Ever since people started getting a glimpse of the trailer (embedded below) for Super 8, the seeeecret new film directed by J.J. Abrams, they've been falling all over themselves to describe it as Steven Spielberg-inspired. It certainly may be true that the actual film is, as rumored, an homage to Spielberg's early work. But this trailer? Not so much.
I mean, it's just a well-choreographed train derailing, people. There's no John Williams music. There are no heads popping into frame, perfectly choreographed, nor people staring at an offscreen object in awe. Instead, there are lens flares (very Abrams) in a teaser trailer that's almost all train wreck and not much else (very The Fugitive). The only things Spielbergian about it are the title card bearing his name and the very real chance this will make a buttload of money next summer.
VERDICT: Still, sold.