Super by name & Super by nature!!

Rating: 7/10 (6 November 2011)

Super 8 is a fantastic combination of two wonderful creative minds, that of J J Abrams and Steven Spielberg, and although the ending is slightly questionable, overall this movie is enjoyable.
The narrative is set in a small town in Ohio. It's 1979 and Joe Lamb is trying to cope with the recent death of his mother. Led by his best friend Charles, Joe and the rest of his friends immerse themselves into creating a horror film. On the night of their first big film shoot, they witness a train crash and pretty soon, the small town in which they live becomes taken over by a military presence, and what is actually happening in the town remains a mystery.
Super 8 contains all the elements needed to be successful; it is emotional, funny, and thrilling. Lets not forget also the presence of the unknown 'monster,' which is lurking nearby. The characters are believable and portray a certain innocence. One other important factor is that they have chemistry, which is not all too familiar from that in The Goonies. As a member of the audience you can fully engage with the characters, and not to mention the budding romance between Joe and Alice. There are also some amazing sequences; my favourite being that of the train collision. I thought it was truly breathtaking the way it was put together and the CGI is done to perfection.
This film kept me very entertained, mainly due to its solid direction, accomplished performances and exceptional screenplay. Unfortunately, they just didn't seem to be able pull all of the plots elements together, which led to flat ending. Questions are left unanswered and the movie has a sudden ending, after building up to a heightened finale.
Super 8 can definitely be seen as a tribute to the classic films directed or produced by Steven Spielberg, in which normal life was contrasted with some unprecedented phenomenon, which usually is explored through the eyes of kids. There may not be anything original about Super 8, but this movie brings you back to the good old classic times. If you enjoyed ET, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Goonies, or in fact Cloverfield then you should definitely give it a watch.