Cross-Media Research into Super 8

Super 8 is a blockbuster which was released on the 5th of August 2011 in the UK. It was produced by the legendary Steven Spielberg and directed by J.J. Abrams.

                                                                               Print
Super 8 Poster

This is the Super 8 film poster. The colours used are significant in showing the dark side of the people of Earth. This is done by Earth being a silhouette against the stormy sky. The light in the sky signifies how not everything that is extraterrestrial is not evil or harmful. The dark patches in the sky show how we don't know everything about aliens/extraterrestrials. I think the designer of the poster intentionally rotated the landscape into a portrait as it looks like a picture of the Earth from space.

Super 8 Theatrical Release Poster


This is the Super 8 thearical release poster. Unlike the film poster, it doesn't give much information about the film away; just the outlines of the main characters. However with the lights you can tell that this is a sci-fi film. Under the title, it says ' IT ARRIVES'. We as the audience don't know what 'IT' is or where it's comming from.

Super 8 Billboard

This is a Super 8 billboard. This the same as the film poster but the landscape has remained landscape. This billboard is probably on the side of the road so rotating the landscape would distract the driver but more importantly, you wouldn't miss the main details.

Empire Magazine also done a review of the film. They gave Super 8, 4 out of 5 stars. To read the full review, click here. Here is a short extract of the review:
                "...Not only has he persuaded Steven Spielberg to serve as producer on his latest film — encouragingly neither sequel, prequel, nor attempt to deodorise a stale franchise — but the very film the tenderfoot filmmaker has written and directed is a fan letter to the spirit of early Spielberg..."

Super 8 also has a spin off comic:

It is only availible online to download and read. It will set you back 12 cents which is normal comic book pricing.

 E-Media

Being a blockbuster, Super 8 gained a lot of attention online. It has it's own website: www.super8-movie.com. 

Here are links to review's by leading film critics:

- IMDB

- Rotten Tomatoes

- Metacritic

Super 8 Trailer

Broadcast

Super 8 Theatrical Release Trailer : This is the Super 8 theatrical release trailer. It was shown in cinemas prior to the films release to attract a larger, already cinema going audience.

Super 8 TV Spot : This is the Super 8 TV spot. A TV spot is advertisements on televsion for films.

Super 8 Teaser : Teaser trailer of Super 8. Teaser trailers are way shorter than TV spots or theatrical release trailers. This creates more tension and excitement.

Super 8 TV Cast Interviews: This is a video of a Super 8 special on TV. It includes interviews of main characters from the film and those begind the scenes. The screenshot shows the director J.J. Abrams.

Super 8 is scheduled to premier on Sky Movies on Monday 26th December 2011 (Boxing Day).

Sky have also gone on to review the film, if you would like to see it, click here.

The Premier had a surprise when Tom Cruise decided to turn up to support the rest of the cast and directorial team.

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: