Cloverfield (2008):

Starring:

Lizzy Caplan - Marlena Diamond

Jessica Lucas - Lily Ford

T.J. Miller - Hudson "Hud" Platt

Michael Stahl-David - Rob Hawkins

Mike Vogel - Jason Hawkins

Odette Yustman - Beth McIntyre

Director:

Matt Reeves (Let Me In; The Pallbearer)

Rotten Tomatoes: 77%

Flixster: 67%

Synopsis:

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.

Review:

Spoiler alert!!!!: It's not Godzilla. But it's close enough. Motion sickness the movie. The film that brought back the found footage, handheld genre from the days of The Blair Witch Project. I honestly love this movie, always have. Saw it midnight showing the night before opening. If you can get yourself past the fact that you are constantly in a state of constant shaking & running while listening to T.J. Miller breath heavily into the microphone as he runs up & down the streets of New York, then your set. I know that was a major factor as to why some people didn't like it. Once you get past the lead acting, the supporting cast is no more than extras running around the streets, people in military fatigues & the odd person with a tiny role with very flew lines. The plot is good because it's all about fear & a terrorizing sense of panic. This movie is of course the brain child of J.J. Abrahms who has a real hold of what modern day films should entail to keep the current crop of movie goers intrigued & excited. The creature itself looks great, some very good CGI. Also involves some pretty incredible sets, including an apartment building that is leaning over into another one. You have a great scene involving the cast climbing across the roof of one building to get into the other, then once they enter the building having to climb around on an angle trying not to fall out of the building. It really is really entertaining, has average acting, it's not terrible, but it's not Oscar worthy. If you haven't seen it, I suggest you watch it.

77%

Lead Actors: 8/15

Supporting Cast: 5/15

Plot: 8/10

Compared To The Genre: 10/10

Cinematography: 18/20

Intrigue: 18/20

Extra: 10/10