Even a less than stellar ending can't weigh down this slice of movie magic

Rating: 9/10 (4 June 2011)

I was lucky enough to get to see Super 8 today at an advanced screening. I'd been excited for J. J. Abram's latest for months, but the result even exceeded my expectations. The secrecy of what happens to our group of middle schoolers is part of the film's appeal, so I won't spoil it. However, I will say that the first 4/5 of this film are an incredibly entertaining homage to the monster movies of the past. There's even mention of the Soviets invading! Real movie magic is created, kicked off by a breath-taking train crash sequence. Most of the middle school kids' performances are passable, but Elle Fanning stands out. She looks far older than she actually is, and acts as such. Her performance outshines even the adults around her. Unexpected humor is also present in the conversations that our heroes have. The wondrous, childlike aura of the film (and its ending) are expected from Spielberg, and it plays out a bit like ET + War of the Worlds + Cloverfield. This is a minor drawback, as the film focuses on the kids for the majority of its running time before suddenly switching gears at the end. Also, several plot lines, including the mother of our protagonist, run a little flat before they can fully develop. These problems being addressed, the ending doesn't quite live up to the extraordinarily high standards the rest of the film sets. It's not terrible, though! There is nothing else negative I can say about Super 8. It's hilarious, touching, scary, imaginative, and fun. And SO WELL EXECUTED. J. J. clearly knows how to make a movie, even if his writing isn't necessarily perfect. Without the few plot problems, Super 8 would be an Oscar contender. Unfortunately, I think that the Academy will look at Super 8 as nothing but above average summer fare. I will be seeing it again, however. And maybe again.