Super 8 (2011)

Stylish but barely mediocre overall

Good start, but then it gets ruined

Brilliant and touching

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

It has all the good thing you wants in a good movie. Nice story, great actors, good effects and Lensflare. Who can not like this movie!?

BOTTOM LINE FIRST: I liked it! THE GOOD: Spielberg doesn't disappoint in production values. Abrams keeps his trademark POV action sequences. You may cry during the schmaltzy reunion scene. The logical advance of plot is mainly intact, though holes will naturally occur on a storyline this broad. The cast is pleasant, bringing to life distinct characters that will keep you caring (a VERY important point for me). 1979 setting is realistic enough, including haircuts, vehicles, and so forth, also "breaking the fourth wall" for some Back To The Future memories (and yes, Noah Emmerich will remind you of Biff Tannen). Some very good comedy relief.THE SORTA-BAD: The monster is mostly typical, with the requisite heart of gold misshapen by his human military captors. On the plus side, the monster's situation reflects that of the main adolescent characters. The action scenes, while thrilling, do jump the shark in terms of escape. Quite a few unresolved or scantily-sketched subplots.It's a popcorn movie for sure, with a few deeper moments, but it's very well-done, so it gets a 9. You really can't go wrong.

'Super 8' starts off promisingly enough, but after the initial scenario is set (in spectacular fashion), the film's lack of ideas are quickly exposed and it nose-dives fast. Technically it's very impressive - well produced and the CGI/special effects are excellent and realistic, but visuals only get you so far. When you dig beyond the surface, there's nothing impressive about 'Super 8' at all. It's no different to 90% of other sci-fi films that have come before it.It's a distinctly average sci-fi thriller that borrows virtually all of its ideas from elsewhere. Despite all the action sequences, explosions and other special effects, the generic, shallow plot and uninteresting characters make it a completely forgettable film. The glowing reception it received on release is baffling, especially from the critics. 'Super 8' gets an average 5 from me.

The amazing thing about JJ Abrams is that his tastes are always right on. He knows what to say and how to say it. Super 8 is very much it's own story despite the fact that it pays homage to a Spielberg classic: ET - the Extra Terrestrial.Don't listen to the haters who say JJ can't come up with original ideas. The truth is he can and he does. I felt great sympathy for the main character from the beginning, a very different kind of connection than the audience has with Elliot in ET. Joe Lamb is a 14 year old boy coping with his mother's tragic death caused by the incompetence of a drunk. He copes with it by spending time with his friends as they make a super 8 movie they wish to enter into a local film festival. Charles and the other kids witness a train crash while filming at a station, and afterwards we are in for a hell of a ride.The story ends up being very poignant when the creature looks into Joe's mind and sees that children do not hold prejudice of adults, and this aspect is why I give this movie a 10 out of 10. Bright, solid, and massive. It reminds us that we as adults should strive for this more, and the two fathers of the main characters end up making amends with one another. Thank you JJ for yet another memorable cinematic experience. Rating: 10