"Super 8" 2/5 Pitchforks Rated: PG-13 Staring: Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning and Kyle Chandler June 10, 2011
The reviews are in; and thankfully, they are mixed.
This is of course the unspoken – yet defining moment for “young” J.J. Abrams. For the first time, allegedly, J.J. Abrams has finally conceived an idea from the writing process on through to its interpretation to the big screen, and all by himself.
Where before, and speaking primarily of his motion picture accomplishments, everything that has had his involvement has either been written by someone else initially, directed by someone else or based (however loosely) on somebody else’s own character and/or story design. “Super 8,” which opened officially June 10, was not only his very own idea to begin with, but he also wrote and directed it too – with a little help of course.
“Help” of course coming in the form and mystique of none-other-than Steven Spielberg, who ensured (to some extent anyway) that every “t” was crossed and “i” dotted as one of the films main producers.
Garnering much of its acclaim just for taking place in the relative past, “Super 8” features a cast of child actors portraying a “gang of friends determined to help their friend make a movie,” movie – and – for the most part, that is exactly what you get.
However, much of the criticism exists because of said cast of childhood actors and “the gang” that they are meant to represent. In truth, the story is slow. Couple that with a shockingly under developed idea for the big screen (particularly when one considers those in charge of it all, as well as how the film was marketed in the first place), the dry – emotionless dialogue that these children are meant to deliver would send seasoned thespians running for the hills.
To be fair, “Super 8” is a nice attempt at rekindling an aspect of storytelling that does not include mutants, Tyler Perry or even Nicholas Cage. It is – again – a nice attempt at reminding audiences of what films were like when Abrams and Spielberg were but mere children, or so they say.
Where many believe that J.J. Abrams will take over as the guru of suspenseful, thriller-esk film making of the likes that made Steven Spielberg a household name, “Super 8” proves that there is still much to learn.
Spielberg managed to weave stories of suspense using real character emotion. In “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial,” we (the audience) wanted to help Elliot and his new friend in any way imaginable. In “Super 8,” a couple of kids are playing by the railroad tracks after joy-riding in a parental figures Buick Skylark, when they should have been in bed. It could be argued that they deserved what came their way.
Furthermore, in “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” and even “Jaws,” we (the audience) are given a little bit of respect by at least “seeing” the alien or creature, “thing” that has everyone all in a tizzy.
Movies do not do that anymore. Where computerized graphics have – supposedly – reached new heights, we (the audience) are left scratching our heads as to why E.T., a puppet from the 80’s, can get more screen time than an alien reeking havoc in the remote areas of Ohio with an overall budget of $45 million, which, was over four-times the budget given to the puppet.
This is not the “blockbuster hit of the summer” you might have been expecting. Where some intermittent moments of enjoyment do present themselves in “Super 8,” there certainly are not enough. Even paying children to “cuss” fails to ignite any real care in the outcome of this remote area of Ohio (yet filmed in West Virginia oddly enough).
The film will do well in theaters, certainly in the way of box-office revenues, but J.J. Abrams will need to devote more time to the development of future endeavors. In the realm of television, one has more ability to “make it up” as they go, as was the obvious case with his television series “Lost.” Spielberg, on the other hand, will be just fine; he has proven himself repeatedly on both the large and small screen. For now, all that can really be said is, “better luck next time Mr. Abrams.”
Reach the reporter at jbfortne@asu.edu
