A refreshingly new style of film

Rating: 9/10 (9 February 2008)

I had no idea what this film was about, apart from seeing a short trailer where the Statue Of Liberty's head is rocketed down the street. Exactly one week after I walked out of the cinema, I have come to the conclusion that it is probably one of my all time favourite movies. Why? Because it's a good, refreshing change. No big movie stars, no cheesy background music, a hand-held cam view (you might feel nauseous for the first ten minutes), and special effects that blend in well with the movie. I'm starting to like this JJ Abrams. Not only has he done the brilliant 'Lost', but there was a sneaky trailer of the next big film that's going to be released on Boxing Day... I won't spoil it for you. The first fifteen minutes of the film is a character building exercise, but it's interesting enough to keep you absorbed, so much so that when the real action starts, you're quite gripped. There was a scene towards the end where my girlfriend was squeezing my leg that hard I didn't notice... I had to concentrate on just breathing properly. The only time I've ever felt tension like that in the cinema is when the T-Rex is chasing the Jeep in 'Jurassic Park'. Cloverfield is how films should be made. The Blair Witch Project attempted this style eight years ago, but I felt that film was hit and miss... Cloverfield is definitely a hit. You MUST see this film at the cinema; I don't think it will have the same effect on your television. However, no matter in what format you watch it, you'll be thinking about it for days after, and when was the last time you did that?