Movies about gigantic monsters don't come along nearly often enough for me, so when "Cloverfield" opened, I was there. This movie offered a fresh perspective on the genre with the entire film shot from the perspective of a victim on the ground. Many people said that the constant motion and jumpy movements gave them headaches or made them feel ill. The “shaky cam” perspective may have been too distracting if you sat too close in the theater.

None of the movie is told from the military’s or scientist’s perspective. There is no explanation as to where the monster came from, what it is or what it wants. It just shows up and starts tearing things up.

It’s interesting that the monster is gigantic, but the only time you see how huge it really is occurs during a newscast playing on a TV and when the guy with the camera ("Hud") happens to pass very closely to the rampaging beast.

There are some great scenes here. The opening panic of the initial attack is captured perfectly. There is also a crazy moment when the main characters run between the monster and the military who are firing at it. It's very intense.

Many will analyze this movie closely for 9/11 symbolism since it takes place in New York. There is a skyscraper collapse and subsequent dust cloud that recalls the WTC disaster. The "decapitation" of the Statue of Liberty symbolizing the attack on liberty. The repeated shouts of "It's Alive" meaning that terrorism isn't dead but alive and well as the creature symbolized. Even the parasites that fall from the beast could be symbolizing biological terrorism.

Actually though, if you don't dig deeply into this movie, you'll have a good time for the thrill ride it provides.