by Keith Covington

Created on: April 27, 2008

Cloverfield is a modern day case of being bamboozled.

The initial hype of the teaser trailer for the movie that accompanied "Transformers" was justified. Nothing was more important than "What is that thing?". For months everyone looked eagerly to 1-18-08.

I remember on 1-17-08 saying to myself: "Well tomorrow is when we see if the hype was worth it".

It wasn't.

I wanted to cry; the first half an hour of the film was standard; we all know there's a monster coming so just get to the damned thing. Finally they do and I find myself asking a lot of questions. I understand we're not supposed to know where the monster comes from or anything; and I'm fine with that. My questions revolve around the idiot PEOPLE in the film.

I'm not going to give away plot details; but, there are too many "perfect situation" scenarios for a disaster film. I've never seen such a group of morally just and correct people in my life. Even when certain doom is upon them and their city; they still face the jaws of disaster to do the "right thing".

The movie is filled with so many absurd realities that you'll find yourself saying "Oh come on" more than once. While it's obvious that a giant monster attack on NYC is impossible; there's still an amount of realism J.J. Abrahms wants us to feel within the film. Characters run, sprint and jump for hours without showing much exhaustion, the climb buildings that have fallen on each other; survive helicopter crashes and having poles stuck in their shoulders resulting in hours of blood loss (but still being able to run around and survive impossible falls). The plot is typical Hollywood mess and there's nothing lasting about the film.

Still it's not the worst movie ever created; it's just not the masterpiece people make it out to be. You'd be better to watch a Godzilla film in all reality.

For those looking for a monster flick...THIS IS NOT IT. For those looking for a sappy, totally unbelievable love story that almost makes you want to vomit this is your film.

Think one tree hill meets Alien, meets Godzilla, meets independence day meets Blair witch project, meets please be over now so I can get out of this theater.

I won't be looking forward to a Cloverfield II; it follows the same thread as "I Am Legend" good idea, poor execution.

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