Just because two things use the same idea doesn't mean they're equivalent. Buffy isn't Twilight with a tv show just because a girl falls in love with a vampire or a werewolf. The Walking Dead isn't a Dawn of the Dead tv show just because there's zombies. Stranger Things is in terms of character dynamics and story as uniquely spun as any other tv show, its only similarities to Super 8 are very surface and superficial. Sure they're in the same genre, they both involve protagonists that are kids and they both have mysterious monsters. It's not those things that make the show great, it's how those things are used and to what effect. Imo the first hour of the show alone is superior and more interesting than everything Super 8 did.
I don't think the similarities are superficial at all. I got a very similar feeling from both, in terms of the relationships between the characters, and the tensions between them. And the superficial similarities, as you call them, are pretty comprehensive. Both have a jaded cop mourning the loss of someone, both are set in roughly the same time period ('79 vs. '83) and in the same part of the country (Ohio/Indiana), giving off a distinct suburban middle-America vibe. Townspeople missing, shady government types with a vague conspiracy feeling, a grade school science teacher as plot device, and plucky young nerds with hearts of gold. Hell, both aliens hang people in their lairs and use them for food. And that's just off the top of my head. If you want to go to critical reception, ST has been called an homage to Spielberg films, and he produced Super 8. Or if we want to appeal to mass opinion, do a search for "Stranger Things Super 8." There are a several results. Your Buffy/Twilight example is a strawman. By nearly any method of comparison, Super 8 and Stranger Things are incredibly similar, both in objective details and emotional core.
However, you're taking my original comment out of context. I meant it as a compliment, not as a cross-media comparison. That you didn't like one doesn't erase the similarities, nor does a comparison of the two cheapen the cool, original ways that Stranger Things isn't like Super 8.
Well sure you can compare the two things I've got no problem with that, it just seems like you tried to combine them. Parrellels can be drawn between anything in entertainment because there's really nothing conceptually new that hasn't been exhausted in some format. All we've got is the old and that's do we care, are the jokes funny, are the scary parts scary, is the story gripping and do the characters resonate. Maybe it's not an objective analysis but Stranger Things delivered in spades all the things that mattered; I was happy, I was sad, I was scared and most of all they made me care. Super 8 on the other hand failed to meet any of those standards imo at least. So when you're comparing two things, just because they've got, granted, strong parrellels in their genre pulls and tropes, it doesn't mean they're the same. Each thing is a special little snowflake imo. Once again though everything I'm saying is just my perspectives it's cool if you enjoyed that soulless boring Spielberg pandering garbage Super 8
I agree.... Super 8 harked back strongly to the 80s movies like ET and Close Encounters. ST harks back to many movies from the era and the style: a LOT of ET, The Goonies, Stand by Me, It.... etc etc...
It is VERY much a homage series in the style of Super 8.
I have to agree, it's not bad..but I did not find it as utterly amazing as some did. For me I got less interested as the season went on, the first few episodes drew me in far more than the later ones.
I will watch the second season though.
__________________ Chicken Boo, what's the matter with you? You don't act like the other chickens do. You wear a disguise to look like human guys, but you're not a man you're a Chicken Boo.
When it comes to music it seems everybody is using the Stranger Things theme song in their youtube videos these days. The theme does seem to perfectly capture the essence of the story and time period.
__________________ Chicken Boo, what's the matter with you? You don't act like the other chickens do. You wear a disguise to look like human guys, but you're not a man you're a Chicken Boo.
Only 3 more episodes left on this and rather enjoying it. It's superbly directed with great performances, especially Wynona Rider and the kids. It's a fun show so far. Hope the last few episodes don't ruin it.
It reminds me of a combination of...
The X-Files - mysterious paranormal activity
Twin Peaks - 'death' of a kid in a small town
Kung Fury - the 80s music and vibes
KMC Community Forums
Sep 7th, 2016 06:29 PM
Thanks Scribble!
/center]
Attachment: 
