Page 24 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II & III • June 22, 2011 ‘Super 8’ celebrates the wonder of making a movie Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning in a scene from ‘Super 8.’ by Dennis Seuling “Super 8,” the new film from writer/director J.J. Abrams, is ostensibly about a group of Ohio middle school kids dedicated to creating a homemade zombie flick back in 1979. The title refers to the only affordable film format available to young moviemakers at the time. There is a nostalgic feel to the movie as five boys and a girl combine their talents and enthusiasm to fashion an entry with a chance of winning a regional amateur film competition. Late one night, the kids assemble at a nearby train station to film a scene. While they’re at the station, a freight train unexpectedly crashes into a truck that has intentionally been driven onto the tracks. The kids escape the mayhem unhurt, but this is just the beginning of an adventure that will involve them in a real-life mystery. Strange things are happening in their small town of Lillian, including an influx of military personnel who commandeer the site of the train wreck without revealing the purpose of their mission. “Super 8” will remind viewers of a number of movies, chiefly Steven Spielberg’s “E.T.” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” This is no surprise since Spielberg is the film’s producer and a mentor to director Abrams. However, there are also elements of “The Goonies,” “The Lost Boys,” and “Stand by Me” in the film’s portrayal of kids, the way they talk, what excites them, and how they react to extraordinary situations. The boys have the geeky charm of kids who embrace a hobby with all their energies just before they discover the charms of girls. Charles (Riley Griffiths) is the writer/ director, who longs to incorporate “production values” into his low-budget movie. Martin (Gabriel Basso), the tallest, is his leading man. Cary (Ryan Lee), with a mouth full of braces, is the special effects expert who has enough firecrackers and other ignitable substances in his backpack to blow up a house. Preston (Zach Mills) multitasks as extra, grip, and lighting guy. Joe (Joel Courtney), the makeup artist, recently lost his mother in an accident and has a strained relationship with his father, Deputy Sheriff Jackson Lamb (Kyle Chandler). The sole girl in the group, Alice (Elle Fanning), is the romantic interest. The movie resonates with anyone who has ever treasured a collection of comic books, bought endless packages of baseball cards in search of that elusive Mickey Mantle rookie card, savored sci-fi flicks at Saturday matinees, or picked up a camera to make a mini-epic. The movie is as much about the grief and joy of youth as about peculiar happenings in a Midwestern town. The kids seem authentic because they act and speak like real kids. They do not have super powers, they are not wizards, and they cannot travel through time. They are normal kids doing normal things. Abrams makes them so interesting, which is testament both to his writing/directing abilities and to the young actors’ considerable collective talent. “Super 8” is beautifully crafted, and is easily the best of the summer films so far. It has a solid story, fine performances, action, and a nostalgic look back at a summer before cell phones, DVDs, and iPods, when you had to wait three days to get film developed, the Walkman was the newest, most coveted gizmo in America, and drugs were something most kids only heard about in health class. Rated PG-13 for some violence and scary images, “Super 8” celebrates the wonder a child finds in creating make-believe. Please note: Stay seated for a few minutes when the final credits roll. There is a treat in store. 2011 K A S S C H AU �������������������������� ��������������� ������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������� MEMORIAL SHELL ������������������������� ������������������������������� ���������������� � ��������������������������� � ����������������� � �������������������������������������� �������� ����������������� � ��������������������� � ��������������������� � ���������������� � ���������������������� � �������������������� � � ����������������� ����������������� ������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������� ������������������������������������������������� ���������������� � ����������������������������������� � ������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� �������