Everything I hate about modern monster films

Rating: 3/10 (2 February 2008)

Every annoying action/horror film making cliché in the book
Cameras moving too quick to see what's happening - Check Filmed in the dark to prevent a good look at the creatures - Check Endless stupid, irritating screaming - check Camera-work jerky enough to give motion sickness - check Massive hype, underdelivered - check Vacuous, superficial American "stars" - check Unsatisying plot with sequel-ready, vague open ending - check 20 minutes of unrelated, wasted lead-in - check Frequently blurry, out of focus shooting - Check Long periods when the camera is pointing at nothing at all - check
People keep pointing to Blair Witch (which I loved), as justification for this stupid hand-held camera look, but that style has had its day, and even then it was done better and was more appropriate.
Are we seriously supposed to believe that in all of New York, the best camera footage available was from some loud mouthed 20 something, and that miraculously, it was even found at all, amidst all of the devastation?
The medium for movies is film, and to make it look like really poor quality film, is as stupid as choosing to listen only to poetry read by someone with a chronic speech impediment. It was a clever novelty once - even arty - but it really infuriates when it prevents you from appreciating what is happening.
It was bad enough that Robert Rodriguez made Planet Terror look like it was filmed in the 50's, but Cloverfield just S.U.C.K.S sucks!
Whilst the film is a REALLY great idea, I just don't feel that it delivered enough answers for all the build up, nor enough decent views of the creatures to satisfy sci fi or monster fans. Personally I find unresolved suspense extremely annoying, and this film simply left me feeling cheated.