Review of Super 8 (1988) by Calib M — 16 Apr 2016

Super 8 is directed by J.J Abrams and produced by Spielberg, and that is highly noticable. Super 8 is filled with lense-flair's, and ideas all from previous Spielberg movies (he either directed, produced, or exec-produced) like: Some kids find a map (Goonies) - including a fat kid who likes to eat (Goonies) - and they come up against the military which is trying to track down an alien on the loose (E.T.).

The creature has created issues for the townsfolk who express concern at a meeting with the sheriff (Jaws) and they eventually have to evacuate because of a made-up disaster (Close Encounters).

The alien, who is a really a spider (Arachnaphobia) that has been collecting items so that he can get home (E.T.), has the ability to make a psychic connection with humans (Close Encounters). One of the kids has a seemingly useless obsession that winds up helping to save the day in a climactic sequence (fireworks here and inventions in the Goonies) however the creature is much too smart to fall for such a trick (Jaws - "he's either very smart or very stupid"). An old guy, who is an expert on this creature (Jaws) winds up dying while the army shoots through the town and tanks roll (War of the Worlds). Then the characters put the story together in one long expositional scene and we are not really sure how they figured it all out (Minority Report). It seems the monster is really a misunderstood good guy (Goonies) who makes a connection with our hero (ET, Close Encounters) and then flies home (E.T), but not before a lot of missing people are returned (Close Encounters) and lots of appliances fly around (Poltergeist).

However, I didnt mind this but it does make the movie highly conventional. The kid actors were surprisingly good, the pacing is excellent, and the writing, despite unoriginal was quite good.

The thing that bugged me the most though is how ridiculous, random, and bullshit the ending is, I wont go into details, but up untill the point where havoc is about the break lose, the movie is pretty good, but the last 20 minutes or so completely fucks it up.