[Cloverfield]
Plot:Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives.

Cast:Michael Stahl-David, Odet Yustman, Jessica Lucas Mike Vogel, Lizzy Caplan, Greg Grunberg.

My Thoughts:Better than alot of big budget monster movies.

Review:Studios usually sink millions upon millions of dollars into a monster movie. I mean look at "Godzilla", "Independece Day", etc. "Cloverfield" however was made on a modest budget from what I've heard and read, and without breaking the bank...the film still managed to end up being a whole lot better than most big budget studio monster movies. The film introduces the characters of Rob and Beth first, and although we're led to believe that they are more than just friends, the already infamous party scene which follows pretty much sets up the scenario of Rob and Beth being friends who had relations and then their friendship became weird and awkward.

Pretty much a situation most people can relate to. This is an underlying theme during the scene of Rob's surprise party where a few other people show up such as Rob's brother Jason, Marlena (Lizzy Kaplan), Lily (Jessica Lucas), and one of his other friends Hud. The movie makes sure not to rush itself too much, really reeling in the viewer during the party scene before that infamous roar sounds like a deadly trumpet, and the nightmare known as "Cloverfield" begins. Seeing this scene at the theater is alot more effective than seeing it online in one of the films many trailer sor one clips, and once things move from inside the party to outside on the streets, the scenery and the action become even more surreal.

Writer Drew Goddard really does an excellent job of kicking the film into high gear from the moment the monster comes on shore and begins wreaking havoc in Manhattan. There really isn't any lull in between the action after Rob's party is suddenly interrupted, so my advice to anyone seeing this movie would be to get your snacks and whatever during the party scene because once the party scene ends the film goes on a non-stop thrill ride for the entire duration, and you're sure not to want to miss a moment. "Cloverfield" really makes sure to also keep the viewer intrigued as well as a bit on edge.

We don't find out what the monster is, or really see it in full view early on, but we do get alot of scenes where it wreaks havoc from underneath things or from behind buildings. We do get glimpses of the monster through gunfire, explosions, and smoke which are very much present in this movie. Once the creature hits Manhattan and starts tearing shit up, the military immediately shows up to take it on and there are many scenes where the troops are shown going head to head with the beast.

The actors in the film play their parts really well, and as a viewer, you actually kind of feel a connection with them on a certain level. But then again, that could just be the New Yorker in me talking, but Beth, Rob, Hud, Lily, and Marlena are certainly very likeable characters. Even though they do have their semi-annoying moments like Hud's penchant for saying the wrong things at the wrong time, and Marlena's neverending scarcasm...even in the face of danger.

Matt Reeves who directed the film really does an excellent job of catching all of the actin in some very impressive and edgy angles, making sure to give the viewer a look at everything that is happening in each scene, especially the ones where the group of Rob, Hud, Marlena, and Lily who make it their mission to get to Beth's place and save her...come into contact with the huge monster laying watse to Manhattan, or the smaller monsters which it drops from it's body as it moves along. The smaller monsters are just as deadly as the big kahuna himself, and really add a new dimension of fear and danger to the movie.

One scene in particular in the subway tunnels is one of the pics best scenes involving the smaller critters. Along with feeling for the characters, the situation they're going through, and the people they lose along the way...you like I did, will probably find yourself getting very caught up in the surreal sceneries and sights of this film. Just watching this huge creature destroy things, devour people, and smash everything in it's path as the military throws everything it has at it is really the bread and butter of this movie.

And surrounding it with a human story about a group of friends and their own ordeal caught on camera, just makes the movie that much better. Despite it's one or two slight weaknesses,"Cloverfield" is a terrific film. A film which runs only about 84 to 90 minutes, but sends the viewer out of the cinema feeling like they've just been through a 2 hour and 10 minute thrill-ride. It's truly the embodiment of the movie going experience that we all pay so much for.

Positives:Great performances, likeable characters, awesome monsters, very surreal and realistic chaos and destruction scenes.

Negatives:Nothing major.

Overall:Excellent film.





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