I like it and I have my reasons

Rating: 7/10 (21 April 2009)

I watched this film on DVD, so I didn't get motion sickness and was able to enjoy it.But I could understand that people who watch it on a large screen may feel very dizzy. I was prepared that this movie may suck after reading some comments here at IMDb.com, but it was better than I had expected.
The film already told us that the guy who holds this camera is not very smart so I didn't expect anything documentary-like or any good cinematography, just some home video that happens to record a monster-attack event in Manhattan. I think that all the characters and their stories are convincing enough. Rob loves Beth so he tried to go back and save her. (I would feel guilty for the rest of my life if I were him and didn't go back to save her.) Hut, the camera holder, was somewhat a stupid and annoying guy but he really does care about Malena. I can feel that in the way he talked to her after the attack happened. So, I did care for these characters, not very deeply, but I did. At least they seem like real people to me.
Next, this film makes me feel like I'm really watching a footage. I think that's one of its best success. The picture blurred and broken at times. Sometimes it was such a big mess and you almost couldn't see anything but chaos. Sometimes you only gets to see unimportant things like people's feet,and you have to use your imagination about what is happening at that moment.But that's what makes the movie feels very real as a footage. I also think the atmosphere look and sound very real (people screaming, crying).
However, there are some points that the film should have done better.The ending wasn't very good. It was too similar to Blair Witch Project. And I wish they could have a bit more explanation about where these monsters or aliens come from and why they attack.
In conclusion, after all the bad comments on IMDb., I just want to say give this film a chance. I wasn't disappointed. My father, 53 years old, who doesn't usually like movie that used hand-held camera, enjoyed this movie and even said that this is a work of art.
Just don't watch it on the big screen, rent a DVD. Be prepared that you're gonna watch something a bit dizzying, and try to use a lot of imagination.