Look Up For Hope

SUPER 8 (2011)

If I have to broadly name one theme that I subconsciously look for in movies, just one that makes me want to watch movies and return to them, it would be “innocence”. No, not because I find it cute or any other sappy equivalent. I'm talking about the innocence of childhood. The concept. The childlike wonder. The make-believe. That there is more to this world than what the eye can see. Luckily, children in movies can see those as well. If I have to look up at the screen and go on a ride for 2-3 odd hours, this is how I would define the ride fun. It is similar to a lot of characters in Spielberg’s movies that look up at the sky, be it to bid farewell to an alien or face the daunting might of a dinosaur. The awe, the awe. 

Jurassic Park (1993) happens to be the first film I ever saw in a theater in my present life. I was 5. Obviously, I spent a large part of my childhood believing dinosaurs exist. Spielberg (not Richard Attenborough) brought them to life again. The reason I say this is because when I saw the 1999 Academy Awards and Spielberg won Best Director for Saving Private Ryan, I realized Richard Attenborough was not Spielberg. Spielberg looks different and is only a director, not an actor. To my dismay, I realized he couldn’t do everything, he was only a human being. Spielberg was my hero. Still is. The point of me rambling on about this is because my first tryst with cinema was a monster film. A science/nature-fiction family film. Call it a fixation if you like but the reason why I return to the cinema is to recreate and relive the experience for the 5 year old boy in me. (Yes, I have psychoanalyzed myself)

E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Jaws (1975) and The Goonies (1985) all involve Mr. Spielberg and Super 8 pays homage to all of these films. It is even reminiscent of other Spielberg projects like Duel (1971), The Sugarland Express (1974), 1941 (1979) and The Poltergeist (1982). Some nods to War of the Worlds (2005) and even Cloverfield (2008) that J.J. Abrams himself produced. Well even if it wasn’t intended, you know how we self-proclaimed cinephiles tend to want to catch references. It essential that I tell you where I’m coming from before I try to unsuccessfully rationalize why I loved this movie.

Before watching Super 8, my bias towards it was already ski high. Even if this film turned out to be bad, I would have dug it. The trailer had already done the groundwork. I had already decided this movie was made for me. Well, the movie is as good as I thought it would be. It is that and nothing more. So what did I really think? This isn't enough. Does it matter what I think? I can only tell you that the 5 year old in me loved it and how! Fine, you still seem to want to know what I thought of it. The analytical pedantic grown up will try.

(SPOILERS: If you haven’t seen the movie it would be best to watch it not knowing anything about it)

Super 8 is about a bunch of kids who set out to make a film on the 8 mm film format called Super 8. The first 20 minutes which involve the kids filming are goofy and incredible. The soulful protagonist of the film is young Jack Lamb played by Joel Courtney. I loved Elle Fanning and her fierce character. The train crash sequence is pure summer film action done wonderfully. The suspense, the period, the innocence, the secret crushes; everything is captured well. I found it nostalgic even when I was born almost a decade later.

The monster/ alien was brilliant. It had the perfect Jaws-ian mystery which J. J. Abrams has made a career out of. I like how the alien wasn’t good or evil. I wish the film spent more time here instead of rushing to an ending. It wants to cut to the chase and become a tale about moving on, letting go of the past. Letting go of grudges. Also, letting the alien go. This is where it could become a bit simplistic and fall flat for most people. Not for me. 

Yes, the ending is borderline sentimental, but then even the best of Spielberg films are criticized of having an overdose of sentimentality, which is something I have never agreed with. The only place where the movie could fall short are the father figures played by Kyle Chandler and Ron Eldard. I liked the absent father, Sherriff Lamb, played by Kyle Chandler and his equation with his son but Ron Eldard could have had more character. His arc might not be fitting in as perfectly as it should with the plot. This also could lead to an emotional disconnect near the end. But nothing that would make me cringe. The ending worked for me. Michael Giacchino’s score makes sure to let your heart soar.

(End of Spoilers)

I can’t do this anymore. I can’t critique this film. The grown-up can beat it. I can only do guess work there and not be entirely convinced about what I'm saying. There’s really not much for me to complain about here. If had to, I would only complain about the film being too short. I would have preferred the movie to have moved at a slower pace. To go on a little longer. Obviously I wanted to feel, sense and experience the movie more, live in the 70s Spielbergian universe. Ah, I love the movies and THIS is exactly why.

(Side note: J.J. Abrams needs to calm down with the lens flares) 

Rating:

(Another side note: Those disappointed by this film, watch "Attack the Block". That's the film you were expecting)