Super 8 - Movie Review

Director: J.J. Abrams
Producer: Steven Spielberg, J. J. Abrams, Bryan Burk
Screenplay: J.J. Abrams
Cinematography: Larry Fong
Editing: Maryann Brandon, Mary Jo Markey

This will be my first movie review and I hope to make this a regular thing for my blog. Also, be aware that I will not hesitate to spill spoilers. Well, I knew I had to watch Super 8 because Steven Spielberg is an executive producer. What can I say? The man is a genius in the filmmaking field. J.J. Abrams' hasn't really caught my eye since I watched Cloverfield. I haven't even watched Star Trek yet (it's on Netflix so I'll get to it soon enough). I heard great reviews about Super 8 from both sides (critics and moviegoers) so I had high expectations for it.

It did not fail. The story was told beautifully, visually and how it was organized to fall into place at the end. I'm also proud of the filmmakers choosing not to release the film in 3-D (I'm not a fan of 3-D, I'll write a blog about it sometime). I was also impressed by the cinematography. Whenever the locket was onscreen, the camera was set up to draw the audience's attention to it. It was a major part of the film since it was an emotional attachment for the main character. I wish I could get a screenshot of the ending when he is holding onto the locket so it doesn't get latched on the alien's ship. That was my favorite shot of the film. I have to watch the movie again to analyze the cinematography even more. Also... LENS FLARE, LENS FLARE, LENS FLARE. It's like J.J. Abrams signature move to put lens flares in his film. As I mentioned, I didn't see Star Trek but my professor Rich Underwood pointed out how often Abrams uses the common camera trick. I have nothing against it but it's just something I have to point out.

They also did an amazing job casting the right people. The kids were great. I absolutely loved them, especially the kid with the braces. "Can we get another order of fries? My friend here is fat." It's rare to have a great cast of kids that know how to act (comedic, horror) and interact so naturally together. Elle Fanning was a great choice for the female lead role. Great acting must run in the family.

The film had an E.T. vibe to it. Aliens, missing home, connection to humans, children, government interference, the list continues. But I can't deny that the film is almost a perfect mix of E.T. and Cloverfield. Although the story was on point, it was just all too familiar. And I wasn't too fond of the alien interaction scene. It wanted to make me roll my eyes... I mean, I understand that it's something that couldn't be avoided because of where the story was going so it doesn't necessarily ruin the movie for me.

Also, I should have stayed for the credits. Apparently, they showed the film they were working on at the end. Damn.

Score (out of 10): 9, the story felt all too familiar but that's typical for mainstream films
Recommend?: Yes

*I just saw on Wiki that J.J. Abrams is working on a Samurai Jack film based on the animated show. I loved that show. I'm quite excited for it.

Premiere

My next project is an experiment with Adobe Premiere. I need to get used to the program since I wil be using it for my editing job. I'm doing my own trailer for the animated film The Road to El Dorado. There's no particular reason why I chose that film, it was just the most recent movie I watched so I added it to Premiere.
The other window is 30 Rock, which I just started the 5th season on. It's my goal to start/finish the TV shows I never got around to watching- 30 Rock, Weeds and Parks and Rec. Netflix has never been more convenient than right now, especially now since I moved my Wii to my bedroom.
I STILL haven't written a script. I do come up with ideas but they come to me at the most inconvenient times when I don't have something to write it down on or I don't have time to write it down. The only idea I've been able to write down was a dream I had. This is what I wrote:

• Guy meets engaged girl
• They met each other with friends
• Girl's POV
• He brings her aside
• The guy is from UK
• Guys sees ring
• "I'd give you a chance if I wasn't engaged"
• "You like my ring?"
• She feels bad for using him
• Looks for him, finds him, become friends

Yes, I was the engaged girl in the dream that used the guy for free food. It's something I can start with but I don't know where I would go with it. Will they become more than friends? (Which will bring up a red flag for my fiance even though he has absolutely nothing to worry about) What is that twist that makes the story unique? How will this end? Will people actually want to create this film? As of right now, I don't want to make this film. I got to start getting new ideas and putting them down on paper. But I've always wanted to film something with pretty food so I'll start with that for now.

Intensive summer

I may be in San Diego but I'm still working for TigerLily Media as their intern. Our current project is marketing Thespians the Movie and Broadway Dreams Foundation's contest Thespian Broadway Challenge. I'm not working for TigerLily Media in person but this is still a valuable experience. I would benefit more from doing a production internship so I can add onto my reel but it's always good to gain experience in other fields. I know that I can use these skills later on in my filmmaking career. Check it out: http://www.facebook.com/thespiansthemovie

I have yet to get started on another goal of mine. I want to write a feature before the end of the summer break but I haven't even brainstormed a story. Only short films are going through my head. I wish I had the guts to write a horror but I tend to closely associate ideas I think of with my own life, meaning I will begin to place my ideas into real life. I have an concept for a horror but it scares me so much that I'm scared to write it. It involves a monster that I read about. I may eventually write it someday but for now, I'll stick to the other genres.