To paraphrase one reviewer, Cloverfield is Blair Witch meets Attack of the Fifty Story Monster.

I stayed as the credits rolled-- my usual habit. I learned years ago while at the theater watching Ferris Bueller's Day Off, that sometimes film makers add cool stuff right at the end... after the credits. Another good reason to sit through the credits, however, is to hear what people have to say about it on their way out. And what didn't surprise me one bit about Cloverfield were the voices of those who did not like the film. Or should I say, "appreciate" it's grainy beauty?

Cloverfield is exactly what the trailers billed it as, a film from the camera's perspective... not the idiot holding it. It was often jarring to watch, and the camera rarely saw the action as it was happening. Mostly the camera turned to catch the action in progress, which to my mind was very refreshing. Here at last was a film that put the audience behind the camera and in the middle of the action. YOU are holding the camera. YOU are running through the streets. YOU are freaked and stunned to see your friends dying around you. And You have enough presence of forethought to hold on to the camera and catalog the cataclysmic events that redefine everything intelligent rational people have believed all their lives about their world and their place in it. YOU are a hero. Everyone knows YOUR name.... and they all know how YOU died.

For all this film was only some 75 minutes long; and the first 20 are taken up with incidental lead-up, the remaining fifty-five minutes are incredible. The two times I looked at my watch was not to see how far into the movie I was, but to wonder just how much more I could take in the time remaining. Cloverfield had me clutching the arm rests, squirming, and jerking back deeper into the stadium seating in surprise and shock.

I imagine they used cameras more professional than a hand-held, but its a testament to the film itself that the scenes which were obviously recorded with a hand-held, and those from its more professional and expensive cousin, were flawless... seemless... you could not tell one camera from the other.

There were, however, a couple of dialog moments I felt uncomfortable with. Given the context they were to be expected considering I hear the same just about everywhere I go.

Were it not for those dialog incidents I'd pay to see this one again. I'd even pay after-matinée price. That's right, I'd pay $7.50 to see 55 minutes of action.

For those who didn't get it? They'll never get it. Too many people these days expect to have it all handed to them... including the plot and artistry of entertainment.