I stand duly corrected about the time period. Ooops. In that case, I think the Rubik's Cube is a lazy error that should have been avoided. But what really took me out of the time period, almost right away, was one of the kids saying "whatever" with a clear '90's inflection as one of his first lines.
That kind of stuff bugs me. Oh, it's ALL over X-Men: First Class, which is horribly lazy about its early 60's time period in just about every way.
But I suppose things like that creep in, and it's rare period piece that's totally free of anachronisms. Super 8 sure isn't bad in that regard. It in no way detracts from its considerable charms.
It was undoubtedly easier capture the era of the late '70's/early 80's when Speilberg made his films IN that time period - - but one of his greats of that day, Raiders of the Lost Ark, does not - to me at least - reveal any jarring anachronisms of it's pre-WWII period setting.
And all in all, what I take away from Super 8 is that Abrams is no Spielberg, and he should not try to be. But his obvious affection for the source material of this and his last film (Star Trek)
does work in his favor in establishing a fantastic mood and overall feeling that serves him well in these nostalgia projects.
I'd like to see him move on to something more forward looking though.