Review - Super 8

Super 8 is not a mind-blowing entertainment, but certainly watchable. 

 Super 8 was release in June back this year, and is directed by TV veteran (and now almost accomplished director) J.J. Abrams and produced by Steven Spielberg. The film was promoted, treated and executed as a homage to Spielberg's sci-fi and family classics like E.T., and this goal was achieved, however, in a very ineffective manner.

It is the story of 5 teenagers, who are working on a film project in 1970's Ohio, and end up in great dangers as mysterious accidents start to happen across the town. As the story unveils, *spoilers* the story is basically about an alien who is creating havoc because he was mistreated by humans for many years and is now trying to go back to his planet. Dogs, humans and many other things disappear and perish, the two leads of the film (Joe and Alice) romance (sort of), and some family related matters are explored.

Its a trouble! MAYDAY!!!

All these things are very predictable, and the screenwriter-director Abrams fails to weave a complex and exciting narrative, all of which are must for a science fiction family film.Abrams made this film like an old fashioned classic, a total Spielberg film - which worked in both good and bad ways. The biggest damage this approach did to the film was lack of originality. The plot is extremely flat and the subplots are something which we have already seen many times before.

But without criticizing much, it would be wrong if I say that the film is not entertaining at all- many set pieces are thrilling, especially the train crash at the starting of the film. The film flaunts its visual effects throughout its run-time and it is certainly the film is a visual eye-candy. Cinematographer Larry Fong uses a lot of lens flair, which are sometimes distracting. Music by Michale Giacchino works well with the film, however, not very memorable.Acting by both two leads (Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning) is pretty polished, considering that they both have just started their careers. Kyle Chandler plays father of Joel, and he does lives up to his character.

In the every end, Super 8 is not a mind-blowing entertainment, but certainly watchable. Do not expect a dazzling ride, but expect some fun with awesome visual effects. And certainly it is miles behind Abrams previous film, Star Trek.
3/5