Thursday, January 2, 2025
Super 8 – J.J. Abrams – 2011
Why Watch?
My husband has reluctantly joined me in my obsession with movies. Like everyone else during Covid, we were trying to pass the time. In this state of perpetual seclusion we purchased a spinning wheel. You know, like a carnival wheel. This wheel has 12 spaces. Initially, we used the wheel to pick what we would eat, but now it serves a much better purpose, it picks movies!
Each slot on the wheel is represented by a number, 1-12. Each number corresponds with an actor or actress that was picked by either my husband or myself. For example, if you spin the wheel and it lands on a number, say 10, that means the person who spun the wheel needs to pick a movie where the actor or actress appears. In the case of #10, the actress is Elle Fanning. This was an actress my husband picked to be on the wheel.
We have been playing this game since 2023, and have already watched so many great movies from so many great filmmakers. When we spin the wheel, we pick a movie. Each actor gets three movies. Once we have watched three films, we close out that actor and choose another. If you spin and it is the third film from that actor, the spinner gets to pick another film. What film you ask? Well, that depends. It is either a film from a specific director, or a genre film, or a film from a series, or a film from a list (predetermined by us). I will explain in future posts. Just know, this movie was picked because Shane, my husband, spun the wheel and the actor he spun is in this film. If you are interested, here are the actors/actress represented on our wheel at this time, listed by their number and who chose them for the wheel:
- Keanu Reeves (Shane)
- Gal Gadot (Shane)
- Elliott Gould (Michele)
- Amy Adams (Michele)
- Gerald Butler (Shane)
- Catherine Zeta Jones (Shane)
- J.K. Simmons (MIchele)
- Scarlett Johansson (Michele)
- Russell Crowe (Shane)
- Elle Fanning (Shane)
- Emilio Estevez (Michele)
- Angela Bassett (Michele)
My husband spun the wheel, it landed on 10, so he had to pick a film where Elle Fanning appears. Ideally, the actor/actress would have a staring role, but that it not always the case. However, this is a time when my husband, who’s name is Shane and now will be referred to as such, picked one that prominently featured the actress he spun. Super 8 was his choice. I celebrated his choice and looked forward to our watch.
Film Specifics
Super 8 was released in the U.S. on June 10, 2011. Written and directed by J.J. Abrams. Abrams previously directed Mission Impossible III, and 2009’s Star Trek reboot. You might know Abrams from some of his television endeavors like the ABC hit Lost, and his use of the “lens flare” effect in this movie and in Star Trek. Seriously, Google “JJ Abrams Lens Flare” and you will see some really funny memes.
Super 8 was produced by all time great American director Steven Spielberg, and by all accounts was present on the set and said it was the most fun he had on a set.
Super 8 had a budget of $50 million and grossed $260.1 million, so I would say it was a hit.
The film garnered favorable praise, both by critics and audiences.
Synopsis (No Spoilers)
The film opens on a sign in a factory counting the days since the last accident. The number changes to 1 and the audience knows something bad has happened.
Something bad has happened indeed. Set in a small, fictional town in Ohio in 1979, we learn that 14 year-old Joe Lamb, played by Joel Courtney, lost his mother in a factory accident. Joe is left with a locket worn by his mother, and a father, played by Kyle Chandler, who doesn’t know how to cope with the death of his wife and the fact he now has to raise teenage son on his own.
Joe happens to have some pretty awesome friends that are making a super-8 movie for a film festival. We meet this group of fun teens, including Elle Fanning’s character Alice, as they prepare to shoot a scene for their zombie movie. During their late night shoot, the kids witness and narrowly escape death from a train derailment. Oh yeah, did I mention Alice’s dad was supposed to work the shift that killed Joe’s mom. And Joe has a crush on Alice. Oh, and Joe’s best friend and director of their student film Charles also has a crush on Alice! Complicated I’m sure!
The train holds a government secret causing the military to descend on the small Ohio town. Science fiction action and a little bit of horror starts to play out on our screen.
The Re-Watch
Again, this is a film I have watched before. I believe I saw this film in the theater with my parents, since my husband was away on business. Today I watched it through my Fandango app on my Roku. We own this film through that service. We started watching around 6pm this Thursday. Our son, even though invited, did not join us on this watch.
Shane and I started our watch after eating El Pollo Loco. Let me say here that I do not like El Pollo Loco’s corn. I wish they would not add the peppers. There, I said it.
I really enjoyed this watch. Shane hadn’t seen this since it was in the theaters. I have shown this film a few times in my film class, so I have seen it a few more times than he has.
From the opening scene showing the change in the accident sign, that flows into the funeral scene, this film had my attention. I am a sucker for a film led by kids, a la The Goonies. Plus, these awesome kids are making a movie inside of a movie! They included some fun Easter eggs, like naming the chemical plant in the kids zombie student film Romero Chemicals, an ode to George Romero and his classic zombie flick, Night of the Living Dead.
There are a lot of great actors in Super 8. Ron Eldard is Alice’s dad. I remember him most from E.R., but I’m old. He’s great! I also enjoyed Ryan Lee as Joe’s friend Carey, master of effects and the zombie most killed in the student film. Not to mention the other kid who is prominently featured, Riley Griffiths as the writer, director, auteur filmmaker. He is fantastic!
Just like other thrillers, we do not see the “monster” for quite some time. According to IMdb trivia (so take with a grain of salt), the alien only has 3 minutes of screen time. Of course, not showing the scary creature only adds to the suspense and fun of the movie.
Rating
9/10 – An awesome and fun rewatch. Shane enjoyed it, I enjoyed it, even our German Shepard, Zelda, enjoyed it. What’s not to love? We get to watch a group of scrappy kids make a movie. We get to see an alien. We get to see young love. There’s laughs, there’s tears, and there’s dogs.
Michele's Movie Diary 
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