Super 8

Super 8 (2011)
Directed by J.J. Abrams. Starring Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, and Kyle Chandler

Now this is a horse of a different color! Super 8 is a blockbuster that doesn't feel like one; a contemporary film that looks like it was made 20 years ago; a Steven Spielberg -produced film that reads like it was directed by him. Super 8 shows that, for someone who's only directing his fourth film (if I counted correctly), J.J. Abrams is turning out to be quite a masterful creative figure in Hollywood.

It makes complete sense that Spielberg is attached to this film... in many ways, it's surprising it's not HIS film. Super 8 is equal parts Close Encounters, Jaws, and E.T., mixed and stirred with a bit of modern CGI and Cloverfield-esque monster magic mixed in. I love the way Abrams teases the monster movie conventions, treating it much like the shark in Jaws, delaying showing us the alien in full until most of the way into the film. And when do you see the monster, I found it all the more satisfying that Abrams took advantage of modern movie magic, creating an intriguing and "real" looking monster so much more than Spielberg was able to do in Close Encounters. The kids, of course, come straight out of E.T., or any other film from the 70s and 80s. The moment you see one of them grab a bicycle, you can't help but chuckle at the reminder of that classic film -- particularly after the Spielberg logo at the beginning.

I hope the Hollywood industry as a whole pays attention to this film. It seems to be both critically and popularly appealing and, overall, seems to have been praised. I love that Super 8 proves that a tent-pole picture doesn't have to be a sequel or part of a franchise, needn't feature a Hollywood A-lister, and can be enjoyed all the more for not being aimed specifically at the average 12 to 24 year-old male demographic. It has something for everyone... nostalgia for childhood, humor, mystery, characters you become invested in, a few thrills, epic CGI explosions and one heckuva creature.

In particular, I really enjoyed the relationships between the characters. These are young actors -- for some, but not all, this is their breakout role. The lead, in particular, Joel Courtney, is someone you quickly come to care about. He brings to life the budding relationship between his character and Alice with a sincerity that is impossible not to love. Furthermore, the male friendship between the whole group of young boys is superbly done. The way they chatter away at the same time, teasing and complaining, talking excitedly and telling the others to "shut up!" seems genuine and true to life.

Both related and unrelated to this film, I highly recommend you view this talk, which J.J. Abrams gave for TED a few years ago. Not only is it inspiring and interesting, but it is made all the more fascinating in conjunction with this, Abrams' latest film.

There are a lot of choices in the summer months, and if you don't want to head to the theaters, for every release, you have to pick and choose. Pick this one. You won't be disappointed.