Cloverfield Review

It can be said as the first most anticipated blockbuster movie of the year 2008. Cloverfield started out a year ago a secretive movie project, codenamed "01.18.08." by the director, Matt Reeves -fueled by a rather smart online marketing ploy involving a soft drink and "leaked" info and pics. Even though hardly anything know about this movie apart from the official poster, trailer and casting, the movie was hyped to the stratosphere by the movie fans online.

So how was the movie fare to the audience when it was finally released a few days ago. For me, this monster movie really doesnt deserved the hype it created. No, it not a bad movie, just it can be better especially the storyline. More on that later.

Cloverfield was shown like viewing though a hand held video camera. It's about a group of friends in Manhattan, New York, planning and video taping a surprise farewell party for Rob Hawkins, who was going to Japan to hold a high ranking job. This previously upset his girlfriend Beth McIntyre , who did show up in the party but in the end left after a argument with Rob. It beginning to feel almost like a romantic comedy scenario when suddenly things gone very bad. A Godzilla-sized monster appeared and went on a unstoppable rampage through Manhattan. Worried about Beth's safely, Rob, along with a couple of close friends, set out to her apartment miles away to rescue her.

Technically, the movie really shine here. The "Blair Witch Project" camera view throughout the movie really get u into the action. You almost feel you were there with the characters, living through their most intense and dangerous moments of their lives. Still, the jerking and spinning around of the view can really put off some people. While people like me, who clocked hundreds of hours playing first person view video games (Half-Life, Quake, Halo etc) can truly enjoy the experience.

The SFX department really work hard to bring the monster to live and create the destruction it brought. The creature was far more intimating and invincible than the Hollywood version of Godzilla. And those little things it spawn really reminded me of Starcraft's zerdlings. How cool is that.

Still, great SFX doesnt make great movie and storywise, there a lot of work to be done. While the flow of plot was rather good, there a lot of loose ends. The whole plot was too generic if u ask me- boy and friends find girl, one by one friend drop death, boy finally found girl, tragic twist in the end etc etc.

By the end of the movie, it may leave you feeling unsatisfied which many of the audiences did. I got the feeling this movie act like a introduction to a sequel. Well, that's what i think. It a decent movie and one of the best monster ride out there nonetheless.