Super 8
Paramount Pictures/Amblin Entertainment/Bad Robot – 2011
Written and Directed by J. J. Abrams
- Kyle Chandler – Jackson Lamb
- Elle Fanning – Alice Dainard
- Joel Courtney – Joe Lamb
- Gabriel Basso – Martin
- Noah Emmerich – Col. Nelec
- Rod Eldard – Louis Dainard
- Riley Griffiths – Charles Kaznyk
- Ryan Lee – Cary
- Zack Mills – Preston
Story: A group of young teens are involved in shooting a movie about zombies for a national competition. They have a clandestine gathering at an abandoned train depot in the middle of the night when an Air Force train comes through and is derailed by a local high school science teacher with a pickup. All hell breaks loose as the Air Force begins to investigate, enforce martial law, and generally disrupt the little town with uniforms, guns, and strange searches. Strange events occur, dogs run away, and the town is generally in a state of subdued panic as the town's deputy tries to make sense of it all.
Review: With elements of Stand By Me, My Girl, and E.T., all swirled together, J. J. Abrams reveals his cinematic roots in this sci-fi thriller set in the Eastern U.S. In the 1970's. Shot from the perspective of the kids, the film incorporates the classic “Small Town America” elements so familiar in films by Rob Reiner, Ron Howard, and Stephen Spielberg (who also was an executive producer). The entire cast gives a strong and cohesive performance, and the good guys win and the bad guys lose, which is typical for the film. The hero (Joel Lamb) even gets the girl (Elle Fanning), and they all live happily ever after. Probably not Oscar worthy, but definitely a film to enjoy with the family.
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