News Taffy

You know, I find it odd that you hear about “Summer Blockbusters” hitting the local theaters every year. Think about it, you’ve surely seen the trailers where the booming movie-man voice says something like “Critics are calling it the BIGGEST summer blockbuster….” I’m sure the logic behind it has something to do with people having more time for movies with kiddos being out of school, doing things to keep cabin fever and boredom from setting in, but after pondering the movie lineup for the last few weeks, I’m beginning to wonder if I’d rather just choose boredom! If it hadn’t been for the sheer enjoyment of good movie company I had this week, you’d probably be reading a review of Little Fockers or How Do You Know? (In case you happen to be wondering, I give Little Fockers 4 happy stars for an inventive sequel and How Do You Know? a measly 1 star for a completely idiotic storyline)…

I have said to myself several times over the last few weeks that Kung Fu Panda 2 would make the blog lineup, but I think this week’s choice is better-suited for the opinion column. I figure if you are legitimately reading this column for movie reviews, and you aren’t just my mother being a blog cheerleader (Hi Mom, love you!), you probably want information about movies that are a tad more questionable than Kung Fu Panda 2. If you saw Kung Fu Panda 1, odds are that you probably don’t need ME to tell you that it’s worth spending $8 to go see. On the flip side, I would have LOVED to have read this review before I ventured out to watch this week’s movie. Which brings us to...drumroll...Super 8. Click here to watch the trailer.

The story is something like this: back in the '70s, a group of adolescents prepares to spend their summer making a zombie movie, and one night while they’re out filming they capture footage of an insane train crash. They witness enough of the events that follow to know that something just ain’t right about what went down that night, but they are under specific instruction to keep quiet about what they saw. Pretty soon, weird stuff starts to happen in their sweet little town: motors disappearing out of cars, dogs running away, rumblings in the woods, people going missing, and the mysterious presence of the Air Force is just a bit unsettling. The kids learn the twisted events and the train crash are connected – but how? And WHAT exactly is lurking in the woods?

Sounds pretty interesting doesn’t it? I think the synopsis I read before I watched it was pretty similar, so I was kinda jazzed about watching it. About 30 minutes into it, I realized my appreciation for a good sci-fi flick doesn’t really extend beyond the one and only…E.T.! The good news is, Super 8 is very reminiscent of E.T., but without the semi-cute alien to fall in love with. There’s also some mild humor interjected into otherwise freaky parts, which I enjoyed. The actors are all a bunch of no-namers but they put on a good show, and you can’t help but like the group of kids and want them to get to the bottom of what’s going on. The downside is that the movie felt like it was soooo looooong, and it seems like you spend the first hour and 45 minutes just trying to get your bearings, and then boom it’s over. Now, I know absolutely nothing about filmmaking and all that professional mumbo jumbo you hear about in the awards shows, BUT I did notice that Steven Spielberg’s name is attached to this flick somewhere (maybe as a Producer?? I can’t remember.), so maybe that will give you some sort of indication as to what you’re in for. Bottom line is that there are 3 reviews needed for this movie. One, for the sci-fi moviegoer who actually knows what having Spielberg’s involvement in a movie probably means. Two, a review for the average movie-watcher who has a love for ET and Harry Potter, and possibly an appreciation for venturing outside the latest Vince Vaughn film every now and then(this is the category I fall into). And three, a review for those who only visit the theater when everyone else does. Like on opening night of the Hangover movies. So for the sci-fi lovers, I give it 4.5 stars. You crazy kids will the intensity and you’ll notice the Spielbergian (yep, just made that word up) details the rest of us will miss. For the mediocre moviegoer, I give it 3 stars. Worth going to the theater to watch but you won’t catch it on DVD. You’ll leave the theater still chatting about how weird it was. Fun date movie because it’ll make you jump a few times, giving you an excuse to cuddle on your man. HA. For the blockbuster-followers, I give it 2 stars. You won’t find anything worth appreciating about it and you’ll probably be one of those people who walks out of the theater wondering what other sorts of “secrets” the government is really keeping from us.

Finally, one random fact for you before we part. The name of this movie is Super 8. Two things: one, that is NOT a reference to a hotel chain. Two, my date and I (who are both under 30) had absolutely no clue why the movie was titled such. Only after visiting with someone in their 50’s later in the evening did we learn that there used to be some sort of video camera back in the day who shares the name. Something to do with an 8mm camera. And remember what I said earlier – kids in the '70s making a MOVIE about zombies. There’s your antique history lesson for the day!!

Lacey