Starring: Joel Courtney, Ryan Lee, Elle Fanning, Ron Eldard, Kyle Chandler
Director: J.J. Abrams (Mission: Impossible III, Star Trek, Lost)
Genre: Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
“Super 8” is a mystery/science fiction/thriller directed by J.J. Abrams (creator of the TV show “Lost”) and produced by Steven Spielberg. It was supposed to be a huge summer movie but didn’t quite meet the expectations of the market. So how was it actually? Is “Super 8” a worthwhile rental?
Story: A group of youngsters in a small town witness a train crash while making a movie with their Super 8 video camera. However, they soon discover that something very mysterious was being transported on the train and they have captured footage of it with their camera.
As mentioned, the director J.J. Abrams is the creator of “Lost” and has directed other famous movies like “Mission Impossible 3.” He has a great feel for good action, story-telling, and emotional tension that usually keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. So did “Super 8” live up to his normal standard?
In a word: No. I’m a big fan of Abrams but this movie tries to be too much and is simply not enough. It is like a combination of “E.T.” and “Godzilla” but a very weak version of each. The tension is very forced and we never really connect to the characters.
Most of the main actors are young boys and they do a very good job. There is also a young female who also does well in her role. The film tries to have the action of a thriller and the tenderness of a childhood fairytale but falls short on both accounts. The tension never builds up enough that we care about the main characters or even the mystery creature from the train wreck.
With that being said, the movie is technically well-done. The special effects are good and the story-telling is fine. The only problem is that the story is neither original nor touching.
Overall, I found this movie to be quite disappointing. If you see this movie at your local video store on online service, I would probably recommend checking out other movies before “Super 8.”
Score: 4/10
What did YOU think of “Super 8”?
Please share your thoughts in the Comments below!
Vocabulary for Study:
- worthwhile
- youngster
- to witness
- footage
- story-telling
- tension
- on the edge of one’s seat
- to live up to
- tenderness
- to fall short
- on both accounts
Study English with “Super 8” at home today!
