Super 8

Super 8 (2011)
Directed by J.J. Abrams

I have probably seen Super 8 at least ten times already, in big theaters, small theaters,  in IMAX, and on cable, but I just recently got my own copy of the film on DVD. What better way to spend a lazy saturday than by rewatching great movies?

One of my favorite things about Super 8 is how much I can personally relate to the film.  My mother is alive and the small town I grew up in doesn't have any aliens, but I grew up making films with my friends, admiring Spielberg and Abrams, and I definitely get turned on by girls in zombie makeup.  Although my experiences were much different than Joe Lamb's and Abrams', the film still elicits some great memories from my childhood.

And I think that is the greatest strength of the film.  Yes it tells an intriguing story of a group of kids, a small town, and a lonely alien; yes it tells a painfully beautiful story of loss and acceptance; and yes it has the most amazing special effects ever seen in a $50 million film, but it's greatest strength is its ability to connect people of all backgrounds, generations, nationalities, and socio-economic status through common childhood experiences.

Let's call it a modern Goonies. Amirite?

5 out of 5 stars
Viewed May 19, 2012.