Film Review: "Super 8"

I have never been a big fan of monster films. To me, blockbuster epics about giant creatures from outer space are a reason to utilize a wide array of special effects in order to make up for the lack of a well-structured story. Also, as most of these types of films involve masses of people fleeing in terror from the oversized creature, it is clear as day to see that there isn’t a lot of focus on the performers’ acting whatsoever. In short, these movies are basically two hours of noise and special effects. But, when seeing Director J.J. Abrams' latest blockbuster "Super 8," I was happy to see something different. While a majority of the film was dedicated to a monstrous space alien terrozing a small town in 1979 Ohio, it was nice to see that there was underlying story about a young boy's relationship with a girl he likes anow how the bond affects both children's fathers-- who strongly dislike each other. And even though Abrams focused a lot on the terror unleashed by the monster, it was good to see that Abrams' script also centered around serious themes like love, loss, and family. Thus, I can say with a thunderous force:


The True Heart of "Super 8" is the Relationships Between the Protagonists; and Not the Monster



In J.J. Abrams’ film, we find that a terrible accident has taken place at a local steel mill in the fictional town of Lillian, Ohio. We then mee the film's protagonist, thirteen-year-old Joe Lamb; played strongly by Joel Courtney. It has turned out that his mother was the one who had died in the accident. And shortly after the funeral, Joe's father and Police Officer Jackson Lamb, played with great determination by Kyle Chandler, is taking a man named Louis Daniard, portrayed by by Ron Eldard, to a police car in handcuffs. Four months later, Joe sneaks out at night to join his friend Charles, played by fellow newcomer Riley Griffiths, make a home-made zombie film for a festival. Together with their buddies Preston, Martin, and Carrey, played by Zach Mills, Gabriel Basso, and Ryan Lee respectfully, they drive out to the local train station to shoot a vital scene. They are also joined by their classmate Alice, played strongly by Elle Fanning, who eventually becomes the love interest for Joe. As the friends shoot the sequence, a tow- truck abruptly drives across the tracks; suddenly derailing an oncoming roaring train that the kids hope to include in the scene they are shooting. Soon after crash, Joe and his friends approach the scene of the wreck and discover that something is trying to emerge from inside the train as evident by some loud thumping sounds. There are also many silver objects scattered all over the place; one of which Joe takes for himself. The group also discovers that the truck was being driven by their biology teacher Dr. Woodman, played by Glynn Turman, who appears to be unconscious as a result of the incident. As the friends take a look at a map the teacher was holding, Woodman suddenly recovers and tells them not to tell anyone what they saw that evening; otherwise, they would all be killed. The kids soon escape from the scene and the United States Air Force begins their investigation of what took place; and in the days that follow, mysterious events begin to take place, such as all the families’ dogs running away, constant power surges occur, and all sorts of appliances and people suddenly get abducted by a monstrous force. All of these incidents take a serious toll on Officer Jackson Lamb; who knows that he has a giant responsibility to keep everyone in the town safe from whatever force is causing all the trouble.




Image take from http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.icgmagazine.com/wordpress/wp-content/images/super8-1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.icgmagazine.com/wordpress/2011/06/09/mystery-train/&usg=__f_NL8yC-qgG1iweWZ95PuJ0fr0E=&h=393&w=590&sz=102&hl=en&start=69&zoom=1&tbnid=m03P91Bgflh7gM:&tbnh=112&tbnw=151&ei=pEr-Td63MsKugQfGkP3eCw&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522SUPER%2B8%2522%2B%252B%2BMOVIE%2B%252B%2B%2522tRAIN%2BsTATION%2522%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1179%26bih%3D537%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=430&vpy=243&dur=2875&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=146&ty=84&page=5&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:69&biw=1179&bih=537


Throughout the film, Officer Jackson Lamb tries to keep his son safe; and the single father constantly objects to his son wanting to always be with his friends and filming their movie. Meanwhile, Joe is having strong feelings towards Alice; which strongly bothers his father as it turns out that her father, Louis Dainard was the one responsible for the death of his wife. Thus, he, as well as her father, do whatever they can to keep the two seperate; as both men distrust each other grately. Eventually, when trying to get information regarding the nightmare the town is facing, Kyle Chandler's Officer Jackson Lamb arrives at an air base to confront Air Force Copmmanding Officer Colnel Nelac, played by Noah Emmerich, who might provide Joe's father with answers. Unfortunately, the Air Force Commissioner subdues Kyle Chandler's character and sequesters him in a private room at the air force base; at which everyone in the neighboorhood is required to relocated to-- in order to keep safe from the monster. However, while a majority of the film seems to focus on the giant speace creature and all the terror and destruction it's causing, the true focus of the film centers around relationships shared between Joe and Alice have with each other and their fathers.







Image taken from http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cdn.screenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/Elle-Fanning-in-Super-8-movie.jpg&imgrefurl=http://screenrant.com/super-8-movie-trailer-sandy-105480/&usg=__qiQGP7c3gpWsarxdQO07SVpF_Xs=&h=304&w=570&sz=33&hl=en&start=19&zoom=1&tbnid=e4CNFBlQiPRmMM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=160&ei=Chr-TZa3KcXGgAex5MntCg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsuper%2B8%2Bmovie%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1179%26bih%3D537%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=250&page=2&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:19&tx=146&ty=71


While the film is supposed to be about the relationships shared by these characters, J.J. Abrams' J.J. Abrams' larger-than-life monster and its tremendous powers proves to be a significant distraction. As you watch "Super 8," you cower when witnessing eerie calm that is right before a sudden and terrifying act by the creature. And you jump in your seat as someone is mysteriously abducted by the ferocious entity. And, you raise your hands in front of your eyes as cars are thrown with great force and speed at people witnessing all the horrifying axtivity taking the place. And all the while, you are trying to figure out what type of superpowered being is causing all the terror. Is it a giant cephalopod; on account of its enormous tentacles? Or, is it a giant intimidating mammal-like creature; most likely due to the sound of immense galloping after it snatches a helpless victim? All of the arttention given to the monster is my main problem with the film and the only thing that makes "Super 8" memorable is ithe emotional subject matter concerning Joe, Alice, and their fathers.


By ignoring the power and visual effects of the monster, you can fully observe on the human aspect of J.J. Abrams' film. During the course of the film, Joel Courtney’s Joe Lamb is constantly being told by his father not to be with Elle Fanning's Alice Dainard. As Kyle Chandler's Officer Jackson Lamb still blames Alice's father for the death of his wife, he is worried that his son would get involved in a similar accident; most likely triggered by Louis Dainard's alcoholism and troublesome behavior. Nevertheless, Joel Courtney’s Joe still wants to be with Alice; even though Dainard doesn't want him anywhere near his daughter as well. After all, Officer Lamb was responsible for bringing him to jail. In short terms, both fathers distrust each other; and are thus interfering with their kids’ emotional growth.


However, both Joe and Alice disregard their fathers’ objections and try whatever they can to be with each other; ultimately leading to the film's most crucial part. As Joe continues to see Alice throughout the film despite his father's objections, Alice eventually visits him without her father knowing. But, when she returns home, her father catches her and chastises the young girl for going against his order. In a fit of frustration, Alice rides her bike off in the dead at night; only to get suddenly abducted by the space monster. Later, when everyone has been relocated to the air force base for safety, Joe sees Louis Dainard at the military base; leading the troubled man to tell our hero that his daughter had been abducted. This prompts Joe to find his friends, escape the base, and find whatever information about the monster-- as well as try to find Alice. Joe's interaction with her father is very important; as earlier in the film, Louis Dainard did not want his daughter anywhere near the son of the man who brought him to jail. However, Alice's disappearance leads the father to reach out to Joe in his time of need; eventually leading the two fathers to set aside their quarrels and work together. Henceforth, Kyle Chandler's Officer Jackson Lamb and Ron Eldard's Louis Dainard realize that they both share a common goal: to locate and protect their children.Image taken from http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2011/06/super-8-movie-review.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/832531/super-8-movie-review&usg=__qXRhwpBsh_seM8bfM-lDqwmp7FA=&h=300&w=450&sz=32&hl=en&start=82&zoom=1&tbnid=x4MRsOsCJDgYCM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=135&ei=Chr-TZa3KcXGgAex5MntCg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsuper%2B8%2Bmovie%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1179%26bih%3D537%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=141&page=5&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:82&tx=60&ty=3

And that's the truly great aspect of "Super 8." While the monster's terrifying capabilities and wrath are very strong; there is nothing more physically powerful than love. While the monster can be seen as scary, its overall appearance and fury is very generic and over-the-top. What is actually amazing is how two confrontational parents are able to eventually find a common understanding and cooperate. This gave the movie a strong heart; especially when you observe the scenes between Joel Courtney's Joe and Elle Fanning's Alice. You want them to be together and you want to see their fathers finally collaborate. Thus, with Alice being abducted and Joe setting out to find her, both parents' problems are now trivial and their children's safety is what's very important. And the personal aspect of the film is far more vital and exciting than any giant monstrosity. In fact, I wish that J.J. Abrams left out the humongous monster and wrote a coming-of-age narrative about the love shared between two youths and the relationships they have with their fathers. That way, we could be watching a movie that is built entirely around the children, their fathers, and their feelings for each other. That would have been a really great and memorable movie.


However, J.J. Abrams went the opposite route and gave moviegoers yet another giant space monster bent on creating havoc and abducting people. But, at least he did provide us with good messages about family and love. For these human qualities are more powerful than any monster from outer space and any destructions it could possibly unleash.

E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com