“Cloverfield” is a sci-fi action film shot like a documentary that takes place on May 22 in New York City. There’s a going-away party for Rob Hawkins (Michael Stahl-David), a young businessman who’s gotten a promotion and is moving to Japan.

During the party, however, his friend-turned-lover Beth McIntyre (Odette Yustman) shows up, and they fight. McIntyre leaves, and, a short time later, a giant monster attacks the city.

All the while, the whole film is shot from the first-person point of view of Hud (T.J. Miller), the cameraman. Rob, his friends, and his brother, try to escape the city. Suddenly Rob gets a call from Beth who’s trapped in her apartment. The group decides to go back into the city to save her. Will the group rescue Beth and escape the city alive?

This was one of the most anticipated films of 2008. The hype of the film had spread so quickly that the teaser trailer was bootlegged and posted on the Internet.

People either liked this film or hated it. People hated it because of the following: they got motion sickness, it was shot from first-person point of view, or they didn’t like the ending. I enjoyed the film. The idea was very creative and original, and the special effects were amazing.

It’s a must-see film for those who enjoy sci-fi movies. Plus, if you ever see the film, try to watch it on a huge TV with the surround sound turned all the way up.

The special features on the standard DVD version are not that great. It has the standard stuff: behind the scenes, deleted scenes, and alternate endings. For the fans, wait for the special edition DVD for tons of extras, and stay alert as a sequel is possibly in the works.

Rating: 4 out of 4