This great 'Super 8' review is rated 8!

Plot Summary:
During the summer of 1979, a group of friends witness a train crash and investigate subsequent unexplained events in their small town.

While I saw Super 8 when it was initially released, I haven't really seen it since, which is a crime seeing how much I actually enjoyed it. A lot of secrecy surrounded this film, as it was another monster movie released by J.J. Abrams. Some people even theorized that it was a continuation of Cloverfield. If you look at the second Cloverfield promotional backdrop as well as the Super 8 backdrop...they look very similar:

While they aren't technically related to each other, you might as well call them spiritually related, as they all seem to have mirroring themes...most centered around secrecy, a monster, and trying to hide what it looks like until the end. What sets it apart from each other is Steven Spielberg - who introduces a certain heart and soul to the film reminiscent of E.T. - Extra Terrestrial. Which is clearly why people often call this movie E.T. Meets Cloverfield.

If you haven't seen it, it's about a group of kids that love making movies together, and while they are in the middle of making a zombie flick, something crazy happens and a monster of some sort shows up and stuff starts vanishing. Thanks to Spielberg, the magic and adventure of the kids is ultimately what keeps the movie going, as well as what offers it plot and direction. 

The childlike innocence this film brings creates something both spectacular as well as special. While I wouldn't necessarily call these kids super-memorable - you still remember them like old friends the next time you watch the movie...which is all any movie really needs to do in order to succeed. Their chemistry is both believable as well as alluring - but a lot of that had to do with the art of film.

A lot of J.J. Abrams movies have a certain look and feel to them, and I'm not just talking about a few lens flares. I'm talking about something more. He creates an atmosphere that if anyone else dared to imitate, would result in boring scenes. For J.J., he drowns it in a mystery that never stops. You are immediately pulled into this movie and you don't want to leave. If you have seen the recent Netflix hit, Stranger Things, that too has the same kind of mystical feel that has the ability to take your breath away. Or, if you like older movies, as mentioned above, it clearly feels like E.T. or The Goonies as well. 

"Super 8 is an instant classic that boasts superiority in filmmaking, acting, music, and concept."

This film easily fits in with Cloverfield, 10 Cloverfield Lane, E.T., or Stranger Things. Which is surprising since I haven't really seen this movie in several years - Super 8 is an instant classic that boasts superiority in filmmaking, acting, music, and concept, and is surely not a film to miss. Watch it as soon as possible. Currently, you can catch it on FXNOW for free if you have a cable subscription. SO CHECK IT OUT!