Earth to Echo Review (Updated)

Earth to Echo

Release Date: 3rd July 2014 - Australia

Production Companies

Relativity Media

Panay Films

Distribution 

Roadshow Films

Genre: Sci-Fi/Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 86 minutes

Budget: $13,000,000

Box Office Gross: $45,618,062 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

A group of children find 

themselves on an

adventure with an alien

who needs their help

after receiving a bizarre

series of coded messages.

Cast

Teo Halm - Alex
Astro - Tuck
Reese Hartwig - Munch
Ella Wahlestedt - Emma
Jason Gray-Stanford - Dr.
Lawrence Masden (Construction Worker)

Algee Smith - Marcus Simms
Cassius Willis - Calvin Simms
Sonya Leslie - Theresa Simms
Kerry O'Malley - Janice Douglas
Virginia Louise Smith - Betty
Barrett
Peter Mackenzie - James

Hastings
Valerie Wildman - Christine

Hastings

Roger Hewlett - Construction Worker #2
Mary Pat Gleason - Dusty (Mullet Lady at Bar)

Marilyn Giacommazzi - Bar Patron #2

Frank Lloyd - Bar Patron #3

Chris Wylde - Security Guard

Brooke Dillman - Diner Waitress

Myk Watford - Blake Douglas

Tiffany Espensen - Charlie (School Friend #1)

Isarel Broussard - Cameron (Kid That Pushes Tuck)

Drake Kemper - Mookie

Sara Arrington - Munch's Mother's Friend

Arthur Darbinyan - Pawn Shop Owner

Michael Lee Merrins - Truck Driver

Sean Carroll - Podcast Voice (Voice)

Crew

Director - Dave Green
Story/Screenplay - Henry Gayden
Story/Producer - Andrew Panay
Executive Producers - Jason Beckman,

Ron Burkle, Jason Colbeck, Jason Colodne,

Mark Benton Johnson, Jack Kavanaugh,

David Miller and Tucker Tooley

Executive Producer/President of Production -

Robbie Brenner
Producer - Ryan Kavanaugh 
Co-Producer - Adam Blum

Co-Producer/Executive in Charge of Production -

Ken Halsband

Casting Directors - Randi Heller

and Tamara-Lee Notcutt

Production Designer - Kasra Farahani

Art Director - Richard Bloom

Set Decorator - Missy Parker

Set Decorator: Additional Photography -

Linda Lee Sutton
Costume Designer - Judianna Makovsky

Director of Photography - Maxime Alexandre

Directors of Photography: Additional

Photography - Alex Lehmann and Benji Bakshi

Unit Production Manager/First Assistant/

Second Unit Director: Additional Photography -

Jamie Marshall
Second Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -

Scott Rogers
Stunt Coordinators - Keith Campbell,
Ben Hernandez Bray and Chris O'Hara
Special Effects Coordinator - J.D. Schwalm
Echo Designer - Ross Tran

Echo Key Design - Noel Ekker

Legacy Effects Studio Coordinator/Puppeteer #1 -

James Alan Scott

Legacy Effects Concept Artist/Puppeteer #2 -

Ian Joyner

Legacy Effects Lead Artist/Puppeteer #4 -

Trevor Hensley

Visual Effects Supervisor - Mitchell S. Drain
Visual Effects Supervisor: Additional Photography -
Stefen Fangmeier
Visual Effects Supervisor: Prime Focus - Josh Saeta
Editor - Crispin Struthers
Co-Editor - Carsten Kurpane
Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer/

Re-Recording Mixer - Ronald Eng
Sound Designer/Dialogue/FX Editor/

Re-Recording Mixer - Colette D. Dahanne
Sound Designers - Scott Guitteau and
Randy Thom

Assistant Sound Designer - Leff Lefferts

Re-Recording Mixers - Leslie Shatz and

John M. Chalfant

Foley Artists - Robin Harlan and

Sarah Monat
Music - Joseph Trapanese

Music Supervisor/Executive in Charge of Music -

Bob Bowen

Review

I was shocked that the EARTH TO ECHO teaser came out four years after Super 8. Both movies had similar themes and drew inspiration from Steven Spielberg's superbly fashioned classics like E.T. and The Goonies. Since J.J. Abrams' hit shook many sci-fi-loving filmgoers and had frightening content for teens and young adults, it was similar to E.T., yet very low-budget. Many people who have seen Super 8 mentioned a dozen times in their web chatting and reviews that they've considered it a knock-off. It's a sad truth, though its writers can't think of fresh ideas and may have taken some of its elements out of the box and put them right into the ground. I still need to mention the finer details of this film before I get on with the conclusion of this post.

The lead protagonists were not as interesting as those in Super 8. Each character in the two films has different personalities and character developments, especially the blonde-haired girl, who almost bears an uncanny likeness to Elle Fanning, where her character is a far greater focus of the plot. I love the cute little alien robot design, which could have ended up as if he were the main character. It does not fit in the same category as more established film bots such as WALL-E and R2-D2.

EARTH TO ECHO isn't an alternative feature that anyone envisioned, though it's a less scary version of Super 8. It's a forgettable entry, and I don't need to watch it a second time since it stands below average.

Star rating: (4/10) Below Average

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