I minded it less in Super 8, which I think benefits from seeing it on the big screen, since it's basically just one big homage to the Spielbergian movies of his (and, to an extent, my own) youth.
It's a little more justifiable in Super 8, due to the movie-making subject matter, and I might not have noticed it as much if Star Trek hadn't primed me to be so sensitive to them. But there was a moment where I almost started wondering if something was wrong with my TV, because suddenly there was this weird blue line across it, before I realized that, no, it was just another damned lens flare. And just... nobody needs that. Stop distracting your audience, J.J.!
And while he's stopping the lens flares, he can stop sticking stupid monsters in every damn movie he makes, too (Cloverfield, the giant ice creature that Spock fights off with nothing more than a torch in Star Trek, now this...).
I actually rather liked Cloverfield. But Super 8 is, well, an odd case. As a kid-buddy-movie and an homage to Spielberg films, it's really very nice, but taken just on its own merits, well, the monster plot is kind of pointless and dumb.
It's worth pointing out that he didn't direct or write Cloverfield; he just produced it. The only other movie he's directed, besides Star Trek and Super 8, is Mission: Impossible III. And I don't remember any stupid monsters in that one...unless, possibly, you consider Tom Cruise. (But I kid!)
I minded it less in Super 8, which I think benefits from seeing it on the big screen, since it's basically just one big homage to the Spielbergian movies of his (and, to an extent, my own) youth.
ReplyDeleteIt's a little more justifiable in Super 8, due to the movie-making subject matter, and I might not have noticed it as much if Star Trek hadn't primed me to be so sensitive to them. But there was a moment where I almost started wondering if something was wrong with my TV, because suddenly there was this weird blue line across it, before I realized that, no, it was just another damned lens flare. And just... nobody needs that. Stop distracting your audience, J.J.!
ReplyDeleteYou can only take an affectation so far before it starts pissing people off.
ReplyDeleteYeah. I think he passed that point about five minutes into Star Trek.
ReplyDeleteAnd while he's stopping the lens flares, he can stop sticking stupid monsters in every damn movie he makes, too (Cloverfield, the giant ice creature that Spock fights off with nothing more than a torch in Star Trek, now this...).
ReplyDeleteI actually rather liked Cloverfield. But Super 8 is, well, an odd case. As a kid-buddy-movie and an homage to Spielberg films, it's really very nice, but taken just on its own merits, well, the monster plot is kind of pointless and dumb.
ReplyDeleteIt's worth pointing out that he didn't direct or write Cloverfield; he just produced it. The only other movie he's directed, besides Star Trek and Super 8, is Mission: Impossible III. And I don't remember any stupid monsters in that one...unless, possibly, you consider Tom Cruise. (But I kid!)
ReplyDelete