Now I really don't consider the following to be some preachy soap-box about a movie you should all see because my 'review' is so SUPER... but I happen to hold movies to damn near impossible standards and this one managed to hit all the right marks for me. I could right pages on their fantastic advertising alone, but anyhow:

So I went to the midnight showing of Cloverfield. It wasn't because I am a huge raving fanboi about the movie (although I am), but I just didn't want any spoilers as it has been a rampaging mystery since it's cryptic title-less trailer many many many months ago that showed a camcorder capturing what appeared to be an explosion during a going away party.

It had no title, no clear plot aside from a cryptic explosion. That was the only information released. Later on they added the Statue of Liberty's head rolling through the streets.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IvNkGm8mxiM

That's really all that was said. All that was ever shown. Fans spread what they thought the monster would look like all over the internet and while they were all incredible, they weren't even close.


The movie was shot with that annoying 'shaky cam' effect that saturated Saving Private Ryan and The Blair Witch Project, however as much as I LOATH the effect... I felt it was more than justified and actually made the movie better overall. It's sad, but true. The entire movie is pretty much us watching a tape that the government salvaged. For once, it felt good to not be the omnipotent spectator and actually be out of the loop. It was new, refreshing and when a character got 'attacked' you actually gave a damn instead of 'hey, they just got attacked. ok. neat I guess'.

The pace of the movie was brilliant and it's one of the first movies where I quite literally was on the edge of my seat. You could hear people and friends mutter "holy shit" and even catch the few curled up into their chairs during some hard-to-stomach moments.

I can't say I've seen a better sci-fi movie to date. I was floored, impressed, and confused. There are subtle things in the background that are easy to miss and I will find myself paying admission a second time just for another chance at them.



Take my opinion with a grain of salt, if you are looking for a reference on where the movie stands in terms of personal tastes... some of my favorite movies include:

Horror: Alien (there is never a close 2nd. the end)
Fable: The Legend of 1900
Drama: The Thomas Crown Affair, Memento
Action: Enemy at the Games, The Matrix, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Rock, Tombstone (to name the most recent)
Comedy: Army of Darkness, Mystery Science Theater 3000 (Good comedies are hard to remember)

And well, there are tons of movies I just felt were 'better' than the rest. Lady in the Water, Harsh Times, Lord of War, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Berrels/Snatch, Children of Men, The Usual Suspects, Suicide Kings, The Prestige, yadda yadda yadda.