty important, not to mention timely in our day and age. They range from forgiveness to unconditional love; from helping people in need to stepping up and being a hero when one is called upon; and finally the need to respect and appreciate your parents. But the biggest message is this: "Bad things happen in life, but you can still live." The main character, Joe Lamb, experienced a crushing loss when his mother was killed in a workplace accident. Throughout the film, he is constantly faced with this pain, but the way he deals with it is inspiring and encouraging to anyone who has been through similar circumstances.
The character development in this film is realistic and (seemingly) authentic. One of the huge redeeming qualities of the film is the relationships between the kids--I've heard them referred to as "the new Goonies." The four boys love each other deeply, and they go through everything as a team. Their relationship is wonderfully reminiscent of typical childhood; everyone has those friends, that band of brothers with whom you survived your summers. Walking out of this movie, I felt like I'd been included in their special friendship.
Overall, this film is magnificently satisfying, fantastically entertaining, and a beautiful return to good creature thriller movies, although it relies on unnecessary profanity to get its suspense across. A worthy homage to Spielberg.
P.s. Keep watching through the credits...it's almost as good as the rest of the movie.
5 1/2 out of 6 stars
So that everyone (including myself) may benefit from it, please feel free to leave your own personal opinion of this film.
Plugged In Movie Reviews
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