Super 8

Back when Iron Man 2 was out, there was this trailer for a film called Super 8. It involved a train crash, something busting out of a train car and not much else relevant to what the film was about.

Well, flash forward a year, and now you'll know what it's all about.

It's 1979, and Joe's (Joel Courtney) been crushed by his mother's death in a steel mill accident. He spends his time hanging out with his friends filming a cheesy zombie pic. One night, the group assembles at a train depot for a big scene. They think they've struck big when a train passes by. Just as they start filming, the train flies wildly off the tracks thanks to one tough pickup.

At the wheel is their still alive science teacher, Dr. Woodward (Glynn Turman). Why would he do a thing like that? Perhaps it has to do with something the train's been carrying. Something that's been making people and appliances vanish. And something so big that the military's come to town. It's up to the kids to find out the answers.

Conceived by J.J. Abrams, it's intended to emulate the works of its producer, Steven Spielberg. Anyone who's seen The Goonies and E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial should know what to expect.
Those who haven't should try to see at least one of those films.

Instead of a lifeless zombie, this is a lively...well, not a zombie. Its life comes from its ensemble, both kids and adults. The kids, in particular, act like kids and not the products of clueless adults. The adults initially come across as harsh, but when they reveal themselves, the audience can perfectly emphasize with them.

As with Jaws, the nameless alien is actually half-effects and half-camera work. Initially obscured by cinematographer Larry Fong, and enhanced by the two editors, the monster is perfectly scary. When it finally shows up in full force, the tension is not lost. It certainly isn't.

If made in the 1980's, this would've fit right in. But now, it's nice to know that an excellent film such as this can still be made for $50 million. When the no-budget pic finally debuts in the end credits, it makes the experience well worth it.