Super 8: Review By ZanyZap

Director: J. J. Abrams

Writer(s): J. J. Abrams

Stars: Elle Fanning, Amanda Michalka and Kyle Chandler

The spirit of "Close Encounters," the horror of "War of the Worlds," the heart of E.T." and the charm of "The Goonies" coalesces to create the latest extraterrestrial entry, writer-director J. J. Abrams's "Super 8."

As fun as it is frightening, Abrams's tribute to classic creature scares isn't just about kissing co-producer Steven Spielberg's ass for 112 minutes, although some may make a case for it. Abrams, who directed the "Star Trek" reboot, knows full well the difference between homage and mere imitation; when to cut heavy action with heavy emotional impact; and what's more, how to make a damn good movie. "Super 8" may not surpass the classics, but it certainly joins them in one of the summer's best blockbusters.

"Super 8" follows Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney) and his gang of misfit friends in the summer of 1979. Joe's father (Kyle Chandler), the sheriff's deputy, cannot connect with his son after the death of Joe's mother in a freak accident at the Ohio town's steel plant. He wants Joe to attend a baseball camp; Joe wants to help his best friend Charles (Riley Griffiths) finish his movie (with a Super 8 camera - hence the film's title).

Joe likes building models and acting as a makeup artist and assistant to Charles, and he also likes daughter of the town's troublemaker Alice (Elle Fanning), who Charles has cast as the film's leading lady. Joe fear she's out of his league, but she's not out of the picture - pun intended.

Obsessed with "production value," Charles takes the gang to a midnight shoot at an old train station, where mid-scene, a United States Air Force train derails. Of course the Super 8 catches the crash and something else too (I think you know what!), and from there, the mystery, the action and the drama continues at the speed of, well, a derailed train.

If "Star Trek" showed that Abrams is more than capable of assembling an all-star, ensemble cast, "Super 8" solidifies it. Courtney and Chandler label themselves breakthrough stars in their first ever movie; it looks like they've been in the biz for years. Ryan Lee is hilarious as a goofy tyke with a love for firecrackers and as a zombie in Charles's film. Noah Emmerich as an Air Force colonel ("The Truman Show") and Chandler (of television's "Friday Night Lights" fame) continue to spout top-notch acting skills.

But the movie goes to Fanning, who outshines the rest of the excellent cast with her portrayal of a girl, lost and a tad bit confused. She steals your heart, as well as almost every scene (a scene at the train station particularly). Watch out Dakota; in a sibling rivalry, Elle takes the lead, and hopefully with "Super 8" a few awards too.

The numerous clichés, such as the small town/government takeover, daddy being the town deputy, the strained father/son relationship, the daughter being unable to see the son because of parental strife, are all forgiven, as the story never loses pace and even in its predictability maintains a clever sense of originality, a token to Abrams as a skilled storyteller.

A few have asked about the scares: It's terrifying in the same way "Jaws" (yet another Spielberg film) is terrifying; in that, you are less afraid of the monster than you are afraid for the characters. In that sense, it's very chilling, even compelling.

"Super 8" rises above the sci-fi genre, and even the action genre, for the simple reason that it adds the heart that so many blockbusters miss. It was inspired by numerous titles, and I believe that "Super 8" will now be the inspiration for many more to come.

Aside: Stay for the credits for, as I have mentioned in other reviews, to recognize the hard work of the cast and the crew, and for a little treat - whenever there's a movie within a movie, I am always upset that the movie is never shown. I walked away from "Super 8" very happy.

An Average Joe (ZanyZap) productions