Super 8 Review

Super 8

Super 8 is a sci-fi film directed by J.J. Abrams who has directed Lost (television series) and the 3^rd entitlement of the Mission: Impossible series amongst others. Abrams’ experience with such thrillers made him the ideal director for this film which needed suspense to differentiate it from other sci-fi films. With the explosions and children occupying the lead roles, you can tell this is produced by Steven Spielberg. Steven Spielberg being the producer is quite fitting as the film is homage to Spielberg’s earlier films. Amblin Entertainment, Spielberg’s production company accompanies Paramount into producing the film.

Super 8 follows Joe Lamb (played by Joel Courtney) and his friends through their summer holidays while they try to make a zombie film using their super 8 camera. It is based in a small town in Ohio. The film begins with Joe and his father Jack, the town police deputy (played by Kyle Chandler) trying to improve their relationship following the death of Joe’s mother, who had an accident at the local steel factory where she worked. Joe attempts to divert his attention from his mother by joining his friends as the make-up artist for the film. Charles (Riley Griffiths), Joe’s friend who is directing their zombie film drafts in Alice (Elle Fanning) to play the hero’s wife. Immediately there is attraction between her and Joe. The group are helping Charles create a short film for a contest; he is also being helped by Cary (Ryan Lee) who is a special effects expert; Martin (Gabriel Basso) who plays the role of the hero and Preston (Zach Mills) who is the camera man.

The drama starts when the group are filming and a freak but inevitably planned accident occurs when a pick-up truck is driven head-on into a train. The group drive away but rapidly the site is cordoned off by military forces. Being the town deputy, Joe’s father, Jack is sent to question the sergeant who is in charge of making sure no evidence is left behind. He is reluctant to reveal why the military was on site so quickly and issues the deputy a warning saying that it is a secret assignment.  Stranger events eventually unravel when people start to disappear. Car engines and microwaves also start to disappear from resident’s homes, all unexplained. Joe and the group have visual evidence of the train crash. After going through evidence, they find out that they are dealing with an alien that has escaped from government captivity.

Initially I was let down by the film. Being a Spielberg production, I expected far more quality wise in terms of the plot. Information was thrown at the audience too quickly; and before you could process it, another important piece of information was thrown at us. However, it wasn’t confusing, just too rushed. J.J. Abrams has a lot of experience (although not in films as Super 8 was only the 3^rd film he has directed) is creating suspense, especially with Lost which left many fans on the edge of their seats at the end of every episode. Suspense was something the film lacked. To ‘rub salt in the wound’, I felt the trailer created more tension than the actual film. Overall the film doesn’t do justice to Spielberg’s other sci-fi films.

The acting was very immaculate. They could have been melodramatic which would have taken the serious element out of the film. Making children the main characters helps maintain that understanding between children and the target audience of teenagers and young adults. If it wasn’t for the soundtrack, it would have been very difficult to define what time period the film was set in. Small hints like Lionel Richie in the background on the radio helped narrow the time frame down to the late 70’s and early 80’s. Coincidentally, the film is set in 1979. However, the soundtrack could have been used more effectively to create suspense and tension which the film lacked being in the genre that it is.

Super 8 is a sci-fi film and that is clearly determined by the alien. Also the supernatural events which occur before the alien is revealed also put the film in that category.

The film was disappointing, especially the rapid pace of the ending which was too stereo typical and a bit strange (why couldn’t the alien make the ship before it started eating humans?). The acting was almost perfect. The casting director also did a very good job choosing actors who naturally suit their characters. Would I recommend it? No. Would I try to convince you not to watch it? No. It is not a bad film, just a disappointing one

My Rating:

Best Productions at Media Awards

Best Year 12 Production

Out of 'The Boy Is Mine', 'Detention', 'Johnny' and 'Enigma', I think Johnny was the best one. A trailer is supposed to sum up the film but not tell you the whole story, it is supposed to leave you wanting to see the film; Johnny was a very good trailer. Johnny falls under the gangster genre, this is clear at the beginning of the trailer. By telling the audience the genre immediately, it grabs those in the audience who are interested in that genre instantly. I also found the end very interesting where his 'friend' betray's him and takes off his balaclava. From this moment on, you want to watch the rest of the film but that is when the trailer finishes.

It could have been better if they had used dramatic music instead of grime. This would have made for a more dramatic finish but overall it was a very good trailer.

Best Year 13 Production


I think the 'Call of Duty' was the best Year 13 production in my opinion. Although it wasn't a very original idea, they used their location very well and the camera angles were very similar to that of the game. The humorous element to prevented it from being a flop because without the humor, it would have been taken seriously by the audience who would have seen that it wasn't a very accurate interpretation of the Call of Duty series. This doesn't mean they didn't try to make it look like Call of Duty.

It could have been improved if they had used props or edited guns into the video. This would have made it more like the game as the guns are what define the game.