Cloverfield ***
Cast: Michael Stahl-David, Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan, T.J. Miller, Mike Vogel, Odette Yustman
Director: Matt Reeves
Running Length: 1:18
MPAA Classification: PG-13

All is well at the going away party for Rob (Stahl-David). The next day he is heading to Japan, but tonight he is having fun with his friends. Those closest to him are his brother Jason (Vogel), Lily (Lucas), Marlena (Caplan), and Hud (Miller). Hud is videotaping the events when all hell breaks loose outside in downtown New York. Buildings fall down, others explode, and the Statue of Liberty’s head comes rolling down the street. Hud keeps the camera rolling because “people will want to know what happened.” Soon it becomes apparent that the source of the commotion is a giant monster that is scared and apparently immune to anything the army uses against it. Rob and his gang must rescue Rob’s crush Beth (Yustman) and get out of town before the army takes extreme action.

“Cloverfield” is “Godzilla” meets “The Blair Witch Project”. The hand-held camera approach brings a fresh experience to the monster in a big city story. Some may dislike the jittery camerawork, but it adds an immediacy to the story and makes you feel like you are in it. The movie doesn’t cheat either with shots of the monster. It is shown in all its ugly glory a number of times from a distance and very close up. It is like no movie monster previously, and it is a scared creature making its way through a strange world. And that only makes him more dangerous. “Cloverfield” is a fresh take on an old story, and I recommend checking it out.