A shot in the arm of cinema; an amazing achievement

Rating: 9/10 (2 February 2008)

Wow. That's largely how I can sum up this movie. Wow.
I was worried about spoilers and, whipped up into the viral marketing frenzy, trotted off to see this movie as soon as was out. Funnily enough there's not a lot be spoilt about. The trailer showed you the Statue of Liberty's head being smashed off as something attacks New York, and that is pretty much it. What it at excels at though, and what could not really be spoiled by spoilers, is the way the film is executed.
The story is slightly slow in the setup because you sit there thinking "get exploding!" but then it grabs hold of your hand and yanks you from scene to scene. Never letting up. I have not been that on the edge of my seat in ages. Goose bumps were on my arms as the film progressed, and as it brought you into the characters' lives so expertly that you start to forget that it's a film.
Well maybe that's a bit of hyperbole, to forget that it's a film, but it's so nice to have such a raw film that doesn't have the trappings of normal big movies. No music, no familiar faces... it really did allow one to be swept up in. And it's only when I watch this that I realise how much stuff is added to the average movie that breaks the suspension of disbelief. It's as if Cloverfield stripped away all the tricks of a normal film, and took you to the raw story. It almost makes me annoyed at all the other false, packaged movies out there! Even (I realise this is a weird example, but I feel it sums it up well) they walk through some doors and they are covered in fingerprints. In any movie they'd be polished to the hilt, to ensure they look perfect on screen and to ensure everything looks 'right'. But this is about realism, that someone truly has just grabbed a camera, and it adds to that feeling of reality. It's so nice to have none of the normal trappings of star names, orchestral scores and poncy director camera work.
Sadly not everyone gets this. I notice some reviewers criticising the movie for not saying where the monster came from etc. That's a typical response created by movies as they are. They must be flawless, and structured, and answer things. People want them to lead them from A to B to C and tell them that Mr Bad did it, and Mr Bad dies when Mr Good kills him. Films must be able to do what we can't do as humans... go to places quickly in the next frame, invade people's lives like a fly on the wall. Whereas Cloverfield does away with all that. It treats you as if you were there, and you will get NO special treatment because you're watching a movie. It's what makes the movie.
Being swept into caring about the characters is quite gradual too. I didn't realise it was even happening, but as it goes on you do increasingly care for them. Their shock and horror is felt by you. And by the other audience members too, I could hear gasps and shouts in the audience as they like me got swept along.
It continues this great pace and involvement right up to the end. I was worried about how it would end, but much like the rest of the movie it was done superbly. The ending was sublime, so well done, and a great end to a great cinema experience.
My final comment is to watch this in the cinema. If you watch it at home, in your comfortable home, with lights on, and you pause it to get a drink etc. you'll ruin the atmosphere. Watching it at the cinema thrusts you in it. The pace is set, and you can't stop it. And there was something about the tone of the film that really suited watching it with strangers all around me. So please, watch it in the cinema and be prepared for one of the most thrilling films to grace our screens.