"Super 8" was written and directed by J.J. Abrams, and produced by Stephen Spielberg. It's the summer of 1979 in Lillian, Ohio, Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney) and his dad, Jack (Kyle Chandler), the town deputy, are coming to terms with a recent family tragedy which has left their relationship strained. Joe and his friends have been making a zombie movie using a Super 8 mm film camera. One night the kids sneak out at midnight to film a scene for the zombie movie, and while filming they witness a horrific train wreck. As the train had been barreling down the tracks, Joe had seen a pick up truck drive onto the tracks and directly into the train's path. As the dust settles, the friends survey the wreckage, and venture toward the metal heap which was the pickup truck, only to find that the driver is still alive and it's a face they recognize, Dr. Woodward, their biology teacher, who pulls a gun on them and warns them to not say a word about what they've seen at risk of endangering their life and that of their family. As soldier's appear out of nowhere and quickly begin to converge on them, the kids make a quick escape with a promise not to say anything to anyone about what they've seen. As unexplained events begin to take place in the small town following the accident, the deputy begins to investigate, doubtful of the story being fed to him by the Air Force, while Joe and his friends question what was on that train, where is it now, and was their teacher trying to destroy it or save it. I really enjoyed this movie. The acting was exceptional, especially the two kid leads, Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning. The movie is action-packed, yet the wonderful acting made me care more about the characters then the explosions. A mix of Goonies, E.T., and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It's sweet, funny, action-packed, and at times thrilling, this is a summer must see.
