Super 8 (DVD, 2011)

This film makes me feel VERY OLD! The reviewers who praise it as something totally new and different must have never seen CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, IT, STAND BY ME, and other classics of the mid-1970s to mid-1980s. But the film it most closely resembles is ET. Scary government agents try to capture and experiment on an alien, while a group of kindhearted kids try to help the creature find his way home. About the only difference is that this E.T. isn't small and adorable, it's big and creepy-looking. The kids in SUPER 8 have somewhat troubled home lives, and there is a train explosion that would have probably been deemed too horrific for the ET-era. Otherwise, SUPER 8 looks and sounds exactly like a film that was made in 1979, the year in which the action is set. None of the clothes, phones, hairstyles, cars, music, or behavior seem out of place. That alone is astonishing. Re-creating 1979 so meticulously, as well as the filmmaking style of that era, is commendable. At the same time, the initial plot --- preteens making a super-8 zombie movie to enter into a film contest --- gets lost once the alien appears. And while the young actors, especially Elle Fanning, give excellent performances, their characters are stereotypes that fans of 1970s-1980s movies have seen countless times before: the skinny geek; the beautiful girl living with her abusive single Dad; the fat boy; and the sensitive boy with the heart of gold who discovers his inner hero and saves the world (and gets the girl). I recommend Super 8 for viewers over forty who long for a blast from the past --- and younger viewers who don't need multiple deaths and graphic gore in order to find a movie exciting.

Super 8 seems very good, have closed caption (CC) included but this movie almost alike "Stand By me" in 1980's. Pretty surprised me how foul words kids use which should not because this movie is PG rate, I threw it away to destory so kids won't watch this. Super 8 is no longer popular. Please do not buy Super 8, it is terrible kids say some foul words that you won't real like it.

Saw the movie at a theater, but felt that I missed a lot. Needed a copy to enjoy at home. Like the theme and the cast make-up. Everyone fit. Right time-period for the setting and great tie-ends with every-day life. Lots of issues by both kids and adults, but handled well. The battle scenes were a bit over-the-top. Over-all, a solid 5.

One of the best movies of this time I have seen in a long time, I dont seem to like most new movies anymore, but Super 8 is very good. 5.1 sound was used very well, special effects were good, all in all, its just a GOOD ORIGINAL MOVIE.

We bought Super 8 because the previews looked good, we like J.J.Abrams work & we are starved for good Scifi movies. Once we realized the primary characters are teens - I feared the movie would be too soft. I was pleasantly surprised with the action & not put off by the kids. Face it, the story is not original, however it was a enjoyable movie & we will watch it again. Good, clean Scifi fun!