Just three years after experiencing the mind-blowing trailer for Cloverfield, moviegoers in the summer of 2010 witnessed another preview from the Bad Robot production company that came across as a sequel, prequel, or different viewpoint of the 2008 monster movie. As time passed, however, director J.J. Abrams assured everyone that Super 8 has no connection to his previous production. Nevertheless, after viewing the presumed followup, one can certainly point out a number of similarities.
Super 8 of course is directed by the new man of mystery and science fiction, J.J. Abrams, who like most people in his line of work, looked up to and was influenced by Steven Spielberg, who is an executive producer for the movie. While on the set, the two discussed what it was like growing up making movies for fun with an actual super 8 mm camera. Their passion for the style of filmmaking seen around the time of Abrams' childhood in the 1970s, which is when the film takes place, is obviously noticeable throughout, which creates a sense of nostalgia for that time period. As the film progresses, however, it changes from a great narrative revolving around a group of young filmmakers working on a piece to submit in a festival, to a combination of story lines we've all seen before.
Although I do not intend on giving away too much of the plot and its factors that are to be kept secret, I will include a SPOILER ALERT warning just in case. I went into the theater expecting another Cloverfield, but the first two-thirds or so of the movie proved otherwise until of course, I did notice the resemblance. The monster looks very familiar, and the classic case of boy tracking down location of girl (protagonist of Cloverfield trekking across the city for his ex-girlfriend) is evident. While the alien unleashes a substantial amount of havoc in the small town of Lillian, Ohio, it does not mean as much harm as it inflicts. This relates to Spielberg's own E.T. and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Super 8 does have unique qualities despite its various parallels with other movies. The acting is superb and Joel Courtney along with Elle Fanning, sister of Dakota, should have extraordinary careers ahead of them. The rest of the young characters played by Riley Griffiths, Gabriel Basso, Ryan Lee, and Zach Mills also do a fine job, as well as the adult actors including Kyle Chandler, making for a great cast. I think the best part of the film is seen during the credits, when the entirety of the zombie movie directed by Griffiths' character is played out. It reminded me of when I made my own short movies as a kid using my dad's camera. Don't worry, I will not turn this into a story of how I was just like Abrams and Spielberg when they were kids.
Overall, Super 8 is not a bad movie. It's just not great either. I believe if the mediocre Cloverfield never existed, then this movie could be appreciated a lot more. I also don't wish by any means that E.T. or CE3K were not around, but if Super 8 could better distinguish itself from these movies, then we would have a fantastic piece of cinema on our hands. In any case, it is worth seeing as an escape from the completely obvious formulaic dross that will clutter the theaters throughout the remainder of the summer.
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