Super 8

[Jayman]

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiAToA3qZcI

"Nice flaaaaare"

lol

[tak-wai]

Got back not too long ago from a packed preview at Apollo Piccadilly Circus - people were being turned away or had to leave because it was so packed.

Anyway, a couple of pennies on the show...

The movie's length, overall, is good, at under 2 hours. The acting were good and credible - refreshing for a modern sci-fi to be on a relatively low budget, where the focus is more on the story and acting (kids with good acting), and less on CG. Have seen transformers, thor and a few sci fi "blockbusters" this year, it's definitely good to see a movie which does not rely on CG to overwhelm the audience and paste over lacklustre acting. Definitely see similarities with ET (Amblin splashscreen / logo at the start reminded me that much!) - stranded alien desperate to go home being helped by children against adults who are bad, nasty and do not understand - with a more modern infusion (and more violence / blood...). It also reminds me somewhat of cloverfield.

All in all, a good show. Definitely enjoyed it.

[Beate]

I don't remember them from Star Trek, but there were loads in Super 8, I was wondering about them!

[ejwrank]

Well I'm sure I'm also not in the target audience but thought this was good. When I told Beate I liked it she seemed shocked. I don't criticise every film I see! I thought the young actors did a good job and the whole thing was entertaining, scary at times and not too sentimental but sentimental enough. Glad to see Beate and OH and prettyxcool at the oversubscribed Apollo. Hope those that got turned away take it up with Paramount and get some vouchers.

Don't be too tough on LilacFairy, Beate. She spends so much time in the theatre she doesn't get to the cinema so much!

[reddie2]

Oh God. I noticed all those blue lens flares throughout the movie and merely thought they were part of the lighting. I just discovered JJ Abrams has those inserted on freakin' purpose!! It's his signature!

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiAToA3qZcI

It's going to be hard to watch another one of his movies without finding it distracting, especially knowing it's intentional. *grrr*

The friend I saw the movie with is a huge JJ Abrams fan and told me that flare lights were his signature during the gas station scene. From that moment on, they indeed became very distracting for me!

[yogi]

Oh God. I noticed all those blue lens flares throughout the movie and merely thought they were part of the lighting. I just discovered JJ Abrams has those inserted on freakin' purpose!! It's his signature!

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiAToA3qZcI

It's going to be hard to watch another one of his movies without finding it distracting, especially knowing it's intentional. *grrr*

I found them extremely distracting. They felt fresh and really gave the Star Trek reboot a distinct feel, but seemed unnecessary here.

As for the film overall I thought it was very good. I had high hopes after the positive buzz I'd heard and it just about lived up to it. All the Spielberg nods are there, there's actually an interesting interview in The Guardian saying he wanted to make a movie in the Amblin-verse rather than a direct homage to a particular film and apart from a touch too much violence I think he pulled it off.

The kids were fantastic, a believable group and great actors, I watched Harry Potter 3 at the weekend and they were streets ahead of Harry and Co.

It's probably impossible to compare it to ET, Goonies or Close Encounters which a lot of us grew up with and will forever have a special place in our hearts, but as an adult this was a breath of fresh air, a character led blockbuster with enough action and drama to satisfy everyone.

[karenlg123]

3 generations of our family from 15-82 just watched this at a jam packed Odeon Glasgow. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. It was predictable and it wasn't ET, BUT, the special effects were superb, the child actors were brilliant, there were lots of great one liners and I loved the little pyromaniac with braces. There aren't too many movies the whole family can go to see together, but with this one that you can do just that. Make sure you don't leave your seat until all the credits have rolled! Very Spielberg and that aint a bad thing.

[trickydicky123]

Just back from a packed Liverpool One Odeon
Thought this was a very disappointing film, good effects but very predictable. There was never any tension, and the kids were so 'nice' that they bordered on being annoying. The ending, after a fairly long film, was quite rushed and farcical, in fact the best (and most beleivable!) bit was over the end credits!

[Doris]

I've never experienced oversubscribing at the Apollo Piccadilly

I have before and I have this time. They had to turn people away, don't know how many or whether they got compensation but we were glad we were early! Got seats in the last row, then saw ejwrank waving from two rows down, then prettyxcool with OH and friends further down our row, then phunkygal's OH in front of us. They actually moved next to us after a short time. There were two seats right in the corner of the last row, with a barrier in front of them and people didn't see them for the longest time. Eventually the guy next to me got up and told two girls about them - they were the last two people getting a seat.

I thought, wow, I have a considerate person next to me, but my delight didn't last long. As soon as the film started the guy started shifting about. I have never seen someone so hyperactive before. He leant forward, then back, then started shaking his legs sideways, then drummed his fingers on his knees, then bent down, then leant to the left to whisper something to his girlfriend, then leant forward again... I got motion sickness just from watching him! The bloke in front of him was a forward leaner as well and I had to laugh when both of them happened to be leaning forward and a scary bit came. I was watching it for the second time and it hadn't been really scary the first time round, but those two nearly jumped out of their skin and basically slammed back in their seats. It was very funny to watch!

Even though the cinema was full to the last seat, there wasn't as much laughter as at my first screening which surprised me a bit. Even the video at the end, which people duly watched, didn't get belly laughs, but some people at least clapped at the end.

Enjoyed it just as much the first time but some scenes are really so far-fetched that it's funny, and I am not talking about the alien. Also, when the Dad hugged his son at the end and mumbled "I got ya. I got ya", it sounded like he had rescued him somehow while the kids got on just fine on their own - almost better than the Dads.

This made me laugh ....... Yes, my son is very considerate, (14 years old), but does have 'ants in his pants', can't sit still for a minute! I don't think he ever will, always has to touch/play with something wherever we go! It was his friend next to him, not his girlfriend, his friend does have longer hair than my son and is half the height of him also, but a girl...... should make them both laugh tomorrow when I tell them!
We all enjoyed the film, reminded me of The Goonies, however, I did feel sorry for the guy sitting next to me as I jumped so many times!
9.5/10 from mum, daughter and I.

[Beate]

Are you telling me I sat next to your son? He didn't look remotely 14 years old! And it really did look like a girl next to him!