Film Review: Super 8



When a young rising visionary collaborates with a similarly styled cinematic master, expectations are lofty indeed. With the fresh and edgy approach of J.J. Abrams (Lost, Star Trek) directing a youthful and nostalgic, Steven Spielberg produced action-adventure, expectations are nothing less than sub-orbital. As a result, while fun and thoroughly entertaining, Super 8 inevitably falls just short of its anticipated greatness.

Set in a small Ohio town in 1979, Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney) and his intrepid friends are filming a movie project on location, when a train is deliberately derailed nearby. Shortly after the military arrives to contain the situation, strange electrical disturbances and disappearances begin to happen. Our adolescent crew and a concerned Deputy attempt to unravel the mystery of the train’s contents, but are ultimately unprepared for what has been unleashed on the town and its inhabitants.

Super 8 is easily recognisable as an homage piece to the early works of Spielberg. While in no way a carbon copy, there is definitely a noticeable tip of the hat to The Goonies, E.T. and Close Encounters, with a touch of Lost thrown in to boot. Inadvertently, this familiarity very nearly overwhelms the fact that this is actually a likeable, well-acted and entertaining family adventure.

However, while Super 8 doesn’t quite reach its full potential, its charming innocence and retro style makes it the closest contender in most recent times to those timeless Spielberg classics. Oh, and make sure to stay for the credits.

3 & 1/2 STARS