Wanted the Goonies, Got Cloverfield with kids

Rating: 6/10 (15 December 2011)

There is a great trend of Kids on a mission movies. Just look at Stand By Me, the Goonies and ET and now JJ Abrams has tried to revamp the idea for modern audiences. I say try, because sadly there is absolutely nothing new in this whatsoever. Mysterious attack on a gas station by an unknown force? Check. Quiet lead character lost a love one? Check. Same quiet lead character is in love with a seemingly unavailable girl? Check. Group of misfits? Check? Antagonistic military? Check. Seemingly evil monster, that turns out is actually nice but misunderstood? BIG FAT CHECK. I could go on and on. Filmed in the usual Abrams style (thats either good or very bad) the story in set in the very late seventies and revolves around a group of kids making a zombie movie using the Super 8 camera of the title, but they get more than they bargained for when a train crashes (and my word, what a train crash. Imagine the Fugitive ramped up to eleven) when they are out filming a scene. Its not all bad thou. Yes there are no real surprises, but overall it is well made and well acted, but as a previous reviewer has stated, if you've seen Close Encounters, ET, Cloverfield or The Goonies you know exactly what to expect. What I wanted was a new take on the Goonies. What I got was Cloverfield with kids. The flippin monsters even look the same.