Cloverfield is kind of a mix between a Godzilla monster flick and The Blair Witch project. The movie is about Rob who just got transferred to Japan (lucky bastard) and a bunch of his friends get together and throw him a going away party. During which something attacks the city causing mayhem and destruction. The whole thing is is made to look like it was taking on a handheld video camera. So you have a lot of jerky camera work, jump cuts, and footage that was on the tape before.

While the early parts for the film drag a bit once the monster attacks thing rarely slow down and it become less a movie and more of a carnival thrill ride. The special effect are amazingly well done and very realistic, helping to sell the idea that we are watching this as it happens. Some of the critics have panned the movie for some of the visuals being reminiscent of 9/11 footage as the dust and smoke billow down the streets of Manhattan. But, I say that the comparison in only made because the movie take place in New York. If it had taken place anywhere else no one would have even brought up 9/11. Then again if it had taken place any where else I don’t think it would have had the same impact.

I like the movie but it does have it’s problems. The opening makes it look like this is recovered footage that the government now has and states its a digital SD card. Well if that’s true you wouldn’t have the blips to other footage and Rob talking about recording over his tape, so a bit of oops there. I don’t know what kind of camera Rob had but the batteries in it are damm good letting them record off and on for over 6 hours. Also for a bunch of people who are in the worst danger of their lives their language is surprisingly clean I don’t remember hearing the F-word once. Then you got the stupid movie people problem. After they escape the attacked in the subway tunnel Rob uses a crowbar to break into a vending machine, but when they leave the room does he take it with him? No, he does what anyone in a film would do who is running for their lives and leaves a good weapon behind. The one thing they got right though is that something unseen is often make for a scarier movie then a bunch of gore thrown in your face.

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Tags: Cloverfield, handy cam, monster