In an homage to both the 'Super 8' camera of the mid-sixties and Spielberg's hits of the late 70's and 80's, J.J. Abrams' self-written and self-directed Super 8 feels like a mixture classics combined into one film.
A lot can be said about the recent state of shows and films that carry the weight of nostalgia and pop-culture references, but Super 8 feels like one of the few to disband itself from the likes of such by understanding the importance of being standalone. Its pop-culture references sit in the background, very rarely thrown into the foreground for the viewer the be fully aware of.
Its narrative isn't particularly amazing, and it features a lot of teasing and build-up that doesn't ever really feel like it's finally released or even necessary; partially, that feels down to the fact that the main story is the kids and their fun friendships that result in them hanging out, attempting to make their own movies with whatever they have at hand. It'll be easy to miss that touch when the moments of teasing occur, and it's likely to distract and have you questioning what the whole point really was at that moment. Super 8 doesn't want to pull you in by telling you of things that you would have seen released around that time; its nostalgia is tied up in the childhood experiences, in a time where you'd be in a constant state of adventure with your friends.
Focusing more on the narrative, though: Super 8 holds a few similarities to Abrams' Cloverfield, released just a few years before. Following a similar monster design, sound, and even references to the film visible in moments. A group of kids are working on a movie one night, when a train at the station derails, leading to an excessive amount of explosions; one kid sees a car crash into the front of the train, having him come to the conclusion that this was no accident. Military force begins to come in and start using their leverage to secure secrecy, but the kids know something more is happening at the site. There's not a whole lot of substance regarding the story, but it remains enjoyable throughout in the moments that it focuses more on the characters, rather the military presence.
It's certainly not going to amaze you, but it's a nice homage to the past in a way that isn't too close to the face.
