When I saw Super 8, the first thought that went through my mind when the movie was over was "big on heart, short on plot." I thought the ending was REALLY rushed (if this story doesn't happen at all, like if the kids never make it to the alien ever and just are 100% not involved, doesn't the alien just get in his ship and leave on his merry way all the same? Like, how did the children affect anything at all short of rescuing a few random people from the town they didn't even know?) and the plot was rather thin in general. Having said that.... I agree that the acting was exceptional and emotional, ESPECIALLY considering they were all children.