Well, first review. I decided this year would be the year I actually started voicing my opinions about movies through RT. And, my first movie of the year was actually one that I had been anticipating since, well, since it was unleashed during Michael Bay's bowl movement (transformers) last year.

I had set the bar fairly high for this film. I have much faith in the artistic direction of J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves as well, and for the most part I was not let down.

Plain and simple, you will love this film, or you will hate it. But, if you hate it, I can't see you making a valid point of hating it strictly based on story or direction. To be able to take a handheld, and do what they did. Truly artistic, truly amazing.

Many comparisons are made with this to The Blair Witch Project. I guess I can see why, but really it should not be made. The major difference in this film is that you actually care about the people you’re watching. The cast may not have been amazing, but they worked well together and did a pretty damned good job of reacting to nothing. Another thing that sets this apart from say, other monster movies, is that the CGI is top notch. It continues to amaze me that as much as they spent on CGI in Spider-Man 3, this film completely blows it away on a modest effects budget.

I highly recommend this to pretty much anyone that likes to think. Intelligent people will love this film. The mood and setting that Matt Reeves instills is brilliant. For the beginning of the film, as you begin to know each character, you’re sitting there thinking the same thing as everyone else in the theatre; "when is this shit going downhill?". And the mood continues to hang in your mind throughout the film. As they peak around corners, or as they deal with the situation, you too find yourself wondering what could happen next, and how would you deal with it if you were in the same situation?

All in all, this is my film of 2008 so far. That isn’t saying much, but I expect it to hold for at least a few months. The one thing you need to ask yourself going into any cinematic adventure (stolen from Dane Cook) is this: Did they do everything they set out to do? Yes a thousand times in this situation.

My only other advice? If you have a weak stomach, distance yourself from the movie. But, please, if you know going in that you probably cant take it, then complain and put down the film afterward, you completely deserve the nausea that will ensue.


5/5