J.J. Abrams Is a Wizard

I saw one of my favorite movies today. I didn’t know going in that it would join my Top Whatever, but I new it once the first act wrapped up, and I spent the rest of the running time experiencing a strange combination of emotions: joy at seeing such an amazing film unfold before me, mixed with sheer panic that Abrams might fail to stick the landing.

Well, he didn’t fail.

Super 8 is an amazing movie. Some people have been bagging on it for being a Stephen Spielberg “rip-off”, as if looking to emulate the director of some of the best movies ever made is something to be ashamed of. What do you think Spielberg himself was doing back when he was inventing modern blockbuster filmmaking?

This movie just plain works. It is exciting, sad, full of wonder and terror, and populated with characters made whole with one of the deftest screenwriting hands I’ve seen in ages.

If you love movies, you owe it to yourself to see this one on the big screen, and as soon as possible, before the whole thing gets ruined by a nervous marketing strategy.

See it. If you don’t agree with me, I promise to personally come to your home and watch Tyler Perry’s HI-Larious Black Hijinks with you. I wouldn’t make a promise like that if I wasn’t pretty damn confident that you will love this movie.

Super 8. Good job, J.J. Abrams. Don’t let the haters drag you down. They are jealous of your prodigious talent.