Cloverfield -review-
As to be expected for this highly anticipated film the theater was full of Monster Movie fans. Fans who scoured the Internet for every little puzzle piece clue to this hush-hush movie, where even the official name was not known for quite a long time. J.J. Abrams newest release just like Lost had interconnected web sites that deliver out of movie/TV content & story.
The premises for this movie is that this film has been found by the government during the recovery after a catastrophe has happened in Manhattan. The video is being made by a group of friends who are celebrating their good friend leaving to head off to Japan to start a new job. When the celebration is cut short by the attack of Manhattan by a monster of unknown origins. The partiers continue to film so as to document their exodus of the danger with the thought that others would want to know what happened.
Cloverfield is slow in getting to the action and the monster. This time is given over to letting you get to know the characters so that you care about the paths & turns they take in escaping. The camera work fits with the concept of recording on the run, to the point that the fast movement & unfocused moments that even those that are immune to sea sickness may find they wished they had taken Dramamine before the movie started as they walked out. Cloverfield has explosions, chases, military action, falling buildings, daring escapes, a touch of love & much monster destruction.
Those that went into the movie looking for a Monster Movie showing the destruction of Manhattan will be disappointed. Those that are wanting a story about people & their relationships as they deal with exiting a world of massive destruction with be pleased.
