Production Value!: Super 8 (2011)

Let me just get it out of the way now...this movie was awesome!  Not as a brilliant cinematic statement, or a dialogue driven masterpiece, but as a edge of your seat, emotion stirring action film.  I recently reviewed J.J. Abram's Star Trek, and while that is theoretically the more sound film, Super 8 is hands down the more enjoyable film of the two.  For just under two hours I was transported to 1979 and experienced the thrill of a few kids letting their imaginations run wild in the name of film making, and of course saving their town from an alien attack.  I wish every summer blockbuster were this good, because maybe then I would understand why Tree of Life has yet to show up at my local theater. 

Despite keeping the plot of his film relatively quiet, it is apparent from the onset that this film will involve some sort of disaster.  It begins with an accident at a local factory that is used to foreshadow the catastrophe, which will ensue in the film's small town..  A group of young awkward boys, and a popular girl, witness a train wreck that happens after a truck inexplicably runs into it.  This wreck is quickly followed by a government cover-up and military takeover of the town. The films plot advancement is predicated on Cold War fears and small town traditionalism, which ignores an obvious alien invasion as a Soviet attack.  Inevitably, the film is about the kids' film making and advancing as friends who understand their individual strengths and weaknesses, much like the production crew of a film would.  Similar to the Korean film The Host it is a film not about monsters, but about how people react in the face of tragedy instead.


This film is a textbook homage.  J.J. Abrams is obviously bowing down the the film's producer Steven Spielberg.  Abrams incorporates all the action, dialogue and cinematic elements of his predecessor and adds his own stylistic notations to the process.  This is most evident in his use of solar flare on his film, a technique that occurred quite frequently in Star Trek as well.  He also incorporated his capitalized Helvetica font made famous from lost into the films moments of text.  Beyond being an homage it is also a film about making a film.  It is apparent that Abrams is attempting to show the evolution of himself as a child filmmaker to a big budget high profile producer.  The closing credits, which I will not spoil for others, remind people that film making takes practice and advancement only comes through the inspiration of other film makers.  It promotes a give and take approach to film making, which I feel lacks greatly in individualistic contemporary cinema.

This film is a necessary for theaters.  Excluding The Tree of Life, this is the film to see this summer.  Also, to better understand Abrams' approach to film making I suggest watching this TED video.

Universe-ending Paradoxes Would Ensue Should He Break His Promise: Star Trek (2009)

I rarely watch films in regards to directors' previous attachments with television.  However, given my particular affinity for LOST, I find myself drawn to the work of J.J. Abrams.  I was, however, severely concerned with him choosing to take on the project of making a new Star Trek film based directly off the original serious.  Fortunately, my concerns were quickly dismissed as Abrams with his penchant for CGI-laden action, intense orchestral music and unabashed overacting delivers everything one could ask for in a new vision of a nearly 50 year old show.  It is precisely what a scif-fi film should be, over-the-top, but careful to place critical commentary on society along the way.

I am not versed in the world of Star Trek and will not attempt to repeat the plot as it relates to the franchises entirety.  I can, however, safely say that the film focuses on the experiences of the original members of Enterprise which included Kirk, Spock, Bones and Scotty as well as others, each being recreated by some of today's most well established actors...and a few lesser-knowns as well.  It is a movie that does not rely heavily on plot twists (surprising for an Abrams piece) yet paces itself to keep the viewer attentive.  The use of CGI to create black holes, exploding ships and various aliens in magical and promotes a notion that if CGI is used it should be done with care, and not as some half-assed attempt to make something sparkle or a creature move...(think Twilight or the last Lord of the Rings film).  Finally, the film involves a cameo by Leonard Nemoy, which is a great use of the still living actor as homage to the original, sadly the great William Shatner apparently could not make it away from Travelocity commercials to reprise his role.

The film is perhaps so good because despite being released in 2009 it still manages to keep the Cold War mentality of its original.  The movie's characters and plot focus on fears of uncertainty and change as shown through promotion of logic over emotion and even the issue of undisputed authority and its unyielding power in the face of bureaucracy.  The film also keeps the diversity of the original show, choosing to add even more ethnic groups to the film, as well as calling up Tyler Perry to play the role of the commanding officer for the entirety of Star Fleet.  The move , like its predecessor, demands change in the face of continued fear of foreign power and looks to cross-species/cultural unity as a harbinger of peace.  The film exists as a call for change that happens to be brilliantly disguised as a damn good popcorn movie.

Watch the movie in a theater-like setting.  Get a HD copy and bring some friends, you will be rooting along with the crew of the Enterprise as they were no "one" has gone before.