I love going to the theater. One of my favorite things is the momentary thrill when the lights dim and the first previews leap onto the screen larger than life. This year has been a decent if not spectacular year at the movies. Pixar is back at it with Cars 2 and we have had the customary big budget super hero movies with Thor and Green Lantern. Disney gave us a new Pirates of the Caribbean as well. But, my favorite movie I viewed this year is J.J. Abrams Super 8.
I am fast becoming a huge J.J. Abrams fan. I absolutely loved his Star Trek, and even though I was not particularly enamored with his Cloverfield I applaud his vision. His Mission Impossible III was in my opinion the best of the franchise. However, Super 8 is my favorite by far.
Super 8 is a science fiction thriller, but it is more than just a special effects driven film. It uses the threat of an escaped alien menace in the small town of Lillian, Ohio as the back drop to telling a coming of age story. Super 8 also hits on the ideals of personal tragedy and how dealing with loss can not only shape us as a people but bring us closer together.
J.J. Abrams take us back to the summer of 1979 with Super 8 and gives a look into the life of Joe Lamb a 14-year old boy who along with having to navigate his way through ordinary teen angst is also struggling to relate to his father as they mourn the death of Joe’s mother. The relationship between Joe and his father, played magnificently by, Kyle Chandler is a central component to the movie. The emotional interaction between the two throughout the film is compelling and helps drive the action.
Joe and his friends are making a zombie movie during their summer vacation using a super 8 film camera, hence the title of the movie. On one of their shoots they witness a train accident and accidently get footage of something escaping from one of the cars. Soon after the accident people begin disappearing along with a number of strange break-ins and occurrences. The military moves in and begins quarantining the town. Along the way Joe discovers his first love as he falls for Alice Dainard, who ironically is the daughter of the man who caused the death of Joe’s mother. This gives the film a Shakespearean fell as well.
Super 8 has a little of everything – comedy, suspense, evil aliens, family drama, and cool special effects. It is a masterfully written movie with true heart which is something many movies are lacking these days. Elle Fanning is fantastic in the role of Alice Dainard and Joel Courtney as Joe lamb is perfectly cast. Abrams has out done himself with Super 8 and I cannot wait to see what he does next.