Super 8-movie review

So this movie had huge hype over the summer.  I was afraid to watch it because of that.  But I dutifully tuned in so that I may inform the Scifi Media viewing community. 

Plot-  Think district 9 but with only one really cool alien.  It is also set in the 80’s and the feel of the movie is totally Goonies.  This is good, great in fact.  Goonies might be one of the greatest movies with a predominantly adolescent cast.  The fact that this movie hit that note is excellent.  Not only did it remind me of Goonies, but it also reminded me of growing up and the way kids were. 

Characters-  Abrams made these kids shine.  In between lens flares you see these kids being kids.  It doesn’t seem like acting.  Elle Fanning showed her chops early by doing the play within a play at the beginning and totally selling it.  While the plot has been somewhat done before the acting in this movie teamed with scripting and directing makes you connect to these kids.  It made me think of growing up and my friends from that time. 

SFX-  Awesome, no draw back here.  They are well integrated and do not stick out like a sore thumb, well except for the constant lens flares. 

Family fun-  It is violent and a little scary at times, but I watched it with my oldest and she enjoyed it quite a bit.  There was a lot of language in it, but there is some language in Goonies as well, though not nearly as much.

Overall-It was a great movie, maybe the best of the summer.  I would say that 12 and up are good ages for this movie or around the ages of the kids in the movie.  Highly recommended.