I love movies. I absolutely LOVE them. They are my greatest escape from reality and I enjoy most any opportunity I get to watch them. Today I went with one of my roommates to see J.J. Abrams' latest sci-fi outing, "Super 8". Yes, I realize that it has been out for over a month now, but for once, I think that was to my advantage. Being a movie freak, I retrieve information about films usually long before they come out. I read critics' reviews and movie blogs frequently to obtain whatever info I can. It's a fascination I've had since I was a child and has never died with time.
That being said, I was initially quite excited about "Super 8" given that it was kept quite hush-hush before its nationwide release. Initially, there were rumors of it being related to one of his previous films "Cloverfield" which also was kept under wraps during production. However, there turned out to be no such relations, other than the nature in which the film was released. Anyway, I digress. I lost some of my initial interest in the film due to hearing mixed reviews from other people, and soon it became lost in my mind amidst the hype of superhero sequels. So, when I went into the theatre today, I wasn't expecting a great deal. I was just happy to be in the theatre doing one of my favorite things: watching movies. To my great surprise, I was AMAZED by the depth of the film. The plot revolves around a group of kids in the 60s making a zombie film for an upcoming contest. One night while filming, a train wreck occurs as the kids are filming, and their lives get turned upside down. I won't go farther than that because once I get started, I won't be able to stop.
I had heard that the kid actors were the best part of the film, but I didn't believe it until I saw it. Surprisingly, I don't think any of the kids in this film had any big productions before this one. But they will sure as heck be noticeable now. I was particularly pleased by Elle Fanning's performance as the love interest of the main character. Their chemistry was perfect on-screen. I'm not a fan of her sister Dakota, so I wasn't expecting much out of her. It was truly incredible watch her though.
Some have said that this was an attempt to revive nostalgia of the classic sci-fi films and pay artistic homage to them. While this is certainly a sci-fi film, I wouldn't go so far as to say that it reminds me of the greatest sci-fi films, rather, the best style of filmmaking there is. The kind that draws you in and never lets go. I felt like the sci-fi plot was almost more of a subplot to the drama that takes place in the film. There are plenty of explosions and tense moments to keep your eyes glued to the screen, but to me, it felt more complementary to the story taking place at the moment, rather than trying to be the story itself, as most action films tend to do these days.
Some have also had issues with the film's somewhat abrupt ending. I personally think that things could have been wrapped up a little smoother, but nor did I feel like too many loose ends were left untied. The only real downside to me was the language. I mean, I know that its everywhere throughout schools these days, but I really don't think it was necessary to put as much of it in the kid's mouths as they did. Other than that, it was a spectacular film. For me, it's a movie that reminds me why I fell in love with film and have never fallen out of it. For those of you who haven't seen it, I'd recommend you not go in with huge expectations, despite everything I've just mentioned. Just go to enjoy a good film, and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, just as I was.
