A mix of 1970's kid drama and 2010's sci-fi

Rating: 7/10 (2 October 2013)

At first you couldn't tell if Super 8 was made in 2011 or 1981. The first part of the film is very much like early Spielberg, an obvious tribute to great films like E.T. or Close Encounters of the Third Kind (or non-Spielberg Stand By Me). Super 8 is about a group of kids who want to make a short movie (filming it on super 8 mm film), and we get to know each one of them, their joys and problems. The story is set in the late 70s.
Then the film gradually morphs into a J.J. Abrams film. You get sci-fi jargon, modern CG effects, and alien spaceships. Not unlike in District 9. Suffice to say this film tries to do a lot of stuff at the same time. It sure is interesting to see what 21st century special effects would have looked like in a 70's film - out of place, unsurprisingly.
The kid actors are great, very believable and genuine. The story has its moments but by the end of the film you're just left with the question, "why did they have to go that far?" Subtlety is obviously not Abrams' strong suite.