Another great marketing effect

Rating: 4/10 (12 August 2011)

I didn't like the movie and you cannot blame me for that.
First of all, I was a lot interested about it. The trailer did what was supposed to, lighting the flame of curiosity as a massive campaign should always do. Then it was released and received huge positive reviews from the critics and also from the audience but people never tell you what the movie is about to not spoil it as if there's something really interesting to cover. J.J. Abrams as a director was attractive since he is becoming a great one. Spielberg producing means that maybe the story would possibly be "interesting". That's why I think that this movie is being so overrated just because of these huge names and because seems that nobody dares to dismiss Spielberg. But in the end it was a totally disappointment and a waste of time comparing to what I was expecting.
The art direction is amazing for sure reproducing the late 70's in the best possible way, some anachronisms are there but forgivable. Also, Abrams direction is extremely similar to some of the traditional characteristics that made Spielberg a reference like the abusive use of dynamic and open shots. The young actors are convincing and have a great chemistry together, giving you that Goonies feeling that we haven't felt for a long time. References to the classics are there, from Romero to Spielberg, from Ridley Scott to James Cameron, fulfilling its intents. So, technically, the movie is great.
But then comes the train crash. First, I'm sorry, but it is impossible for a simple car to destroy an entire train like that, the physics can explain it better than me. Second, how could someone drive a car directly to a train, crash it, explode it, take entirely train off its trail, make wagons fly and destroy everything around but still alive and just with some few scars on the face? Absolutely nonsense. Not even the worst action movie would do something so lame and absurd.
Then comes the plot development, it takes hours for something interesting to come, and it keeps hours using that old suspenseful element of never revealing the great threat entirely till the last couple minutes, which is a formula that isn't so much effective anymore. So, after 1 hour watching the movie, I was completely bored and the action and the thrilling moments just end as fast as it happens. The ending is another thing that was disappointing. There's this monster that makes dogs disappear, kills and sometimes kidnaps people, but then a small boy with a pure and in love heart says this magical words that comes from his pure spirit and then this monster finally stops creating the chaos and decides to go home. WTF!
I was expecting more than it is. But one thing is great, it's a teenage movie. It never tries to catch different audiences, that's why maybe I didn't like it or do not agree to be one of the best movies of 2011 as people and critics are claiming it to be, but teenagers will love it for sure or some older people that will be affected by this teenage nostalgia that the movie provides.
I would give 10 for the technical qualities, but movies aren't just that, so I give it 4.