Thompson on Hollywood

Super 8 Reviews: "Early Spielberg Classic," Spielberg & Abrams "Spiritually Clash On-Screen" UPDATED

I went in to see Super 8 with modest expectations. I kept waiting for the movie to derail and lose its footing at some point. That never happened. I was instantly caught up with this group of kids trying to shoot a movie (the final result unspools over the closing credits, so stick around) and then figure out what sort of thing escaped from a huge train wreck to devastate their town. The rules of this movie are strictly Spielberg sci-fi universe, circa 1979, which is a wonderful place to be.

By Anne Thompson
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June 9, 2011 7:55 AM
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Super 8 Q & A: Spielberg and Abrams Talk to EW About Growing Up, Obsessions, Their Inner Child

Writer-director J.J. Abrams was smart to pull Steven Spielberg in as a producer on PG-13 sci-fi adventure Super 8, set in 1979, which is the ultimate homage to the great Spielberg movies of the 70s and 80s, referencing Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and of course, E.T. Paramount understood that they were selling, in effect, a non-Spielberg Spielberg film. And the movie feels as comfortable as an old shirt: the second you enter this world, you know exactly what the rules are. As Abrams understood the DNA of the Star Trek universe, so he understands the kids at the core of Super 8, their relationship to their parents, their love of making movies, and each other. (Check out this six-minute MSN clip from the beginning of Super 8, and our collection of Super 8 early reviews.)

By Anne Thompson
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June 9, 2011 5:11 AM
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Super 8 Opening Projections Are Irrelevant; Word-of-Mouth Will Sell This Critics' Darling

Having seen Super 8 Tuesday--it did not disappoint--I agree with box office analyst Anthony D'Alessandro's assertion that it doesn't matter if Super 8 opens soft. It's an original that plays like gangbusters and as such, the eventual returns will dwarf its opening this weekend, whatever it is. (This terrific unofficial fan poster evokes the spirit of one-sheet artist Drew Struzan of Lucas/Spielberg fame, who denies any authorship.)Super 8 has been driving Paramount and online movie sites super crazy. After word broke Monday evening that advance tracking was soft on the J.J. Abrams-Steven Spielberg nostalgia-fest, the studio went into PR overdrive, clarifying projections. And in a final riposte to all box office naysayers, decided to offer Thursday sneak previews via Twitter in an effort to swell sales.

By Anthony D'Alessandro
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June 8, 2011 7:21 AM
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Entertainment Weekly's Best of Summer: Bateman, Galifianakis, Aniston, Carell, Gosling, Abrams, More

EW's Best of Summer edition is on newstands May 27. As for the Best of Summer Movies, they've culled some soundbites from the stars. A selection is below.

By Sophia Savage
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May 26, 2011 6:27 AM
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Teaser Trailer: Super 8 Preview

Well, I finally saw, here at the Star Cinema in Cannes, the 20 minutes of J.J. Abrams' Super 8 (June 10) Paramount had screened to media in New York and exhibitors at CinemaCon. The footage looks very Spielbergian, and serves to set up the film's characters, a group of teen guys and one girl (Elle Fanning) as they film a super 8 movie at a train station, when a truck veers onto the tracks and causes a stupendous train crash that lets out something wicked and alien into the area.

By Anne Thompson
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May 18, 2011 8:29 AM
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Cannes: Paramount Screens Super 8 and Puss In Boots Footage, Kung Fu Panda 2

Paramount's marketing co-chief Megan Colligan has been mulling taking advantage of the world press in attendance at Cannes for a sneak peak at J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg's Super 8. Now the studio has invited press to see 40 minutes of footage on Thursday, UPDATE: but it turns out that it's the same 20 minutes they showed to key press in New York and at the CinemaCon exhibitor convention in Las Vegas. Get your facts together people.

By Anne Thompson
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May 10, 2011 10:31 AM
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Summer Preview: Must-Sees on Big Screen, Skippable, Must-to-Avoid

The summer is upon us, with a plethora of viewing choices, many of them utterly avoidable. I lay out the summer movie landscape.

By Anne Thompson
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April 28, 2011 9:46 AM
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CinemaCon: Paramount's Super 8 and China Hopes Buoy Depressed Exhibs

CinemaCon, the annual exhibitor convention, is under way in Las Vegas, as studios show their summer reels in hopes of reviving theater owners' flagging spirits during a prolonged box office downturn. Anthony D'Alessandro reports:

By Anthony D'Alessandro
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March 29, 2011 12:25 PM
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Paramount Screens Super 8 Footage in NYC, ShoWest/CinemaCon

Rumors have been rampant that Paramount was going to screen a film at next week's CinemaCon (ShoWest is no more) exhibitor convention in Las Vegas. Well, the studio screened the first 20 minutes of J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg's Super 8 to positive response to assorted media in New York Wednesday, and will show the same footage to theater owners, along with a 2011 sizzle reel.