Cloverfield

I first saw the movie trailer for Cloverfield last summer, before witnessing the 'big n' loud' Transformers movie. It seemed to be a fun preview - untitled and intriguing. I just came home from seeing the final film with Danny E. It was pretty damn cool.

Cloverfield is not a 'film'. It is not cinema. It's a ride - an attraction. An exhibit. It can be summed up through brief description. Four friends make their way through a war zone which was formerly Manhattan, in search of the protagonist's girlfriend. An enormous alien threat is attacking the city, and it is unleashing creepy spider creatures. Oh, and the Statue of Liberty gets decapitated.

This is all captured on a handheld video camera. It sounds like a tired gimmick, but this is no Blair Witch Project. This film is lively, has a sense of humour, and delivers both thrills and some drama. It's worth watching once.

As for the rumours that a barf bag is a necessary viewing companion - this is false. If you can watch amateur YouTube videos, you can watch this movie. The cinematography isn't much different. But that's the point.