Review of Super 8 (2011) by Brandon S — 01 Jun 2015

As someone who made short films all through high school, no one has ever even come close to this in terms of understanding what it's like to make films as a kid. This is a summer movie unlike any other.

It has the fun and mystery that we haven't gotten since "E.T." and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," but it combines that sense of wonderment with a delightful coming-of-age charm and romance. It's complex, it's nostalgic, and it's insightful.

It's made clear from the get-go that J.J. Abrams was a movie buff as a kid, which no doubt resulted in a slew of movies of his own. Abrams understands what it's like to be a young and aspiring filmmaker, and he hasn't lost that aspiration. It's like he's making the movies he watched as a kid.

This is a summer blockbuster that's packed with action, mystery, humor, charm, and a beautiful adolescent filmmaking spirit.