Monday, July 4, 2011

Super 8 (2011)

Super 8 have the constituent essential for a family movie to thrive in the arena. Amid all the special effects it’s the story which makes this movie so unique. J.J. Abrams seems to have mastered the Science Fiction genre just like legendary Steven Spielberg. Believe the hype; this movie actually delivers what others pledge in their teaser trailers. After a long time we get to see a movie which is an instant classic & reminds us the good old days of ‘80s.

Plot : In early ’79, we are introduced to Joe Lamb, a teenage boy living in the small town of Ohio. Lately he lost his mother in a factory accident. His father, deputy sheriff Jackson finds it hard to deal with with the tragedy. Some months later Joe decides to assist his close friend Charles in making a small budget zombie movie. They hire Alice; daughter of Louis who is held accountable by Joe’s father for their family misfortune. While taking shot of a scene with their Super 8 mm at a remote train depot in late night Joe & his friends witness a colossal derailment which looked to be premeditated. From then on strange things starts happening in their small town. Joe inquisitiveness forces him to investigate the bizarre incidents which have caused panic within the generic population of the town. His search leads him to a murky revelation. I will go no further as it ruins the momentum. The less you know the more you all will enjoy.

The real assets in this movie are the group of young artistes. Joel Courtney as Joe Lamb & Elle Fanning as Alice embodies the heart & soul of this movie. Abrams competently exhibit Joe’s love for Alice in a tenderly fashion; often missed in movies these days. Riley Griffiths as Charles brought first-rate intensity to his character thus harmonizing his role along with the supporting casts. Kyle Chandler as Jackson Lamb delivers in a creditable style but ensured not to overshadow Joel’s stupendous performance; in the end it’s Joel who turns out to be the unlikely hero. Michael Giacchino’s poignant score also helped in elevating the story.

Super 8 gives the glimpse of the nostalgic memoirs of early ‘80s classic movies. J.J. Abrams puts across a smart, sci-fi thriller which can be treasured by the entire family on any given day.

My Rating : 8.5/10



2 comments:

  1. the war movie buffJuly 5, 2011 at 9:43 AM

    I thought it was a great kids movie, but as an adult I was less than awed. As usual with this type of movie, you have to suspend too much reality. (e.g. where did the alien put all the dirt from the intricate tunnels he excavated?) Too many implausible things have to happen to advance the plot (e.g. the doctor survives a head on collision with a train). I really believe Speilberg forced Abrams to include some kiddie elements in the script. The acting by the kids was great, however.

    ReplyDelete
  2. @the war movie buff,

    Well, you gave away some of the surprises which I avoided to disclose in this review :)

    ReplyDelete