Super 8
Watch Trailer Video Clip: Start Filming! Video Clip: Joe's Missing Video Interview with Cast & Director JJ Ambrams
Starring: Elle Fanning, Ron Eldard
Details: US/111mins 12A
Youngster Joe Lamb (an affecting Courtney) has had a tough year; his mother recently died in a tragic accident, while his local Police Deputy father (the underrated Chandler) is finding the loss extremely difficult to deal with. Finding a respite in the form of his movie loving mates, they set out to make their very own 'super 8' zombie movie. While on location, a train crashes into an oncoming car in the middle of them shooting a scene and their camera manages to capture some footage of a creature breaking out of a compartment. Said creature then proceeds to wreak havoc in their small town.
Ostensibly appearing to be more of a straight up Cloverfield type monster flick, Super 8 develops into something more character driven thanks to the time and care put into the development of these kids. Courtney is an absolute natural; a lot of times in tween led productions the kids can make you want to saw off an arm just so you have something to throw at the screen, but he never oversells his performance. Equally as impressive is Elle Fanning, who switches gears mid-scene so convincingly, you'd think she'd be acting years.
While some threads aren't as well wrapped as they could have been, you still get the impression that Abrams has achieved pretty much everything he set out to do with third film as director. He has no major movie stars headlining - which helps you buy into initially ambiguous set-up - and there isn't any over-hyped, ultimately grating 3D. This is an old school production told in a modern, but organic manner that values its core characters and even subplots more than the creature at its core. That is beyond rare in a Hollywood production.
A nostalgia-ridden, sweet and generally lovely film that Steven Spielberg would be proud of. His name over the title here as producer is a perfect indication of the film you're getting.
Super 8 is that rare beast that will play well to all of the family.
Review by Mike Sheridan
Your Comments
raco316
seen this at the preview.it was brilliant.everyone has said it has parts of e.t and the goonies in it.i couldnt agree more.the child actors in this put some of the adult actors out there now to shame.lets hope they stay on the right track.it was a brilliant film and just stay for the end of the credits too.
Posted 28/07/2011 15:01:25
sr
Go see it. It's rubbish. Then ask yourself how many critics must have been paid off to support this crap with ***** on every poster and claims of being the movie of the year!! The young cast are amazing, truly amazing and it's beautifully filmed, scene by scene. But the movie is an insult to the modern audience regardless of age and the story is so very fecking weak in so many fecking ways. I know it's a homage to old sci-fi, a mix of E.T and Goonies , but it is lacking the credibility those movies had that won our hearts. The alien or should I say giant spider with a face like an old vagina doesn't know whether to kill people or connect, because it's scared and wants to go home we're told, which is how I felt too after an hour of this. And the opening hour is the best, but like the train crash at the start, this movie derails and burns quicker than one of Dot Cottons cigarettes. Can't tell you how frustrated it made me feel. They had all the ingredients for a wonderful masterpiece and gave us a dog chewed childs scribble on a snotty hanky. 2/10 and the whole 2 goes to the young cast who can't be praised enough.
Posted 28/07/2011 16:52:27
pandabat
Very Spielbergian movie combining elements of E.T., The Goonies & Close Encounters of the Third Kind along with a first-rate cast of children. The adults aren't bad either but they're only ever playing second fiddle to the junior stars. The plot rolls along briskly depsite the running time and, while it's not perfect under intense scrutiny, it certainly does the job of entertaining with as much humour as there is action. Overall I found it quite enjoyable and it certainly can no longer be said that they don't make 'em like they used to!
Posted 29/07/2011 14:25:18
xoxo
I won 3 tickets from Kiss magazine to go see it 10 days before it came out. I would honestly recommend it to everyone, it was so good! The ending was a bit of a let down, but other than thq=at, excellent movie!
Posted 05/08/2011 18:22:08
FilmBuff76
In a long, tiring summer of junk food movies like Transformers 3, there is one beacon of hope - Super 8. I've waited all summer for it, but it was definitely worth the wait. It immediately transported me back to my 80s childhood and those memorable Amblin kids-on-an-adventure movies that aren't made anymore. Thanks JJ Abrams for keeping me in touch with my inner 10-year-old boy.
Posted 06/08/2011 17:27:32
Carter
Honestly one of the most awful movies I've seen in a really long time. Dont rent this, dont go to the cinema to see it, don't make your kids stupider by letting them see this. You will never get this time back. I'd like to say that the creators should be fed to the movie monster but all that stupid emo thing would do is hang them from their feet for no explainable reason whatsoever.
Posted 07/08/2011 16:36:34
noel
While Super 8 is not completely awful, neither is the brilliant movie the reviews would have you think, yes it looks good yes its cute and yes its a homage, but what these things cant hide is a slight story that doesn't really hold the attention after the first 45 mins, and when the cliches start they arrive by the Train load. Nothing to write home about. JJ Abrahms is nothing special so far as a director and i doubt without his friendship with The Berg if this would have ever been made.
Posted 08/08/2011 22:00:46
ellegibbons
Super crap :) Very ET ish [I know a made up word] but this film just was not for me. Not interested in alien films, I appreciate the great visual effects
Posted 09/08/2011 14:58:51
david
81 Comments Post a Comment « Previous 1 2 3 Wrecked Reviews 1 month ago I loved Super 8. Definitely exceeded any expectation I had for the movie. I actually just wrote a review for the movie over at Wrecked, a new entertainment website run by regular guys like you. Check out my review here: http://wp.me/s1iCBb-super8 Reply Alissa 1 month ago This mOvie was amazing but scary Reply Jeff 1 month ago Super 8 isn't about aliens or the Soviet threat. If you've seen the movie, or don't mind spoilers, read what I think the alien represents at: http://bit.ly/ksm89E Reply Wrecked Reviews 1 month ago I enjoy your take on the movie's metaphor's a lot, do you mind if I feature that on our site? send me an email, ivan@wreckedreviews.com Reply Taco 1 month ago Super 8 was a pretty decent movie full of nostalgia. Its worth watching just to get to watch the movie made by the characters during the end credits. Reply P 4 weeks ago I just want to see the film that was shown in the credits “the case” that the characters were working on through out this movie How can I view it on line Reply DBACKSFAN#1 1 week ago AWESOME movie! scary,but always had me intersested Reply Nate.J 11 minutes ago im usually a big fan of these films but is it me or was it a big let down and dissapointment? the best parts of the film were wrapped up in the films preview trailer. here we go again and like war of the worlds everything revolves around some kind of love story but this time involving 2 young teenagers (as i stick my fingers down my throat on certain scenes!). the film just seemed to focus around these kids with the odd appearance of the alien stomping around and the end sequence when the lad speaks to the alien was just sheer nonsense. typical spielberg out of touch. he wrecked war of the worlds remake and the ending to Indiana Jones 4. Speilberg was o.k. in the 70′s and early 80′s but sorry i think hes had his day. If I had the chance to re-see this film I would probably wait until it came out on Blu-ray with Lovefilm. Not worth £7.50 in the cinema.
Posted 10/08/2011 09:25:33
sr
It's a great movie but the end is a let down!! How can it be a great movie so?? This movie is a disaster because the end is a horrible let down!! The end of any story/movie is supposed to be the best, the climax!! It's a lazy second half, like they got distracted and rushed because of other commitments and the punter is left feeling foolish and robbed yet again. Poor, poor showing and shame again on Hollywood and the puss flowing from it with the way the make them these days.... 2/10
Posted 10/08/2011 16:42:22
ted29
I can safely say SR is talking through his hole. Im not going to waste my time on the semantics but its a charming movie, the kids have fabulous chemistry and Abrams pulls off the stroke of the year in not making this about an alien. Its character development for a summer block buster is top notch and you even end up caring about Elle Fannings father. SR, on behalf of Spielberg and Abrams i apologise the ending didnt have Vin Diesal or Jason Stathom in hand to hand combat with the alien.
Posted 11/08/2011 17:02:49
A
Agree with the last comment. I was completely drawn in by the characters and was teary eyed at parts. This wasn't solely a film about monsters or cheap thrills. It was a story with heart at its center. From the comments above it seems that people are divided, maybe it's one of those love it or hate it films. . . I loved it
Posted 11/08/2011 18:39:45
Deli
Fantastic film, great little cast. Excellently shot and beautifully told. Friendship and aliens what more could you need. P.s. the mother (Liz Lamb) is Irish, model named Caitriona Balfe!!!
Posted 15/08/2011 21:44:58
sr
You really are a TED ted29. Doesn't take much effort so to entertain you. Compared to Goonies, E.T, Never Ending Storey, Ghostbusters, Starwars & Labyrinth all made for less but with care and flair, style and creditbility it's lame and not sweet lame, lacking effort lame. It's what we eccept these days and you're fuelling this substandard filth. There's no timeless classic in Super8 and it'll be forgotten in no time. But hey, you're entitled to your opinion.
Posted 16/08/2011 18:09:07
ted29
Oh dear SR, first of all you spell accept with an a. 200 out of 244 reviews by americas top critics gave it a glowing review which means 82% on rotten tomatoes. Even on this thread you are on your own. Nobody is saying there is going to be a celebratory 25th anniversary box set or anything and id love to agree with you....but then we'd both be wrong. Bitter.
Posted 19/08/2011 18:29:37
DRAGONX
Agree with raco316 good movie and with such crap acting in movies these days the kids were the best i have seen for a long time.
Posted 19/08/2011 20:04:42
Shane McEneaney
I was very disappointed with this movie. What is all the fuss about? The story line is weak and the special effects over the top. If you have the brain of a seven year old then you may enjoy it.
Posted 22/08/2011 07:56:05
sr
Really Ted? Really? Shane agrees and so does Carter, not that I give a mountain of crap what they think or rotten tomatoes or brain dead Americans for that matter. Can't believe you tried backing up your argument with American statics, a nation that can't sit through a movie/ play/ parade/ sporting event without basing the whole thing around gorging on half their body weight in saturated fats and not paying the slightest bit of attention to what's going on in front of them. They would have seen who shot Kennedy had they not all been face down in Nachos. Genius. You're a sheep Ted, you just don't know it. You only think you like it because of the stupid adds and ratings your weak mind has puzzled together to give you a valid happy picture that won't upset your slumbered reality and worst of all Ted, you only like it because other people are crying the same tune. If you're honest Ted, the movie is a weak, cheap and labored effort. Watch it again Ted, this time open your lug holes and your mind to what they are selling you as you sit there lapping it up and applauding like a trained hungry seal.
Posted 23/08/2011 14:35:56
ted29
SR, really and truly you are a pompous a**hole. A staggering amount of arrogance seeped out of your little diatribe. What a complete prat.
Posted 30/08/2011 15:26:06
spikeprint
What a total pile of crap. Starts off developing nicely, and then decides to dive into awful twaddle. The second half is pure tripe. 4 stars is 2 too many.
Posted 09/11/2011 00:43:59
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Your Reviews...
Good but not quite Spielbergian - Mycroft Holmes
J.J. Abrams proves again that he is a reliable pair of hands into which you can trust a blockbuster film. Having said... MORE03/01/2012 15:27:26
I'm with Mr T and sr - Mariposa
My advice: Buy your ticket and watch until the train crash. Then head out and get wasted drunk before returning, an... MORE29/10/2011 03:21:19Summary - David
i want more reviews from the man who wrote "boooo! want my money back!". made me laugh. especially the comment: "Then... MORE24/10/2011 11:54:35
Mr. T you are so very, very right and on the money!! - sr
Mr. T you are so very, very right and on the money!!26/08/2011 13:25:47
