It's a smash.

Rating: Null/10 (19 January 2008)

I just saw this flick tonight. As we were exiting the theater, I looked around at some of the other audience members. Some looked thrilled, others were visibly shaken, some sea-sick, and a few unhappy. I have to say, I was all of those except the last one.
It was a great film. It's one of those movies that HAD to be made...and it was a darn good one too. Yes, if you haven't already heard, it is done by a handy-cam or a video camera. Personally, I think that type of filming is great and we need more of it in the movie biz. There is just something about a character being able to look at the camera and emote honestly what their feelings are. You can't get that type of acting on Desperate Housewives, folks. I will say, there are a few shows (dare I say sitcom/comedy) that have taken a chance on that "one on one" kind of acting/filming. The Office "mockumentary"(whether you like it or not) has that down to earth, get to the chase, tell me what the heck is happening feel to it when someone sits down to speak their peace. JJ has done a wonderful job putting that same type of writing/acting/filming into Cloverfield.
Without giving away too much of the plot, I will say the beginning mirrors the end perfectly (also think about the times at the beginning and right before the end, where Rob turns the camera directly to his face...the times are chillingly brilliant and a nice touch to the story), right before the end. If you pay attention closely, you'll notice a few story lines carried all the way to the final shot, which is comforting, yet leaves that gnawing feeling in the pit of your stomach.
It is a love story. It is a thriller. It is a monster movie. Heck, it's definitely a drama. Plus, a comedy. It's so many things, it would be hard to classify. That's probably why we never got much out of the trailer before its release.
Speaking of the comedy- Yes, there are several laugh out loud moments. The cameraman, Hud, is a great narrator for this very dramatic and life-changing moment in time. He's witty, annoying, loud, and probably the best person you'd want to spend in a terrifying crisis like this. My favorite Hud moment? Definitely the flaming homeless people theory. He's right, after all.
I give it a 9, just because I walked out of the theater a little woozy and sea sick. Regardless, it was magnificent and I wish more writers, producers, directors, and studio execs would take a page from JJ Abrams and just think outside the box on occasion. It could turn out to be a smash, just like Cloverfield.