Fantastic Story that goes deeper than a Monster Movie

Rating: 9/10 (20 June 2011)

Absolutely wonderful. This movie goes back to the weeks just before I was born. The TMI scare (the power plant just miles away from where I grew up in PA) is even mentioned on the news in one early scene.
While I may not have been alive at the time of the events depicted in the movie, this took me back to that era. I have three older brothers and a sister that would have been the ages of the kids. Watching this made me miss the early 80's and the hope and purity life had in store. Back when movies like The Goonies, Labyrinth, Return of the Jedi, and E.T. were "the" movies to see.
So thanks to JJ Abrams and all the rest of the folks involved for making a movie like this. The lack of angsty teenagers, gadget obsessed kids, and the expression "social media," made this movie a great escape.
Now about the movie itself. The acting in this movie by the child leads was phenomenal. Joel Courtney knocked his performance out of the park. He was the heart and soul of this movie. The story line between him and his father (Kyle Chandler) was fantastic. Their scenes ranged from powerful, to subtle. All moving.
Elle Fanning has the potential to be an incredible actress. In fact, she already is. See "The Nines," or "Phoebe in Wonderland," if you want more proof beside "Super 8." The other kids were all just as good. They reminded me of kids I knew growing up. It was as if Abrams found a group of friends like mine, in a town like mine, and just happened to catch them in the moment of this huge event.
All aspects of this movie are top notch stuff. The editing, fx, sound, score, acting, directing and everything else is excellent.
Super 8 is the movie that has taken me on the best overall experience so far this summer. As much as I'm looking forward to Transformers 3, the final Harry Potter, and a few others, I think this one has taken my memory and imagination to a special place.