Was wishing for magic, got mag.....

Rating: 8/10 (23 April 2013)

The Short: Extremely engaging, a solve the mystery as it happens style story, brilliant action scenes, massive production value, and just an overall excellent story.
The bad: One actor is just there for comedic effect, despite being a somewhat major character, and certain minor elements are a stretch.
The Full Review:
Abrams is the new king of Sci-Fi. I felt this way after I saw Star Trek, but now it is official. I connected with my inner 12 year old after Super 8.
Super 8 is unlike anything in recent memory because of the fact that it succeeds in being original. It just doesn't start out with ambitions of being great, like most summer films. It develops so well and is told in such a masterful way that it truly succeeds in being one of the most engaging films ever.
The cast is fantastic. It is filled with a colorful characters, all of whom are very likable and have great moments (except the shop salesman). Abrams utilizes a great cast of kid actors that truly stand out from other films. The relationships between these characters grow more and more, and there are some truly some surprising performances from the actors.
What makes Super 8 so entertaining is the way Abrams blends different film techniques that truly connect with audience. Abrams uses a perfect combination of dialogue and story, which connects so well with the audience, and huge, explosive (did I mention huge?) action moments to blow your face off. The sound is big, and the action is bigger, and there are some excellent scares to be had.
Some elements aren't explained enough and they lose their effect (specifically the dogs) but other than a forced performance and the dogs, Super 8 concludes in an excellent way, and everything connects perfectly. If you pass up Super 8, for whatever reason, you are missing an excellent film. Whether you like Sci-Fi or not, Super 8 is original Science Fiction at its best. The storytelling follows in the footsteps of the legendary Steven Spielberg (who actually co- produced Super 8) and the action is Abrams-branded and kicked into high gear. It is absolutely entertaining and is thought provoking at the same time. Which is a Super reason to love Super 8.
8/10