I have to first of all state that I actually enjoyed the film. For a film to sit down and watch it was really enjoyable. I also have to state that the following is only my opinion and is probably wrong, cause what do I know? And finally I can gather reasons on why the following happened. So lets begin…
Super 8 is essentially about a group of friends who are making a home made zombie movie using a super 8 camera, when they witness (and film) a train crash that then causes the Government to come to town to try and cover up what was actually the cargo. So...
Recently I keep seeing on social network sites to go see Super 8 because its brilliant and its like the goonies and all those films that were made ‘back in the day’ about growing up and kids having adventures. Super 8 WISHES it was like this.
On face value you would think it would be and has all the makings of a 'classic' film like stand by me/the goonies.
The trouble is that JJ (cause we are such good friends) has tried to fit far too much into this film. The friendship, the relationships between 2 of the kids and their fathers and a relationship between the fathers themselves. On top of this you have the plot of the film. Its far too much in to little a time and so each ‘theme’ and relationship gets a little time slot to develop a little but never feels complete. I didn’t believe or feel anything towards them
Without giving anything away, the audience are fed the tones of all the relationships and are portrayed in stereotypical ways, especially the relationships with their fathers. And the relationship between the 2 dads is only given around 2 minutes to be explained and resolved.
JJ has admitted that he has thrown 2 films together. He had a film about growing up (the kids making the film) but could not get it commissioned so threw in the plot about the alien. And you can tell, though this probably more a studio move than his own - they want explosions to sell tickets - and he hasn’t made the money that dark knight made (to which the studio then let Nolan make whatever he wanted…which was Inception). I can literally see the studio hearing the idea and saying to him "make it more like that cloverfield...."
Now for a summer blockbuster this film is very much the closest we will, and has been in recent years, for a film in the same thought of the goonies, stand by me, ET etc. I think the desperation for a film of ‘our’ generation has caused a few blinders. If you loved those films and Spielberg (both of which i do) then you will want to love this film,even before it came out due to the hype. I did. I think the love of these films and the want for the film to be like those films back in the day has made everyone like it more and I don’t hold them for that at all, I just looked at the film objectively and this what I thought of it - too much to try and cover too little time, one area would have been enough, and JJ wanting to make ‘his ET’ which sadly didnt happen for me. I even thought the end was a bit lame and again force fed for the audience to cry (no tears in my screening) or maybe I am just a cold bastard…
Oh and JJ….we get it. YOU LIKE LENS FLARE, STOP IT
