So you've never been to Coney Island?

Rating: 9/10 (17 January 2008)

"What is Cloverfield?" We've been hearing it for almost 6 months now-although "What is 1-18-08?" was first said till it gained it's titled- but regardless we all wanted to know what Cloverfield was. Today we found out. Sorta.
Cloverfield is the codename given to an incident that occurred in New York city. It's footage recovered from a hand-held camera find in the aftermath of this incident. Its the lives of Rob and his friends as they experience first hand what occurred. It's our gateway to experience what they went through. Its utter brilliance.
It begins a bit like Deathproof, you know that movie that played after Planet Terror in Grind House, the one that not many people stayed to see. Slow conversation, a build up of character, boring blah blah blah BOOM.
Panic and Chaos ensues. Headless statue of liberty, dust, debris and more panic and chaos ensues. So what? Somewhere between all this, however, is a story of one mans journey to find the love of his life. Midway across the city. (One of the major downfalls of this movie. SOOO Cliché!!) But at the same time we're treated to snippets of what this creature looks like, and that it spawns other little demons. So through this first person look we find love of life, run for safety and then end up.... with a awesome shot of creature and then nothing. (Not necessarily, but i don't want to ruin the "ending.") Okay so yes it never really ends. The story of Rob and his friends does, it comes to a complete close, but we never really find out where the creature originated from, (although we are given theories by the funny cameraman, Hud. And who knows, perhaps one of his theories were, but we never find out.) Or what happens after the incident either. It just ends. And some of you might say thats dumb, and I agree but at the same time makes the movie that much more interesting. Why? Let's say a month from now we get a book, or a website, or some other form of 411 giving. An account of what occurred after wards. Wouldn't you go out and buy this book, or visit that website to get the lowdown? We know the tape was found, and we know someone find the tape. So whose to say that the spiffy marketing campaign the movie had, wasn't replicated by the film to, this time promote say-such book. I can't guarantee there will be more but I'm confident there will be. And we're all going to chew it up to learn it all.
So why did I give it a 9? Well, first of all it didn't get a 10 for the clicheness of our hero and for the simple matter that I don't want more later, but now. Aside from that. This movie delivers. It's got a bit of comedy, even when the creature is but a foot away. And it's got a hell of a lot of suspense. It's got terror, as in, "Oh sh!t, I pooped my pants." and it's got some sad moments that makes you want to cry, (not my, chick I went with.) But most of all suspense. (The climbing of the building to find Beth, the roof top scenes that was brilliant.) I just can't wait till tomorrow to see it again, and Sunday to see it once more. And, although the first 15-20 minutes are good for the first viewing, it's get a tad boring. But I do recommend watching it for character development the first time around.
As for the camera and those "users" giving the movie one star based on the nausea they acquired throughout the movie, I didn't experience it. Yes the camera shakes but and we do see some floor, but thats only like 2 minutes combined in the 2 hour movie, (although the ending does show the floor a lot, there is no movement.) It's absurd to give a movie a one star rating just cause it got you dizzy. Reading those reviews I see no mention about the plot or the monster leading me to believe the movie wasn't even seen.
Also, leaving the movie theater a lot of whispers could be heard saying, "Thats it?" I just chuckled to myself and said "It is J.J Abrams." However, even if the movie did have an actual tell-all ending, I think they would of found something else to complain about.
Again, just watch the movie for the movie is like a ride you've never experienced before. You can compare it to the first time you rode a roller-coaster. It begins slow, comes down fast, takes some turns, makes a loop, drops a couple of times and then abruptly ends. You may become sick but your still left wanting more. But there isn't, there's an hour wait for a 60 second ride. And once it's done you have to stand in line and wait some more for the next attraction to experience some more.