Abrams + Spielberg - Spielberg.

Rating: 8/10 (19 August 2011)

This is a great, very interesting and different film.
Original, fresh, valiant, a classic movie concept which grants entertainment for all the family, ironically a concept that was lost in time, at least, 20 years ago. Trust me, this film if full of magic.
What I want to say is that this movie has enough mature content for being considered "just for kids" and, in the other hand, it has the necessary sense of humor and limits in visual violence in order to satisfy the youngest without boring the adults.
The direction is awesome. Everything is well fitted, the camera is always well located, the sense of rhythm is brilliant, but it's in the work with actors, specially with the youngest where Abrams does his best.
In my opinion, casting unknown actors has been a triumph. Elle Fanning actually is an incoming superstar, but the other children are totally unknown for the average public, and all of them do an incredible work. It seems that they aren't acting, trust me.
The setting in latest 70's USA small town is also a good point. Perfect costume, location and make-up that help you getting into the movie.
About the plot... the story is OK, the dialogues are well built, sometimes brilliant and funny, but there are few (always in my opinion) mistakes that didn't satisfy me at all.
As I've said before, this is a great film, but it's not, unfortunately, an immortal, masterpiece, all-time classic, and I'll try to explain why: -First of all, I have to say, that if I were 12-14 years old I would give this film a 10 out of 10, but I actually have 31, and my duty is to be, as much as I can, objective.
-Abrams's work is unbeatable, I can't say anything else, but there is the Spielberg factor. Spielberg is "the master", the director and producer who has never done a bad film, but also an artist with some bad habits that he can't avoid and his touch can be sensed in the entire movie.
Then, if you mix Abrams and Spielberg's magical touch, the result is a true masterpiece, but if you add the last one's bad habits, which are clearly shown in the film's last ten minutes and some story's weak points ( I thinks that it's is unnecessary to spoil anything, just watch it and you'll see that those little flaws are clear) the result is a great film, sometimes outstanding, but never perfect.
In conclusion, an excellent and fresh film, not perfect just for few details, but always recommendable for the entire family. One of this year's best films, much better than the average level of our days filming. And the most important thing: don't forget it, this movie recovers a style from a time where the cinema was magic.