Movie Review: Cloverfield

This movie just came out on DVD yesterday, and I received it in the mail via Blockbuster yesterday and watched it. It's been awhile since I've done a full movie review, but this one was surprising good to warrant one (plus, I need to post this week). Let's hit the highlights.

Plot: A creature attacks NY. The movie is the footage from a personal camera found in Central Park.

Starring: A bunch of people you have never heard of. However, I didn't argue with this casting (Jessica Lucas).


Review: The film starts at a going away party, and the camera is used for "testimonials" and "documentation". After about 15-20 min. of character introduction and development, the poop hits the fan. From this point on, the next hour or so is nothing short of a tense, edge of your seat ride. Despite the overall serious mood, the person doing the camera work (a character known as Hud) serves as narrator and might be one of the most socially inept people ever. This serves for some funny lines in grim situations. The creature is very interesting and certainly scary. In one of the featurettes on the DVD, the use of the monster was treated as playing "peek-a-boo" with a 30 story monster. That's an accurate description of how the monster makes appearances in the film.

I do have some complaints though. The characters decision making is certainly questionable. I forgive this to a point. Seriously, if you buy a monster attacking NY, then 20-somethings not thinking straight is certainly more believable. The dialogue is questionable, but again in the situation (real-life) it can work. My biggest complaint is true for nearly all movies with this film style (aside from shaky camera...which wasn't terrible on my TV...certainly worse for those that saw it in theaters). [Potential SPOILER] That complaint is already knowing the fate of characters whenever footage is "found".

Final Analysis: 4 out of 5 stars. Highly recommend viewing, certainly one of the most unique films I've seen in a while.

Want to see the monster? Scroll down for a pic.

















Did you really think I would give that away? I wouldn't want to ruin the suspense. Check out the movie.