Super 8

*****
Dir. J.J. Abrams

Explosive, cinematic, brilliant. Amidst all the big blockbusters this summer, I was really hoping for a solid, original story. This film reminds me why I love movies.

From visionary writer/director J.J. Abrams, Super 8 tells the story of a group of middle-schoolers making a movie for their friend Charles to enter in a film contest. As they're shooting near a railroad track, a sudden and massive explosion sets them on the journey of their lives. A series of strange events take place following the crash, and they become entangled in an extraterrestrial plot which transforms these kids into a band of unlikely heroes.

While the film involves aliens and science-fiction, the emphasis is on the human spirit. The main character Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney) has a strained relationship with his father (Kyle Chandler), a deputy sheriff, following the tragic death of his mother. The scenes between them are some of the most compelling, and they play a pivotal role in the conclusion.

Then there's the kids. Each have unique and corky personalities which culminate into an array of subplots which enhance the story. Joel is the somewhat quiet special effects guy; Charles is the chubby and bossy young filmmaker. There are others who provide both humor and contribute to Abrams' spirited vision.

Abrams is a gifted storyteller and filmmaker. The way he manipulates viewers and utilizes the cinematography is what makes this movie so intriguing. Following the structure and pacing of a classic Spielberg film (which is cool since Spielberg is a producer of this film), Abrams not only tells a terrific and original story, but manages to instill a sort of youthful spirit within viewers. This method invokes a passionate response among a wide range of audiences.

I also loved how the human conflicts paralleled that of the extraterrestrial Cooper (voiced by Bruce Greenwood). Both the main character Joe and Cooper are incredibly misunderstood, which makes the scene between them in the end so emotionally gripping.

And one of my favorite moments in the film is at the very end (I wanna avoid spoilers so I'm not gonna tell you what happens). Michael Giacchino's score has such a powerful effect, and it compliments the incredible cinematography displayed in the shot. While this film had some unnecessary language, Abrams' vision for it made it one of the year's best.