Super 8 (DVD)

The third directorial effort from Alias and Lost creator J.J. Abrams (after Mission Impossible 3 and Star Trek) is another winner! Steven Spielberg produced the movie, and the whole thing hearkens back to classic Spielberg adventures like Close Encounters Of The Third Kind and E.T.. It's set in the late 70's and has that wholesome small-town American feel to it.

The lead characters are a group of kids trying to make a scary movie on an old-school Super 8 video camera. One night while filming, they witness a gargantuan train derailment right in front of their eyes. When they notice the incoming U.S. Army trucks, they hightail it out of there. Very soon, it becomes clear that something "alive" was on that train and it also managed to escape before the Army arrived at the scene. People start disappearing in the town, and the group of kids discover they have footage on their camera which documents something mysterious.

The rest of the story is exciting and fun-filled, as the kids face some terrifying moments trying to get to the bottom of the story. The cast are all superb and the characters aren't cardboard cut-outs. The kids and their parents and the rest of the townsfolk are all extremely well-drawn and the sense of tension among alot of the main characters from even before the crash and subsequent Army lockdown, is very evident.

The special effects are superb, the thrills are enjoyable for adults and young teens and the movie doesn't overstay its welcome. My only complaint would be the weak ending which is a bit of a letdown. Other than that though, it's the perfect adventure for the whole family to enjoy. Provided the kids aren't under the age of 13 for a few nervy scenes. (4 out of 5, by Carlisle Johnson)

In the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident.

Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to uncover the truth – something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined.

Something unimaginable escaped during the crash. And everyone's about to discover that the only thing more mysterious than what it is, is what it wants.

General

Studio:	Paramount Home Entertainment
Country of origin:	South Africa
Release date:	November 2011
Authors:	J. J. Abrams
Executive producers:	Steven Spielberg
Dimensions:	192 x 137 x 15mm (L x W x T)
Format:
Running time:	1 hour, 52 minutes
Region encoding:	Region 2. This DVD will play in all South African DVD players.
Audio format:	Dolby Digital 5.1
Age restriction:	13 PGLV
Categories:	DVD > Adventure DVD > Science Fiction DVD > Thriller DVD > Feature Film
LSN:	X5N-3FP-4FH-5
Barcode:	6003805098931

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Review This Product

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 | Review by: Micky B

Produced by (but not directed by) Steven Spielberg: this clever (and often chilling) science fiction production is a "set-in-a-small-town" adventure drama that features Kyle Chandler - star of the popular "Early Edition" TV series of yesteryear. While making an amateur "Zombie" movie as a project, a group of 14-year-old friends are busy filming a nighttime scene... and are right on the spot to witness a horriffic train wreck that takes place! The immediate appearance of convoys of military vehicles and Air Force planes causes them to believe that this was no accident! Their fears are confirmed when they are threatened by military officers to remain silent about what they have seen... or else! But then the mysterious disappearance of people, and other strange happenings, begin to occur throughout the town. What was on the train... and, more importantly, <i>why</i> was it there in the first place? And for full value, you <i>must</i> watch this one to the finish of the end credit titles! You will be rewarded by the completed Super 8 movie... as the kids had shot it! Essential viewing for those in search of "something different"... and also for the many of us who, at some time, or other have tried to shoot their <i>own</i> 8mm home movie on something more than just friends or family.

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