Excellent Monster Movie

Rating: 9/10 (19 January 2008)

Aside from the very drab first twenty minutes or so (though they bear a striking resemblance to most home videos you would see coming from twenty-somethings...) this movie was very, very well done. The suspense level once things get rolling (literally, the Statue of Liberty's head comes flying down the street) is top notch. I found myself white-knuckled for long periods of time, wanting to see the monster, but not wanting to at the same time because I knew what it was capable of. As for the monster, it was very cool, great design, and HUGE! The special effects for such a smaller budgeted film are awesome and Phil Tippet's studio did a great job on the big monster, along with the mites or whatever they were, that were attached to it. The acting is spotty, but for an unknown cast, pretty well done. The best part about the movie though, is unlike the Blair Witch crap, you actually feel like you are running with the characters and it makes the experience that much more intense. Great movie, great CGI and a fun theater experience. I recommend it to anyone who wants to see America's Godzilla (which by the way, Cloverfield's beast would destroy Godzilla if they ever had to fight!). 9/10 for doing what it was supposed to do: create a fun movie experience.