E.T. nowadays

Rating: 5/10 (13 June 2012)

people told me to stay away from this flick because I probably wouldn't like it. The reason was that Steven Spielberg was involved. To be honest, I don't have any problems with the man, his early work I liked a lot, for example Duel (1971) and Jaws (1975) but later on he became tame and made flicks in the style of Disney, polished and made for the whole family. J.J. Abrams was also involved. Men, did I like Alias (2001 - 2006). It was so great and he really did add suspense towards the series and his early flicks but slowly (around Cloverfield (2008)) he also moved further to major productions although Fringe is still excellent.
Both directors collide in Super 8 and it shows. After seeing it i thought, well, this is just E.T. for the next generation. The effects are sublime but nothing really happens. In fact due the youth involved it reminded me of E.T. and the army did ring a bell too, Close Encounters Of A Third Kind (1977), another Spielberg gem. You can easily spot that J.J. tried to do something with the monster, it do attacks but no blood or gore is added towards that monster. But the overall look of the monster (CGI) is laughable. You never see the monster until the last part and J.J. clearly tried to redo Cloverfield.
I enjoyed the references by the youth who are trying to make a Super 8 flick towards horror and books concerning make-up. But further it had nothing to deliver even as the kids did a fine job acting. Buffs from horror and science fiction wont love this but youth....they are the newborns.
Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 4/5 Story 4/5 Comedy 1/5