Original? Not really. Captivating? Yes!

Rating: 9/10 (19 June 2012)

I went into Super 8 knowing that the reviews were pretty good, but that most people didn't like the ending. I didn't see much wrong with it,but I'll go into that later. Overall, I was highly entertained by this movie--the atmosphere it sets is one of growing up in the late 1970s, and I found myself being nostalgic for an era where I wasn't even born yet.
The plot, if you've seen the classic sci-fi films of the 1970s and 80s,isn't that original. However, I haven't seen those movies, or at least not many of them, so I thought the plot was good enough, although there were a few clichés, but that's almost expected in movies today.
This movie, though, really isn't about the plot, it's about the characters, and on that note, it deserves a perfect score. The characters pull you into this movie--they are so believable in the way that they act around each other and in the situations they are faced with throughout the movie. The actors did a wonderful job, too. Joel Courtney was great, as was Riley Griffiths, especially considering it was both of their first times acting in a movie. They were both able to get into their character's persona well, and it really came through. The best performance, however, hands-down belongs to Elle Fanning, who conveyed so much emotion as the girl needing an escape from her alcoholic father. Often times with only a few lines, or even just a single glance, she was able to bring so much to the screen, that she definitely stole all the scenes she was in.
Now, about the ending. I personally didn't think it was a let down, but you have to fully understand the fact that this movie was never about the alien/monster to begin with--that was just something for them to react to, something around which they could attach all their emotions and feelings. So, in essence, the ending is obsolete: it is about the characters and what they do along the way to get to the ending. In some movies, the ending is a huge surprise and it is supposed to leave you thinking, and I believe this is what many people were expecting, seeing as this was written by J.J. Abrams, but this is just not one of those movies.
Still, it was highly entertaining, especially the dialogue between the children, not to mention the incredible sound and special effects, as well as the enthralling and, at times, tender score by Michael Giacchino. Overall, I'd say it was one of the best movies of 2011.