Super 8 comes with a fantastic formula and turns it into a successful degree. However, only a small amount of originality is used in the film. This is because comparisons to other films are unavoidable and even though Steven Spielberg’s charisma will certainly be included, such counteracts the overall entertainment value of director J.J. Abrams’ efforts. The child actors are amazing and their youthful enthusiasm keeps the adventure and excitement on a roll even when the plot of the movie cannot quite catch up. It is a shame that the rest of the movie especially the monster does not offer an equal level of vivacity. In fact, the weakest link of this movie is the appearance of the alien menace that is slowly revealed with the saying “less is more” but this strategy prevents the audiences’ ability to have their own perception of a terrifying vision because of the uncanny resemblance to a rather famous creature that was copied from Abram’s past productions. The intentionally nostalgia fueled premise will cover up much of Super 8’s shortcomings with general audiences but critics will likely brush aside this veil and see the abused repetition that lies underneath the surface.
In a tiny town located in Ohio, young Joe Lamb makes an attempt to move on with his life after Elizabeth, his mother, dies in an accident. With father who is a deputy becoming increasingly more distant to him, he spends most of his time by helping his best friend Charles in creating a Super 8 movie, which will be an entry in a film festival. When a military train gets derailed and releases an otherworldly force into the town, Joe and his group of friends embark on an adventure of a lifetime to dig out the shocking truth behind the horrible incident.
Super 8 can be really fun for people who have never seen a movie made by Steven Spielberg. Unfortunately for J.J. Abrams who really wants to follow the footsteps of the latter, just about every single person who watches movies has seen the moviemaking magic of Saving Private Ryan Schindler’s List, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and many others. However, J.J. Abram chose a lot of other films to replicate such as Jurassic Park, Jaws, and War of the Worlds. This is evident in different segments of the film. Super 8 also has a close resemblance to The Iron Giant, The Goonies, and Cloverfield. Because of this, the entire project can be considered as something that is obviously and painfully derivative.
