Oh dear this was awful

Rating: 3/10 (14 August 2011)

Cloverfield crossed with E.T. That's the best way to describe this film. But because it crosses two very different atmospheres (the scary, realistic tone of Cloverfield contrasting to the family-orientated, fun but moralistic E.T.), we are left with a very confused piece. The reason that Cloverfield worked was because the alien was just evil - we could not relate or understand the reasons for him killing people and destroying our favourite city. The reason that ET worked was that the alien was likable, kind and knowledgeable. The problem with Super 8 is that JJ Abrams tries to make this alien a mix of the two. Which just doesn't work. It could NEVER work.
For such a damning first paragraph, I have to say that I was impressed by the initial set-up of Super 8. The opening scene is genuinely interesting and slightly moving. The main character is in mourning for the loss of his mother in a tragic accident, which is a decent back story, and actually many aspects of this film would have made a nice family drama and love story, with the theme of redemption. Unfortunately, as soon as the aliens turn up, the film loses all its appeal.
The child actors are actually very convincing, which is something I could not say for this summer's British alien/kids movie, 'Attack the Block'. Elle Fanning, in particular, stood out as a great young actress. Unfortunately, the acting is undermined by JJ Abram's extra-terrestrial plot which is not scary, interesting or fresh.
Without giving too much away, the main character tries to reason with the huge monstrous alien by telling him 'he knows how he feels'. Spare me.
You have to admire JJ Abrams vision of creating a 80s style alien movie in the vein of The Goonies or ET, but it does not get anywhere near those films. It is slightly refreshing to see a return for the regular American kid trying to save the world rather than the typical tough man like Jason Statham, as we're seeing all too much of at the moment. However, this is no way near interesting or engaging enough to make me give much sympathy to Abrams.
A drab 3/10 is deserved.