As Good As You Hoped It Would Be

Rating: 10/10 (12 June 2011)

J. J. Abrams (creator of Lost) makes his greatest film yet with this homage to his hero, Steven Spielberg. The fact that Spielberg co- produced this movie with Abrams helps to make it seem like a class 80's Spielberg movie. And who doesn't like that?
In the middle of a small Midwestern town in 1979, a group of middle schoolers are trying to make a short film with a Super 8 mm camera. One night they all sneak out of their homes and head to the train station. They film the scene as a train is passing for "production value", but suddenly a pickup truck smashes headlong into the train. After a fantastically over-the-top train wreck, Joe witnesses something escape from the train.
Although the movie does involve monsters and science-fiction, the focus remains on the kids. Joel Courtney plays the main character, Joe, who is reeling from his mother's death, and strikes up a relationship with Alice, played by Elle Fanning, who steals the show. But all of the kids are phenomenal, each one hitting the nail on the head with preteen awkwardness; and Kyle Chandler is great as Joe's dad, the sheriff who has to deal with losing his wife, and the strange happenings in town.
The script, written by Abrams, is exciting and skillfully paced. There always seems to be several subplots going on at once, yet there is never a moment of confusion about what is going on. Packing in action, emotion, and commentaries about childhood, Abrams' script never stops short of pure entertainment.
As for directing, Abrams makes a fantastic popcorn movie, the kind of which hasn't been made since—well, Spielberg's last film. Abrams gives a wonderful feeling to his movie, always putting the audience in the midst of it all as if they were a part of the town. Some may argue that Super 8 is much more than a popcorn movie, and perhaps it is. The point is it doesn't really matter, because either way, this movie rocks.
A Spielberg homage like this is very interesting and entertaining to watch. This reviewer certainly hopes Abrams has a long and fruitful film career, especially if he continues to make movies of this caliber. A wildly exciting and beautifully photographed film, this summer blockbuster should not be missed.
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