Slice of Life Revival of the Monster Movie

Rating: 9/10 (19 January 2008)

The mark of a great film is when the audience can't stop talking about it when they walk out of the theater. Cloverfield certainly delivers in that area, combining electrifying effects, great character development, and a unique point of view that brings a sleeping genre back to life in a stunningly real way.
I was definitely foaming at the mouth for the 18th to roll around so I could catch this film on opening night, and it was well worth the wait. The most remarkable aspect of this movie was the realism. Shot entirely from a first-person perspective, I caught myself trying to get a better view right from the edge of my seat. I was afraid the hand-held camera would take away from the experience, but it only made it better. The visuals are on the cutting edge of Hollywood realism and you can't help but ask yourself how it was done, as much of the green-screen work looks perfect. When it comes to special effects, Cloverfield is a 10.
The downfall of this genre is typically a perspective that gives away too much. Cloverfield is simply a slice-of-life. There's no explanations, no resolutions, just a few hours of an experience that leaves its mark. The characters are easy to relate to, and the dual plot gives resonance to it's realistic charm. The beginning wets the appetite just enough so that when the action starts, you almost weren't expecting it. This isn't a hero film though, it's too honest to try and be more than it is; it just gives us enough to leave us wanting more. The only thing I found to fall a little short was the length of the film - it's only 80 mins and my audience really wanted more - to the point were they were yelling at the screen and calling for a sequel.
I think Cloverfield has set the bar much higher when it comes to indie-style films that tackle a major Hollywood trademark. The effects, character realism and point-of-view that includes the audience in the action hasn't been done this well before. The movie is fun, scary, flows well and definitely kept my attention right through to the end. Big recommendation on seeing this in the theater to get the full experience.