Yes, No, Maybe So: "Super 8"
Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 9:00PM 
We already did this once during the Superbowl but here's the full trailer to J.J. Abrams Super 8, a clear attempt to recapture 80s Spielbergania. Disturbingly hypey things are flying cross the internet like 'a Best Picture nomination is all sewn up!' uh... from 2 minutes of footage? It's not like its a Holocaust drama or a biopic and looks particularly fetching. History is littered with trailers that looked awesome, the movies proving less so. We shall see. The other disturbing thing I read was that the internet had 'a collective boner'. Call me old fashioned but the only way I'd ever be interested in a collective boner was if I could handpick the orgy members. Ewww. But those caveats aside the trailer IS good. I'm a "yes." But let's play our game anyway.
Yes It certainly looks intriguing... and all the things that worked in the 30 second version (the mystery, the borrowed music, the "gee whiz it's 80s scifi!" feel) are expanded and gain in oomph at 2 minutes. Surely a good sign for the next (two hour) expansion, right?
No Sometimes when people (J.J. Abrams) try to be someone else (Steven Spielberg) they feel like jpgs that have been saved at lower resolutions. Or they miss the mark and end up like some weird amalgam (Spielberg + Shyamalan ÷ Abrams = ?) The proof, one way or the other, will be in the full 2 hours.
Maybe So I know that this is about the kids but wouldn't it be appropriately wondrous if Coach Taylor knocked a plum supporting role out of the park and had a big screen career and/or an awesome TV offer to follow his Friday Night Lights perfection since that stellar show has filmed its last scenes.
Here's the new trailer
Yes No or Maybe So people?
Okay okay, I'll bite on the overhype. Let's discuss Oscar prospects, too. A few techs or much more?
Reader Comments (26)
I’m actually a maybe, but i’ll say i’m a yes because this the one which everyone will be too excited for. I mean, it looks like another alien or disaster movie which only heavily marketed based on those 2 big names: Spielberg and Abrams and its resemblance to E.T
Oscar prospect? maybe VFX and both sound categories. and maybe cinematography??
I think Battle: LA has a chance for VFX and Beastly for Pettyfer’s heavy long complicated make-up (the latter is just saying,).
no - a creepy pre-pubescent love story is no way to lure me in
maybe - not
yes - any alien force that frees the world of dogs is ok by me
Looks pretty sick. I can't wait.
Yes, yes, yes. And, bold move I know, but I'm calling this one to be the summer moneymaker they pull into Best Picture.
This trailer, in all honesty, is a Maybe. The teaser was a YES!
I loved that teaser so much that I still want to see it to the point of unhealthiness.
But the prepubescent love story? Ew. Those barely work, so stop doing them.
Re: Coach Taylor, yes that would be wondrous! The second I heard his voice in the trailer I was sold (the rest of it also helped). I'm encouraged to see him showing up in a part like this - at the very least having the Abrams & Spielberg connection can't hurt. After FNL you'd think he'd have already shown up in lots of other movies. Only one I can think of, though, is his cameo in The Kingdom - which is really wonderful, vivid performance, but in a tiny, tiny part. Totally undervalued talent. Hopefully that will change very soon.
I'm a yes, sold by the Super Bowl spot. As for Oscars, I suspect nominations for sound are likely, and maybe a VFX, but I think its far too early to make any calls on things like Best Picture. The film could underwhelm.
I do hope it launches an illustrious big-screen career for Chandler, though. He so richly deserves it.
Overall, not really. Not looking forward to the collective internet hyperbole that'll accompany this film when it comes out that seems to occur whenever there is a science fiction blockbuster that has a modicum of quality (Star Trek, Inception, .... even The Dark Knight). While I have a minor fondness for Chandler (from Early Edition, not Friday Night Lights. Couldn't get into the football one), I have to admit I'm nonplussed.
As for oscar prognostication: only techs. Looks even MORE kiddy than Inception and that works against it. Also that AMPAS isn't made up of a group of internet dorks that watch two kinds of movies (AMPAS watches five, dammit!).
I'm going with a maybe..but will I be sitting in a theater watching this in June? You betcha!
Arkaan -- that's so true about the internet's reaction to quality sci-fi and also the types of movies that the internet cares about. Even less range than AMPAS voters! There's just not much overlap is all.
Robo -- yes, it seems like a must see even for those of us who aren't drooling.
par & andrew -- i must have a mutant ability to block those out because i barely noticed it other than a "oh yeah, Elle Fanning is in this" split second.
It looks really good so a definite YES for me. The Superbowl spot was a little better but most teasers are better than trailers, so I won't hold that against it. In terms of Oscars, It'll need to be a HUGE hit critically and commercially to get into Best Picture but Cinematography, VFX and Both Sound Categories seem like good bets.
I'm not too sure about any acting noms but like it's chances for Best Picture, it all depends on how it's received (at best I could see the main kid or chandler getting in, though. Maybe Fanning if the roles big enough). I'll say this, though: If there's a blockbuster that will make it into Best Picture, this will probably be it (unless Deathly Hallows Part II gets LOTR type reviews).
I'm definitely a "yes" for Super 8. It looks like a great sci-fi.
As for its Oscar prospects, I think it'll be the favorite to win most of the technical awards, mainly the Sound categories and Visual Effects, but I also think it might get in for Original Screenplay and Best Picture.
Since we've gone to a ten picture lineup, the Oscars seem committed to making sure there's a token "genre" flick in there, so this looks like a gimme.
I'm a yes. The CE3K meets The Stand meets Cloverfield thing reads as derivative as I write it, but it's ripe with possibilities and it looks visually rich.
"It's not like its a Holocaust drama or a biopic and looks particularly fetching. "
Such shallow minded attempt at critique that comes off as just dumb, tasteless, unsightful, and most of all sans any actual thought at all.
And you know what, pretty darn offensive too.
Maybe so. The trailer promises great entertainment or boredom. I think it was a bit heavy on the explosions and stuff but I hope that's just marketing.
I've been predicting Super 8 as one of next year's Top 10 since the Super Bowl, but now that I've seen the full trailer, I'm not so sure. Children? When was the last time something starring multiple children got nominated for Best Picture? E.T.?
Either way, we certainly don't know if there's even such a thing as the "Summer Blockbuster Rule" after only two years of The 10. It reminds me of how many bloggers last year were writing about what's going to take "The Blind Side Slot" this year, which seems kind of hilarious at this point. Maybe there will usually always be a blockbuster in The 10 but not necessarily from the summer. Besides Super 8, no other summer movie this year makes any sense, so maybe it'll be something from Christmas (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo?).
I really would laugh my ass off if it were to win best picture. It was filmed in my home town of Weirton, WV. It's a little known city in the northern panhandle of West Virginia, known primarily of the past home of Weirton Steel. However, 2 feature films have been filmed in or closely around my hometown. "Reckless", a 1984 romance film starring Daryl Hannah and Aidan Quinn, was filmed in 1984. However, six years before, Best Picture winning "The Deer Hunter" was partially film in the city. If "Super 8" would win best picture, I think "66% for best picture winning feature films filmed in you town" could hold some notoriety. Maybe then every film shooting for best picture would start filming in this town of 20000. Thank you West Virginia Business Tax benefits!
Well played Super 8 trailer. The footage is uh, meh, but the music sent shivers up my spine.
Maxim -- i think you missed the point. I was NOT critiquing Super 8, but the idea that people assume that if a movie looks good it's a shoo-in for Best Picture. The only thing that are automatic gets when they're very good are Oscar's favorite genres.
Chris -- that's awesome.
Sam - the last film starring multiple children to get into the BP lineup was - Slumdog Millionaire. Remember? ;)
But E.T. is obviously the closest comparison to this (in pretty much every way?)
At this point, there are up to four serious contenders (Thor, X-Men: First Class, Super 8 and Deathly Hallows Part II) for "the summer slot." I think this and First Class are the most likely entrants, if any of them do. (As for Sucker Punch...well, it's such a total adolescent fantasy that I can't see how the Academy would EVER go for it, no matter how good the reviews end up. I wouldn't dare call Super 8 less mature than Inception (likely the least mature sci-fi film in the last 10 years, and considering Michael Bay, that's saying something), even if it does involve children. To be less mature than Inception, you'd have to be...well...Sucker Punch.)
As for Oscar prospects: I'd see quite a few techs (including a potential costume nod, because I checked and it is period), and, depending on how many adapted screenplays end up in picture, it may have an outside shot at original screenplay.
I'm looking forward more to X-Men: First Class, but I'll definitely see this. Just glad to have movies coming out I'm excited about!
Geez, always so sensitive Maxim. Lighten up.
As for me, if it's any good at all, it's got multiple Oscar noms coming. The Academy LOVES a non-sequel effects blockbuster, maybe not in Best Picture, but certainly in multiple tech arenas. Expect at least 4 noms - Sound, Sound Editing, Visual Effects and I'll say Cinematography. The score could also be one of the ages.
Why the world needs Super 8
This may be controversial but I wanted to share this with the world, I think many people will share my sentiments. But others will strongly disagree.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JBuMBBFENA&feature=youtube_gdata_player