A New American Classic

Rating: 9/10 (27 October 2011)

"Super 8" is a magical film. While an homage to the ultra-classic science fiction and child adventure films of the 70s and 80s (e.g., "E.T.", Close Encounters of the Third Kind", "Stand by Me", and "The Goonies"), "Super 8" manages to blaze a new trail and emerge from the shadows of similar frameworks. The production value, setting, acting, plot build-up, character development, and action rivals all of the films it represents.
The replication of the 70s is done with masterful precision. The houses, the costumes, the cars, the lingo, and the props are meticulously taken care of. The settings are tight-lit and sometimes claustrophobic (when they need to be). This is Spielberg doing what Spielberg does best....setting the mood.
J.J. Abrams and Spielberg get the best performances out of children I have seen in a long, long time. These kids are amazingly convincing at every turn. Not since "The Sixth Sense" have I been so moved by a child. Every actor in "Super 8" shows professionalism and real talent. Every one of them carries his or her own weight on set. Coming of age stories can sometimes be extremely melodramatic and pointless, but here the acting is first rate.
The plot moves at a slow and steady pace. Every character is fleshed out and all the subplots intertwine with each other perfectly. The writing is crafted with care and the plot devices are constructed around good ideas. Mystery and excitement permeates the entire piece.
The train scene is breathtaking and is the best action scene in a science-fiction movie in recent memory. After that, the action doesn't really pick up until the final act. Instead, you are given clues and intriguing plot elements that piece together the exhilarating conclusion. One the action begins again, it keep you on the edge of your seat and glued to the screen like well-thought-out action scenes should. Movies like "Transformers" overload your frontal lobe with so many nauseating action scenes that you are numbed by the end. "Super 8", on the other hand, crafts well-timed and well-executed action sequences that come to fruition based on the context of the plot. It mixes action, drama, and sci-fi so awesomely that you are never bored by any of these elements.
"Super 8" is a new American classic. If you enjoy nostalgia or the brilliant sci-fi films that defined a generation, get ready to be blown away. This film was obviously made by two men that have mighty respect for the time it represents. It belongs in the same category of classic as the films it seeks to connect with. A time in the film industry where plot, characters, and build-up mattered. Spielberg has done it again! Abrams has proved himself worthy of Hollywood. 9/10