Movie makers never learn...

Rating: 4/10 (19 January 2008)

It seems as though too many wannabe sci-fi/horror movie makers have not realized that the "Apocalyptic-Giant-Monster-Attack + Lots-of-Little-Creepy-Monsters + Shaky-Camera-First-Person-View + Dark-Tunnels-and-Hallways + Screw-It-Let's-Nuke-The-Site-From-Orbit-It's-The-Only-Way-To-Be-Sure" equation has been overdone, and they should have learned from the Godzilla '98 travesty. The giant monster had the _potential_ to be really cool, but despite the myriad conceptual drawings (that leaked their way onto the Internet), the powers-that-be opted to go with a Godzilla/Marauder/Arachnid hybrid that was creepy without being truly terrifying. The spider-like "ticks" that seemed to steal their movements and appearance from "Pitch Black" and "Starship Troopers" monsters held little appeal other than a way of saying "Boo!" during quiet moments in the movie. If you are prone to motion sickness, don't plan on enjoying your popcorn in the theater, as the first-person shaky-camera footage throughout the movie (as in, the ENTIRE movie) will ruin your intestinal fortitude.
Much of the plot surrounds a small group of young adults who (like ALL good horror film antagonists) refuse to evacuate the city under siege in favor of rescuing an injured friend who happens to live near the center of the monster attack. No back story is given, no explanation of why the monster chose to attack an island surrounded by other, more tempting, shorelines, and the audience is asked to suspend their disbelief FAR too much for them to truly enjoy the movie for its own sake. The ending is abrupt and obvious, having been alluded to earlier in the film, and the characters are mostly just props behind the (inept) cameraman.
There have been some truly fantastic monster movies made over the years, but for all its mystery and hype, this one falls WAY short of the mark. Save your money and rent one of the old Godzilla movies.