Surprisingly fresh telling of an oft told tale

Rating: 7/10 (26 January 2008)

Aside from a generation Y kick off with its overblown and far too long set up, this movie is a surprisingly refreshing telling of what is now a well worn plot line revolving around the destruction of iconic landmarks with humanity against all odds. The effects are solid without being overblown; and the performances of what seems a young and relatively unknown cast are measured: happily the director did not resort to cheap hysteria; the reactions of players of confusion and aimlessness are totally believable. The film has a relentless inevitability which kept me on the edge of my seat. The star of the turn is however the hand held camera which adds fearsome grit. Add to this the dialog which is almost wholly plausible; credible and chillingly convincing pandemonium which engulfs the citizens of Manhattan when they realize what lies ahead, and you have a well told yarn; which could well be the "Alien" for the new century.