{"id":12625,"date":"2011-08-06T08:00:05","date_gmt":"2011-08-06T07:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/?p=12625"},"modified":"2011-08-07T17:57:38","modified_gmt":"2011-08-07T16:57:38","slug":"the-spielberg-influences-on-super-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/2011\/08\/06\/the-spielberg-influences-on-super-8\/","title":{"rendered":"The Spielberg Influences on Super 8"},"content":{"rendered":"

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How much of Steven Spielberg’s early work is referenced in Super 8<\/a><\/strong>?<\/p>\n

If you’ve seen the film you’ll know that writer-director J.J. Abrams draws deeply from the era of Spielberg\u2019s early blockbusters<\/a>, with the famous director even coming on board as co-creator and producer.<\/p>\n

But in terms of specifics, here are a list of Spielberg films that seem to be particular touchstones for Super 8.<\/p>\n

JAWS<\/a> (1975)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Spielberg’s mainstream breakthrough was about a shark terrorising a small town<\/strong> and featured a law enforcement officer<\/strong> (Roy Scheider) struggling to maintain order<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In Super 8 there is also a small town deputy<\/strong> (Kyle Chandler<\/a>) and although he isn’t the main character, he plays a similar role in uncovering the mysterious goings on in the town.<\/p>\n

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND<\/a> (1977)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Perhaps the most influential film on Super 8 is Spielberg’s second blockbuster, which explores what happens to two everyday families who discover that the US military are covering up the existence of UFOs.<\/p>\n

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\nRoy’s First UFO Encounter
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The overall plot of Super 8 also involves two families<\/strong>, a military cover-up<\/strong>, a key scene involving a truck by a rail road<\/strong>, and characters empathising with strange forces<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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In particular, the presence of the US military<\/strong> plays a big part in each film.<\/p>\n

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\nTrailer #2
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There are other references, which you should consider after watching the film.<\/p>\n

E.T. THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL<\/a> (1982)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Arguably Spielberg’s most famous film, the coming-of-age tale<\/strong> about a young boy (Henry Thomas) who befriends an alien has close parallels with Super 8.<\/p>\n