From Robert Prentice over at Three If By Space:

Up and Comers to keep an eye on

This movie had many familiar faces but one in particular is going to be a face we will be seeing a lot more of in the near future. Joel Courtney, who plays Joe Lamb, lands his first acting role in Super 8. This movie was Joels first audition and first role as an actor and was called back twice in the same day to read more lines. I must say the casting director made an excellent choice. Many times we find hollywood bringing in actors who are in their 20′s to play characters in their teens because most teens dont have the level of talent or the maturity to pull of the role at hand. Joel had both the skills and the maturity to pull this off. He brought with him what felt like a seasoned actors skill set to the screen and displayed a great deal of emotion and awe that we would expect from someone in their mid twenties. He has already signed on to several more roles in different films and I think we will be seeing a lot more of Joel in the very near future.

From the Fresno Bee: 

"Super 8": Young filmmakers capture a mysterious image. The film has all the trappings of a sci-fi film -- from a mysterious threat to an ominous military presence. Writer/director J.J. Abrams has culled the best paranoia-creating moments from '50s sci-fi movies. It may have all those trappings, but at its heart is a family drama that swirls around Joe (Joel Courtney), a teen trying to deal with the loss of his mother. It's the best blend of sci-fi and family drama since "E.T." phoned home.

The following excellent quote is from Canada's The Globe and Mail article "J.J. Abrams’s Super 8 bears the mark of Spielberg."

In Super 8, Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney, making an impressive debut) has lost his mother to an accident at work, and his father isn’t on Joe’s wavelength. He wants to send the boy to baseball camp. “It’d be good for you to spend time with kids who don’t run around with cameras and monster makeup.” In the Abrams-Spielberg universe, this is a sign that Dad is being unreasonable.

Blacksheep's "best of" contains a review of Super 8. 

Most people expected SUPER 8 to be simple homage to the film’s executive producer, Steven Spielberg, king of the family adventure film. While the influence is undeniable, the execution contains a more modern understanding of emotional communication. Films like E.T. and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND are event pictures that commanded attention but the depth in SUPER 8 is at times completely flooring. For instance, Joe has a crush on a girl he shouldn’t, Alice Dainard (Elle Fanning). Their fathers (Kyle Chandler and Ron Eldard) are messed up and can’t stand each other but these two can’t help but gravitate towards each other. In one scene, while watching footage of Joe’s deceased mother on a projector, Alice says through her tears, “I know I don’t know you at all, even though it feels like I do.” It is as if they’re discovering themselves and healing their hurt right before our eyes. It is truly moving.

SUPER 8 can be called a tribute and be proud to wear the moniker but the truth of it is that Abrams’ latest is a unique experience unto itself. It is often frightening and tense, surprisingly touching and contains some of the most massive special effects extravagance I’ve seen. Perhaps what it shares most in common with Spielberg’s earlier works is that it too demands to be seen and experienced in theatres, sitting amongst family and friends. It is an event that is utterly thrilling and yet somehow manages great insight and comfort as well – a rare feat as I’m sure we can all agree. In the end, watching these kids come of age made me wish my eyes were still just as wide as theirs. Thanks to SUPER 8, for a couple of hours, they actually were.

The Deadbolt has an exclusive interview with Joel Courtney for the DVD release of Super 8. 

Be sure to check it out! There are questions and answers during the interview. 

After making his feature film acting debut in Super 8, Joel Courtney instantly became an up and coming actor to watch. For Joel Courtney and Super 8, which lands on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday, November 22, getting to act in a sci-fi action film directed by J.J. Abrams and executive produced by Steven Spielberg was the opportunity of a lifetime.

In Super 8, Joel Courtney plays Joe Lamb, the lead in a group of kids who shoot their own Super 8 movie but find themselves on the run from a mysterious creature after a train derails in their town. Although the Super 8 kids grow closer as they try to save the town, Joe forms a special bond with Ellie Dainard (Elle Fanning) who shares a similar family history through her father.

Ahead of the November 22 Blu-ray release of Super 8, The Deadbolt went one-on-one with Joel Courtney for an exclusive chat about bonding with the other actors, working with Elle Fanning, how he relates to Joe Lamb, and what it was like to work with both J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg on Super 8.

From the Bowling Green Daily News: 

One of the great joys of “Super 8” is the sense of discovery, so it’s best to leave the plot points to a minimum. Even if you see the big twist coming (and honestly, you probably will), it’s still an enjoyable ride, thanks in large part to Abrams and a very talented young cast. And while the twist is a part of the movie, it doesn’t overshadow the strong human element, which works because of the cast.

Joel Courtney plays lead character Joe, who has recently lost his mother, and is very interesting, reminding me of Sean Astin in “The Goonies.”