Friday 25 July 2014

Earth To Echo - review

Earth To Echo is the film for anyone who has ever wondered what would happen if someone who grew up on the Steven Spielberg films of the Eighties decided to make a found footage film combining E.T. - The Extra Terrestrial and The Goonies.

Three friends, due to be separated as a company bulldozes the town to make way for a new freeway, go on one last adventure following a map on their phones which leads them to discover an alien life form which they must return to its spaceship before shadowy government agents get their hands on it.

A couple of years ago JJ Abrams produced his own Spielberg-homage with Super 8 and with the advances in modern technology this could have perhaps been called iPhone.

However the found footage style gets rather tiresome after a while, feeling rather gimmicky and leads to plot issues (would the government agents really not confiscate all electronic recording devices from the kids in order to analyse the footage?).

The child actors are good and there is a nice message about the importance of friendship.

Stand By Me said "I never had friends like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?". The same is true for movies. While Earth To Echo might capture the hearts of young viewers, the older generation may just end up reminiscing over the classics from their time.

3 stars

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