Super 8 17/08/11

The plot follows a group of teenagers in late 1970s Ohio on their quest to film a super 8 zombie film. This cast of talented youngsters really make the film - their chemistry for a group so young is really very exciting. The reason this film has so much charm is because of their story, relationships, their reaction to the train crash and the events that subsequently follow this. The love story that develops between Joe and Alice is a sweet one and is superbly performed by newcomer Joel Courtney and the delightful Elle Fanning.

It is fairly clear that Super 8 is a bit of a tribute to Spielberg's work such as ET and also pays homage to '80's film The Goonies.

While the younger cast members are the shining stars in this film, believable and heartfelt performances from Kyle Chandler and Ron Eldard musn't go unmentioned as Joe and Alice's fathers respectively.

I don't particularly enjoy Sci-Fi 'alien films', but this didn't feel like one. During the course of the 112 minutes there was a fair amount of genre hopping. The creature seemed to be used as a bit of a back drop to the children's centre stage story and was also quite disappointing in the end. Super 8 is solid even with some slight pacing issues in places. It is touching, funny and heartfelt.

It's not my favourite film of the year thus far, I think this one is for hard core Spielberg fans, but all in all it is definitely an entertaining summer film that isn't ever too deep or heavy and creates a lovely sense of nostalgia.

As the movie finishes we see the gang's super 8 zombie effort in full, and while it would be tempting to say it was better than the film, it wasn't, but it was definitely amusing - giving a nod to young and enthusiatic film fans and makers everywhere it rounds Super 8 off with bundles of geeky charm.

Oh and I checked my phone twice! Not bad in the grand scheme of things!