SUPER 8 is one of those films.

Masterfully directed, beautifully written and incredibly acted it truly is a perfect storm of genre geek coolness.  SUPER 8 is a love letter to those of use who grew up in middle America dreaming of heading off to the big city and making our own film.  I don't know how it was in your town but here in good old North Canton, Ohio (very much like the made up town of Lillian, Ohio from the film) weekends were spent hanging out with buddies and when not watching the latest horror flicks we passed the time reenacting them.  To this day I can remember hanging out at the neighbors from dawn till dusk and yes we had a super 8 camera and yes we made little films.  We also did plays for our elderly neighbor.

Sitting in that darkened theater this afternoon I was literally transported back to that time in my life and I was completely lost in the moment.  I was one of the little gang on screen; I shared in their adventure.

Not all of you are going to experience the film in that same fashion.  This film was tailored to those of us who came of age in the 70's, before computers, before cell phones, before you couldn't wander from your home and fear of not returning.  Used to be not only was your home a safe haven your entire town was a safe haven; you could bicycle across town to your friends and not have to worry about it.  Things are different now, not better just different.  Nothing makes that point better then this film.  Damn, I miss those days.

I'm going to try and discuss this amazing film without giving away too much but just in case, consider yourself SPOILER WARNED!

In a nutshell SUPER 8 tells the story of a group of friends that while on summer break from school are working on a SUPER 8 film that is going to be entered into a local talent competition.  It's a zombie movie and the gang is hard at work filming at a local train station when a train derails and all hell breaks loose.  There was something in the train, it's pissed and now it's loose in the town.

The beauty of SUPER 8 though is that all of that is actually not what's important.

Sure, it's a monster movie and a damn fine one at that but more importantly; it's a life tale.  The film opens with tragedy and ends with redemption.  It's a story about loss and love.  It's about misunderstanding and forgiveness; it's about making mistakes and learning from them.  It's about friendship and family and how we can all be at our best when things are at their worst.

There are many, many incredible moments in SUPER 8 and the bulk of them happen when Elle Fanning is on screen.  What a monstrous talent this young woman is.  The scene where Alice (Fanning) and Joe (Joel Courtney) are watching home movies in his room is pure magic.  I'm sure I'm going to take crap for this but I don't mind telling you that the scene made my eyes well up.  It is one of the most moving moments I have seen in a film in recent memory.

I know it will never happen but for my money Elle Fanning deserves an Academy Award nomination, she is that good.

SUPER 8 is J.J. Abrams hitting on all cylinders and when he hits his stride amazing things happen.  He has managed to incorporate a moving message into an all out balls to the walls monster flick that entertains as it teaches and dazzles while it quietly embraces.  The film touches your heart while blowing your mind.

So often genre films fail to find their message, they lose their way while trying to straddle that line between being scary or gross and telling a good story, Abrams tames that line and brings us all a truly special experience that I for one will never forget.

Do yourself a favor and when you see the film, hang around through the credits.  When all is said and done they end up showing the short film that the kids are working on throughout the film and it is great.

So, did I like it?  Duh, I freaking loved it.  I haven't seen a movie more than once in a theater in over 20 years (I think the last one was Die Hard) but I'm going back for another visit to Lillian, Ohio.  I enjoyed revisiting those days, I miss them and I want more.