Reawakens the nostalgia of classic Spielberg.

Rating: 9/10 (11 August 2011)

This movie's got my heartbeat running away. Beating like a drum, and it's coming your way. Can't you hear that.
Boom ba-doom-boom. Boom ba-doom-boom, baby. Super 8. Boom ba-doom-boom. Boom ba-doom-boom, baby. Super 8.
Now that that little tick is out of my system, let's get to the review.
Super 8, writer/director J.J. Abrams' nostalgic love letter to vintage Spielberg, centers on a young boy named Joe (Played by Joel Courtney), who has recently lost his dear mother, and has a rocky relationship with his father, the local police deputy (Played by Kyle Chandler). He's part of a group of kids filming a home zombie movie to enter into a local contest. But their plans go awry when a mysterious train crash occurs, and the local government is sent in to keep things quiet. Eventually, disappearances happen across town, the culprit being a creature that barely anyone knows about.
Abrams is very gleeful in the way he integrates these old styles of storytelling. And while the format is basic, he makes up for that with how he uses those elements. He likes to sprinkle in bits of humor and action, but the one thing I praise him for most is that he doesn't lose his focus. He makes sure there's a strong, beating heart beneath the surface. It's also worth noting that the movie's ending is the best ending I've seen all year, so far.
What about the cast? They are exceptional. The teen actors and adult actors are quite good. Joel Courtney gives a very nuanced, quietly emotional performance as Joe, especially when acting alongside Joe's love interest, Alice, played gently, and terrifically by Elle Fanning. The chemistry between these two put the adorable rating off the charts.
Technically, the film is also very well designed. The editing by Mary Jo Markey and Maryann Brandon is right on the nose, and the VFX of Industrial Light ad Magic are quite lively. I have even higher praise for the sound. I was quite thrilled by the work of my two absolute favorite sound designers, the legendary Ben Burtt and Gary Rydstrom, and Michael Giacchino's John Williams/Jerry Goldsmith influenced score is enough to make one's heart soar.
All in all, Super 8 is a wonderful experience, and I give it ***1/2 out of ****