Super 8

[huntergrayson]

Guess who has two thumbs and got to see the new cloaked-in-secrecy, virally-marketed, much-anticipated J.J. Abrams-does-early-Spielberg movie this afternoon, rather than on June 10th like everyone else?



Guys, it is *so* good. It's funny,it's scary and it's totally moving. I cried. Some things could be totally cheesy but it is just so well-executed and filled with such unconditional LOVE for the medium that it rocks.

Also, Elle Fanning has had a major growth-spurt or something because (a) she is so fricking tall. And (b) looks so much more grown-up than a year ago in Somewhere. She is also absolutely luminous. In the first act, Elle has, what I dubbed to bstewart the "kiddie version of Naomi Watts' 'Mulholland Drive' audition." She's got roped into making a movie with these geeky boys and has to deliver some silly dialogue and she just utterly transforms it into something real and amazing.

The young lead boy is phenomenal as well.

I need to start watching 'Friday Night Lights' because Kyle Chandler is the sex. So much sex. And he's in a hot cop uniform the whole time!

You know how sometimes critics praise a comic book movie or whatever as "it makes you feel like a kid again?" This does that. In the best, not-dumb way possible.

I don't want to give anything away yet, since it's been so hush-hush and the less you know going in, the better, but I highly recommend it. A nice reminder of when popcorn flicks could do more.

Also: if you were ever a geek with a camera or putting on neighborhood shows with your friends, this will take you back.

[jynni]

Yay! I really, really want to see this!

[angelaudie]

So freaking jealous of you right now huntergrayson! I was already planning on seeing this because I'm a JJ fangirl but I'm really glad to hear the movie is awesome!

[huntergrayson]

The amazing thing is that this all came about because Abrams actually edited Spielberg's Super 8 films as a teen - I guess he and Matt Reeves were profiled in the LA Times when he was 15 in an article on young filmmakers and Steven reached out to them to help restore his early shorts. Best. Summer. Job. EVER.

Ruh-roh: We're excited, but it's tracking horribly with audiences.

With (a) the quality, (b) the appeal of a film about filmmaking to the industry and (c) Spielberg's clout, I'd be shocked if this doesn't end up as a Best Picture nominee, now that there's 10 slots, specifically so that "mainstream/Hollywood" movies get a chance.

[Atreides]

I want to see this too. It looks great and has a neat E.T./The Goonies vibe. That being said, I can sort of understand the poor awareness. No big names and the trailers are almost too enigmatic. Summer action movies need to show their money shots in the trailer to get butts in the seats. Like the linked article stated, even Inception did this with those Paris-is-folding shots.

[jynni]

It seems like their selling it solely on Spielberg + aliens + Abrams = win.

[bitca]

God. I fucking HATED Cloverfield with a PASSION, so I'm side-eying this one HARD.

Would you spoiler bar it for me, hg?

[huntergrayson]

No need to worry because I disliked Cloverfield greatly as well - in large part because that level of shakycam makes me absolutely sick - but greatly enjoyed this. Without spoiling it too much, bitca, I would say that it's vastly different because the focus here is on the character development and an actual plot/arc, with the mystery being very much the B-plot. It's really about these young kids and their friendship, with the lead struggling after the death of his mom, as well as his first crush on Elle's character. And him trying to come to terms with his dad. Whereas Cloverfield barely had characters and it was just screaming and panic for 90 minutes.. Lemme know if you want/need all the specific details spoiled before deciding.

Be sure to stay through the credits, folks.

[save lilo!]

I was just telling my only other film-aware friend that nobody I know wants to see this -- I guess I misspoke, I should have said nobody KNOWS about this period. In a summer full of comic book films, it somehow fell through the cracks. I didn't even know it was coming out so soon.

[Deleted]

New York Magazine has a story that this film is tracking poorly. Audiences aren't aware of it and aren't eager to see it if they do know it exists. I think the title is part of the problem. A large chunk of the under 35 audience has never heard about Super 8 film. It sounds like a superhero movie. It sounds like it'll be about 8 kids, but there are only 4 or 5.