(Cover) - EN Movies - J. J. Abrams hopes that Super 8 captures the "spirit" of Steven Spielberg's cinema.

The 45-year-old moviemaker is currently promoting sci-fi thriller Super 8, which he directed and Hollywood icon Steven, 64, produced.

J.J. is a huge admirer of Steven, and hoped to recreate the magic of his hits such as 1982's E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial. That said, he was also careful to add his own unique touch.

"I created Super 8 as a tribute to an era, a feeling, a spirit. The fact that Spielberg was the producer made this tribute more natural for a certain type of cinema," he told France's Les Inrocks.

"These films were supernatural, but the emotional structure of the characters prevailed. All the movies of that era weren't perfect, but their ambition was big.

"I wanted to pay tribute to this genre that Hollywood doesn't produce any longer, while relating my personal experience."

Set in 1979, Super 8 tells the story of a group of pals who notice strange goings on in their small town in the wake of a mysterious train crash. The cast includes teen actress Elle Fanning, now 13, and J.J. was overwhelmed by her talent.

"With Elle Fanning, I was talking about intensity... and other things that you could expect from adults. And she was only 12!" he gushed. (C) Cover Media