Original sci-fi movies are pretty rare these days. When it feels like everything’s been done before, most directors seem to shoot for remakes or sequels. While J. J. Abrams has done his fair directing both (Mission Impossible III and the recent Star Trek reboot), it seems he’s finally found his own groove on Super 8, a sci-fi film that obviously pays homage to—and is produced by—Steven Spielberg.
Set in summer 1979, Super 8 sets up quite a few interesting plotlines that reflect popular films of that era. The central story revolves around a group of kids filming a zombie movie on a “super 8†camera that happen to witness a dramatic train crash, catching the event on film. Then there’s the adolescent love story between Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney), the deputy sheriff’s son, and Alice Dainard (Elle Fanning), daughter of the supposed local troublemaker. Joe is also trying to come to terms with his family life after the death of his mother.
While the film is based around the train crash and the monstrous creature that escapes from the wreckage, it’s really the character development that makes Super 8 an amazing movie. Joe and Alice have an interesting connection because of their family lives—Joe’s father, Jackson (Kyle Chandler), and Alice’s father, Louis (Ron Eldard), are both single parents, and each man seems to hold a grudge against the other. The “forbidden love†between the two kids is enough to keep anyone interested—forget that there’s a giant alien stealing people and electronics.
Super 8 is also an action-packed sci-fi flick, as well. Not long into the movie, the infamous train wreck occurs. Eventually, the entire town becomes a war zone when the air force invades to recapture its precious cargo. Suspense builds as the monster is slowly revealed throughout its scenes. The kids become the heroes in many different forms. Some of the storylines seem a bit more outlandish than others, but then again, this is a sci-fi movie that focuses on the kids.
Perhaps the kid-centric theme is what makes the film so appealing. Nostalgically speaking, Super 8 has a ton of similarities to films like The Goonies and E.T., sending a group of kids on an adventure. At times, the film seems to lose its place among the romance/adventure/sci-fi/horror themes, but somehow everything comes together for all the characters, as each story is inherently relatable across the board. Some movies can have too much plot going on at once, but each separate story keeps Super 8 interesting, even in spots where other movies could tend to drag.
While Super 8 may not be entirely original, taking highly recognizable themes from the past (and especially Spielberg), it makes for a great summer film to take in, whether it’s with family, friends or even just alone. The appeal spreads across the board, and Abrams definitely knows how to capture attention through both plot and imagery. For his first original film venture, Abrams definitely scores high, and Super 8 is definitely worthy of “classic†sci-fi status.
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