I finally saw Super 8 tonight, after hearing so many good things about it. And for the most part, the hype was dead on. As a fan of the genre that is emulated in this film, I thought director JJ Abrams succeeded in bringing back the childhood adventure movie with a fun sci-fi twist. Some might say this movie rips off The Goonies, E.T., or Close Encounters of the Third Kind, but I’d say it’s more of a tribute, with the end result being far better than most brainless drivel that ends up on the big screen nowadays.

Plus, with Spielberg actively involved in the creation of Super 8, no one can say anyone just copied Spielberg. Instead, it was Spielberg helping Abrams to bring the Amblin-era Spielberg style back. And honestly, I don’t care if this film wasn’t entirely unique or original. It’s a fun movie that I’ll be happy to own and watch again. I can’t say it’ll stick with me in the same way The Goonies has, and it likely won’t resonate with today’s younger generation like The Goonies did for those who grew up in the 80s, but Super 8 is still entirely enjoyable.