Super 8 review

Super 8- 'Steven Spielberg' that name alone can determine what film , 'film goers' go to watch in the summer. Although this was only produced by spielberg his print is well and truly made on this film... And not a good print. Some of Spielberg's classics personally include ; jaws, Jurassic park and his very first picture duel. I wasn't really touched by spielberg s magic through e.t, as I thought it was simply silly and was playing on the silly alien theme for too long. Unfortunately e.t is the template for jj abrams homage to spielberg. The big theme of the alien, it was all about the kids being faced with something so much bigger and greater than they could understand, and this theme played out brilliantly thought the 1st 45 minutes of the film where a jaws like aspect was taken into the film where you don't see the monster. Then when it comes to the scene where the boy and girl are face to face with the creature in his underground lair I turned off. The classic Spielberg silliness returned, when the boy speaks to the monster. I had a great imagination of what the monster might look like before I saw it, but when I did I looked more like a transformer and the 'sympathetic dialogue scene' to follow was cringe. The fact that a gargantuan monster would listen to a young boy saying were your friends is totally preposterous, but I see what abram s was trying to do. To conclude I would say I was disappointed with this film I mildly enjoyed it because of the 'childhood adventure' aspect but apart from this I felt myself cringing uncontrollably at the end. If you want to see a nostalgic film about childhood adventures give this a watch if your looking for a sympathetic deep and heartfelt monster film watch gareth edwards terrific monsters.

The artist review

Hello,


Silent films are obviously by far a thing of the past and with the dawn of new 21st century technologies, like 3-d and imax, you would think the format would never creep back onto the silver screen again. Until now. The artist has shoveled past the half hearted 3-d action and animation flicks that have flooded the autumn/winter box office and is now the 'talk of the town'. 'For how could a black and white silent film be any better than a film in colour and shot in SPECTACULAR 3-D!!!' Easily! And here's why...

Film making today isn't what is used to be, today, production teams are littered with high tech equipment (like 3-D camera's!) That for some reason, (needed or not) they think is a necessity in the film. But what's to say we can't go back to old roots like the artist has done? Simply because companies don't want to lose money, that's why the artist is such a big risk. But the risk has defiantly paid off as new films made with new technology are being overlooked as this new film with old technology is stealing the limelight and its such a nice sight to see. As of course the artist is one of the best films I've seen for a while. Its such a breath of fresh air to see such a film which along with a heart warming story line delivers great acting performances around the board especially from Jean Dujardin (and of course Uggie the dog!) But the aspect I really loved about this film was the screen play and the overall style in which this film was shot. I especially loved the opening sequence in which ( however corny it may sound) I really felt as if I was actually in a theatre of the time with the band playing live in front of me. By seeing this scene at the start where 'George Valentin' is happy and charismatic, it means that we can really relate to the character throughout the film going with him though his highs and lows .

Overall I think this film was beautiful, a real unlikely masterpiece for a film of the 21st century. One that will always stand the test of time and one that should defiantly win the awards for best film and of course to Michel Hazanavicius for best director. They most certainly do not make them like they used to!...

Calum.R