Movie News

[rabid1st]

So, I went to see Super 8 tonight. More about that under the cut you see further down the page.

But first, Jason O'Mara is playing Joe Morelli in One For the Money, the film version of Janet Evanovich's first book in the Stephanie Plum series. I like this bit of casting. I didn't care for the Katherine Heigl news. She's been dropping in my estimation for some time. And I'm completely puzzled by Ranger. Not as puzzled as I am by most of the Hunger Games casting, but still...you have to do more than look the part, right? On the other hand...maybe Ranger doesn't have much range.

I am sure many people know Jason O'Mara from Life on Mars...but to me he will always be Bill Croelick from The Closer. I want Bill to come back before the show goes off the air, but I am not sure I will get my wish at this point.

And now...on to Super 8...

Wow! I really enjoyed this movie. It did take me back to my childhood and all of those early Spielberg movies. But it seemed more modern with the emotional nuances. For example, one of the hallmarks of Spielberg movies is the clueless parental figures. But in this movie, the parents are more well-rounded and the neglect is more plausible. What isn't plausible is the trainwreck. I really disliked the over the top and completely laughable idea of five children running around like ants during that derailment. I also didn't buy the guy in the truck. If you have seen it you know which guy I mean...and...come on?!? That was absurd.

But, I did like the monster and the mystery and the bad guys and the parents and the kids. All of it was believable. The way the kids interacted. The show off. The crazy kid. The girl. The secrets just for the sake of secrets. And the crappy ad with Lucy the missing dog, turned out to be misdirection. Not that Lucy isn't missing, but this isn't a cutsie, Reese's Pieces movie about a boy and his dog. It is gritty and real in many ways. I liked the people and I thought they were real people and what happened to them was MOSTLY plausible...except the train...which was ridiculously OTT.

Did I care about the constant teasing with the monster? No! Not so much. Critics have mentioned Cloverfield (which I never saw, because it looked like crap to me), but this didn't feel like it was too sweet or too safe or too special effects heavy. I believed in the glimpses I saw of the alien and I liked the final product. Oh...and I liked the "Say no to drugs" aside they had during that big battle scene, showing not telling, which is far more effective.

Comments

[maniacalshen.livejournal.com]

D: I love Cloverfield! There are certainly things to make fun of in it, but I liked it so much in the theater (is there anything quite like seeing a giant monster movie in the theater?) that I bought it on DVD. And have watched it several times. >_>

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

I have, from time to time, thought about getting Cloverfield from my library. However, I really hate handheld camera work, so I'm still probably not convinced. But I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed it. This movie also makes you wait for the monster/alien reveal. And it milks the suspense about one kill too far. But I didn't really mind and when we eventually see it...we don't really see it...and then later we get a good look, which is nice.

I think I can really recommend Super 8. I'm going to go see it again tomorrow and hopefully it will hold up to another viewing.

[phdelicious.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed "Super 8" too, though I'm tempted to go back and see exactly how many Spielberg references I can count. ;-)

The train wreck scene was absurd but I'm going to chalk that little bit of overkill up to the "summer blockbuster" stereotype. I liked not knowing what the alien looked like until near the end (never seen Cloverfield either). And the kids' movie had everyone who was smart enough to wait at my theater cracking up.

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

It was a good movie, I think. Not particularly child oriented. In fact, I was wondering if it even would appeal to children in the same way that something like ET would. It seemed more sophisticated and nostalgic to me. I know that it brought back memories of being that age, riding my bike around town and getting into trouble. I once shot photos of an oncoming train at a very similar train station. I was busted by the police because the train engineer called in to report me as a trespasser. Luckily, my explanation was enough to just get me sent on my way.

[phdelicious.livejournal.com]

I think Super 8 might appeal to teens (standard summer monster/suspense movie) in a completely different way than it appeals to adults (nostalgia/Spielberg/etc). I don't think I'd take kids to it at all. ET, on the other hand, is totally a kids movie - the alien is meant to be cute.

[keswindhover.livejournal.com]

I have not seen this movie, but you make it sound rather attractive...

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Jan went with me to see it today and he also loved it. But he felt that the end scenes were also over the top. I wasn't bothered by them, other than that they were a bit pointlessly violent, because I was expecting a big finish to the movie and because I felt like I understood the idea of the alien creating that sort of diversion. It is just what our young hero's father does, after all, to create his own escape.

On a second viewing, one of the things I loved was the strong parallels between the humans and the alien behavior...in what was...to me...a much more believable way than your usual "They want to kill us because we are different" sort of excuse. It is nice to see a movie that has grown past simplistic reasons to kill and looks at nuances while, of course, also blowing shit up. :grin:

Rae

[ladyoneill.livejournal.com]

Saw super 8 today, loved it for all the reasons you did and, yeah, why wasn't someone smushed by the train exploding all over the place?

I didn't know they were making a Plum movie! Who's playing Ranger? And I'm guessing that Hegel is playing Steph?

AGREED

[monkeybatz.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you liked that movie. I thought it was an awesome reminder of how good movies used to be because...frankly....this has been the first movie I REALLY enjoyed in a long time. It was very "goonies" and I know people have been using that comparison up the wazoo but it's true! I loved the one kid who reminded me of Chunk at the second half of the movie.

It was very fulfilling as a story, I loved each aspect..the allusive monster, the love story and the relationships between the characters. Although you didn't get to know ALL the characters that well which I would have liked but I'm happy with it.

"Drugs are bad for you.." XD! Also..the end end..AMAZING, my husband and I were cracking up in our seats.

Re: AGREED

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

The movie after the movie was great.

One of the many things I loved about it was the way the kids stayed kids, no super genius smart-asses. The interactions with the parents were particularly interesting...Jan liked the way the one house was completely chaotic and yet it emphasized the loneliness of the single dad household.

I also enjoyed how the storylines paralleled one another. Dad blowing up the truck and the alien blowing up other things as a distraction for escape. And, of course, the understanding of how one stupid accident can cause you so much pain.

Rae