Amazing

Rating: 8/10 (28 January 2008)

Well, It's been out now for a week. it's no secret what I thought of the film. I caught the premier of it in a Midnight showing. The theater was packed.
It kept me up and interested. To see a monster attack a city, as a spectator, as it happens in real time, is a stroke of genius. The movie made something seemingly simple, look real. To see a hand held camera spin, to catch a building falling is an awesome feat. When The camera spins pointing down a side street, to pick up an image of army men, using crowd control tactics, with mobs of people, it adds a feeling of reality and urgency to the document.
One of the most surprising moments for me, was the end credits! A list of production people, a mile and a half long, gaffers, electricians, set designers, wardrobe. How can that be? the film was shot with a hand held camera, by an amateur. The illusion is that good. Then there is the technique of storytelling. The camera is there at the dramatic personal moments, When the guy is talking to his girlfriend, the close up is on his face and conversation, but when it is done, the person holding the camera backs off, with a gesture that reminds us that it is a friend holding the camera.
The conventions of film making are cleverly skirted. The Jump cut is achieved by turning the camera off momentarily. Thus running up thirty six flights is shortened in cinematic ways, yet in a natural style. Things like this make the movie an outstanding feature. The shortcomings however were with the Monster itself. I respond half jokingly that it should have been a Mega. (Check out my Mega Boy photoshoped pictures over at "teen giants.com")
Seriously, the Monster lacked motivation. Was it evil, was it just big and clumsy? did it enjoy pushing down buildings? We don't get to find out. First of all, we don't get to see too much of it. And when we do see it, one feels an overview shot would be needed. The advantage of the old Monster giants, was that you would once in a while get a Monsters eye view of the tiny mobs by your feet. This movie precluded such a shot, except for the helicopter view towards the end. Yet this kind of shot was needed to give us the full perspective of the Beast. Also mentioned at my other sites, was the need to make the monster something recognizable. I still don't think I could draw this one. Worse yet, the movie lacked "Big Feet" honestly, how could they do a Giant monster, where no one gets stomped. Oh well. All this aside, I give the picture an eight out of ten stars.