As “slobbering fanboys” of J.J. Abrams, we’ve been looking forward to “Super 8″ since the moment we first heard about it last year. Written and directed by Abrams, and with Steven Spielberg aboard as executive producer, the movie has been shrouded in secrecy and promoted with an air of mystery. Now that “Super 8″ has finally hit the big screen, was it worth the wait?
We think so. “Super 8″ is at once an unapologetic tribute to classic Spielberg films like “E.T.,” “The Goonies,” and “Close Encounters,” as well as a straight-up, full-bore alien-slash-monster flick. It’s a touching coming-of-age story, fortified with a healthy serving of explosions and gotcha moments. Although the alien-slash-monster plot fell just a little short, the spectacular young cast made up for it with more than enough heart.