Writer: Syahida Kamarudin

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Watch this if you liked: “E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial”, “District 9”, “The Goonies”

What would have happened if E.T. couldn't phone home?

Without further explanation on that question, one has to say that "Super 8" has a Spielberg je ne sais quoi to it, and almost feels like an extreme version of "E.T: The Extra-terrestrial" and kindlier version of "Close Encounter of the Third Kind".

The movie showcases the carefree life of kids in the Cold War era as opposed to the more paranoid adults (blaming everything on the Soviets is of course a normal behaviour of the grown-ups during those time). It is also a movie that sets itself in a small town in 1979, a fine timeline between Spielberg's "Close Encounter" (1977) and "E.T" (1982).

If you are a child of the 80s that enjoys movies such as "E.T." or "The Goonies" where kids are the main characters, you will enjoy this just as much. But the problem with a group of kids as heroes is that you will not get the same bitter-sweet experience as you might have with another JJ Abrams movie called "Cloverfield". As you may be entertained by the children's antics, you will also realise that it is a feel-good movie as opposed to blood-gore-and-many-more-deaths like let's say, "Battle: Los Angeles" or "District 9".

The effects that are used in this film are similar to those used in any other Abrams' movie. The train collision scene especially feels very real and almost deafening. At the same time, the storytelling is at an even pace, keeping audience interested at all times.

The children, played by mostly fresh faces except for Elle Fanning (Dakota Fanning's sister) are entertaining and familiar. Familiar in this case means that they are like any other bright carefree children characters in Hollywood movies. Audience will adore them to bits to a point that the adult characters are easily overshadowed and forgotten altogether.

If by any chance you are curious about why the movie is called "Super 8" (no, it's not the kids), do wait until the credit rolls. You will indeed get the answer and automatically go, "Ah, now I see."

Cinema Online, 03 June 2011