Review of Super 8 (2011) by Halfwelshman — 11 Sep 2011
Proof that the very best monster movies aren't really about the monster, but about people. The film's more about relationships, growing up, and dealing with bereavement than about a creature's rampage through small-town America.
The young cast are great, all delivering engaging, but natural performances. J J Abrams really couldn't have made it any clearer that he loves Spielberg, everything from the setting, to the cinematography and mise-en-scene could have come from late 70s/early 80s Spielberg films.
Maybe you could criticise Abrams for being too Spielbergian and having few ideas of his own, but he does undoubtedly put his own mark on the film, once again demonstrating his skill as a character-focused storyteller.
After the emotional first act and sensationally realised train crash, the plot does drag a little, and evil army officials seem a little too cliched to make particularly compelling antagonists (though using them does nod to E.
T.) The creature itself is also not particularly memorable, but as already stated, Super 8 isn't about the monster, but about people.
This review of Super 8 (2011) was written by Halfwelshman on 11 Sep 2011.
Super 8 has generally received positive reviews.
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