Super 8

If you grew up in the 1980's you remember movies like The Goonies or Stand By Me: coming of age stories that have now become cult classics. J.J.Abrams is channeling that same vibe in Super 8, and the result is a film that is part blockbuster, part homage to that decade and the films it created. And most importantly, it is really fun to watch.

The viral marketing advertisements for Super 8 were intentionally uninformative, so I didn't know much beyond the basic premise: a bunch of kids in 1981 are filming an amateur movie (on Super 8 film) when they unwittingly witness and film a massive train crash. I don't want to give away any more of the plot, because things get weird from there, and part of the joy of this movie is wondering along with the characters what is going on. The young actors are very good, and I actually liked the portrayal of teenage relationships, dysfunctional families, and young love.

J.J. Abrams has made a big name for himself with television series like Alias and Lost, and movies like the new Stark Trek. But he brings an even bigger name to the table in Steven Spielberg, the producer. At this point, Spielberg is practically a secular saint of film, and his influence on this movie is unmistakable. Super 8 is replete with references (some more subtle than others) to the classic Spielberg films of this era. That may be a distraction for some people, but for a movie about making a movie, I thought those nods seemed right a home. This is a story that has been told many times before— it's essentially a mash-up of Stand By Me, E.T., and Cloverfield—but it's a great story, told by some of the best people in the business. Super 8 is fun, moving, thrilling, and hilarious. In short, it's a must-see.

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Wives and Daughters

The BBC works its magic again with another excellent miniseries, this time brining Elizabeth Gaskell's novel Wives and Daughters to the screen. I admit I had never read any of Gaskell's work before seeing the movie, and her only books I knew of were Cranford and North and South. Having happily corrected my ignorance, I will soon be adding some Gaskell novels to my summer reading list.

The main character, Molly Gibson, lives with her widowed father. He remarries a woman with a daughter close to Molly's age, introducing a new mother and a new daughter to the family. It's interesting to see a film explore how two families settle together as one family, with plenty of conflicts and struggles along the way. Mrs. Gibson is at once sly and naive, but always in pursuit of her own selfish interests. Her daughter from her first marriage, Cynthia, has some of the same selfishness, but Molly becomes a good influence on her and she often works against her mother's will. Along the way the Gibsons become involved in the drama of their wealthy neighbors, the Hamleys, who have two handsome sons. It is inevitable in such a story that romance would blossom, but it doesn't happen quite like you would expect it, and that's what makes it so much fun.

If you like period pieces or human-driven stories, I highly recommend Wives and Daughters. It has some very funny dialogue, quite a few excellent performances, and very well-developed characters. Even if you can't stand the better-known Jane Austen film adaptations, Wives and Daughters is worth a try because it doesn't delve into the sappy as much, and it has some great mysteries and plot twists.
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The Prestige

The Prestige boasts an impressive cast with an ambitious story of magicians, magic, and mystery. Like a real magic act, you can see how they do a few of the tricks before hand, but the overall performance is still very good.

The Prestige follows the careers of two rival magicians. When one of them (Christian Bale) develops the impossible magic trick, the other (Hugh Jackman) becomes obsessed with discovering the feat. Eventually, with the aid of science, he develops an even greater trick, but ultimately at great cost. Bale and Jackman are quite good, but the rest of the cast is also impressive. Scarlett Johansen is the lovely but conflicted assistant working for both men; Michael Caine plays the stage manager and trick engineer; David Bowie plays the true magician of them all, the famous inventor Nicola Tesla. The film has something of a surprise ending, although many viewers will have already figured it out. But that doesn't diminish the thrill or enjoyment. As the movie immediately explains, the title refers to the third part of all magic tricks, in which the illusion is presented. Indeed, The Prestige creates an intense, fascinating illusion.
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