I saw Cloverfield last Sunday night with Jeremy and Marc. We had a man date after catching the end of the Packers/Giants game (before they went into OT). Afterwards we went to a bar to discuss and drink.

Going into the movie I didn’t know anything other than figuring it was a monster movie somewhat like Godzilla except actually good. I liked that the commercials kept everything mysterious and such so I really didn’t know what to expect. This kept up at the beginning of the movie as you knew something was going to happen but nothing was. Until, well, something did.

So, the monster. I’m going to try to talk generally about this. In my opinion, this really isn’t a “monster movie”. I heard someone complaining as they left the theater that it should have gone “straight to video”. I think they missed the point. Don’t go in expecting Aliens or Godzilla, it’s unlike any other movie out there.
Anyway, the monster isn’t so much a character in the movie as it is more of a force of nature. Meaning, it’s not like This-Main-Big-Bad-Guy vs. Our Favorite Protagonist(s). I found this refreshing as I think it’s demeaning to the monster to have it ONLY out to get our good guys.
You don’t really get a good look at the monster until the very end, only glimpses and teases before then. The mind can make things much scarier than any fancy 3D computer dealy.

As there was an air of mystery throughout the movie (the monster is never explained or its origins, some of the effects of the monster, etc.) that I was looking for clues throughout and I can’t wait for this to come out on DVD so we can go frame-by-frame through some scenes.
Especially at the end, as that could hold a major clue.

I really tried to stay away from the hype around this movie thinking that although I rarely go out to the theaters anymore (married with children and all that) I would really like to see it someday. Luckily, an opportunity arose and I went. See this in the theaters if at all possible. There’s also a little clue at the very very end of the credits.
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