Cloverfield really surprised me. I was one of the unfortunate saps who actually followed all the hype leading up to the movie's release. So when I realized that none of the clues and hints J.J. Abrams threw at us over the months had ANYTHING to do with the movie, I was understandably taken aback. But then I realized it didn't really matter. I was so wrapped up in the absolute moment of what was happening that all my questions sort of fell by the wayside.

What was the monster? Who cares, we're in danger. Where did it come from? Who cares, it's destroying the city. What are those smaller creatures attacking everyone? Who cares, they're trying to bite you. What exactly happens when they bite? You explode--who cares about the particulars?

J.J. Abrams looked at what would be a panicked situation, and rather than dwell on any one point or question, simply revels in the panic. In fact the one moment where the film does stop to answer the biggest question and show us a slow, closeup of the beastie is, in my opinion, the weakest.

Does this change the convention of monster epics? We'll see. It's a novel approach, to be sure. But I'm sure there will be plenty of people always attempting to answer all the unanswered questions--and I do hope Paramount avoids the temptation to capitalize on that with a more straightforward sequel, a la Blair Witch 2. Audiences may want endings that tie all the loose ends. Not me. I think the film ended perfectly, as all films focused on the little people should: not with a bang, but with silence.

Wow. What an incredible film. I am so glad Abrams didn't sell out, because this was exactly what it was supposed to be.

A lot of people have been complaining that the audience didn't get to know the origin of the monster and why it was attacking and blah blah blah. If you want that, go watch a Godzilla movie. Don't get me wrong, I love the Japanese Godzilla. He's the king. But this is not Godzilla, and people should not be comparing it as such.

This film showed what it would be like to be one of the poor saps stuck in New York City when disaster strikes. Of course you aren't going to know exactly what's going on, you're kind of busy running for your life and trying to protect the people you love.

Like in LOST, Abrams utilizes flashbacks to reveal more about the characters. This was a great choice, especially for this film. Obviously at a going away party, people's entire lives aren't going to be revealed, and I think it was great that we learned about Rob with the bits of video that he had already recorded on his tape.

This is one of those movies that sat in the pit of my stomach and in the back of my mind for days afterwards. I saw it several times in theaters, and was convinced over and over again as to how much I really enjoyed it.

This is definitely a future classic.

@Andrew: I agree that the back story was unessential to the story, and the lack thereof in fact made the chaos that much more delightfully unbearable.

Speaking of selling out, however, now is the time to worry. Already the studios are talking a sequel, and I frankly just don't know how you make a sequel without ruining what essentially makes this movie, which is the fear of the unknown.

Are you just going to have the exact same situation in another city? That would be lame. Will you have an expository, straight-up monster movie with the President arguing with his advisers on Air Force One about the possibility of a nuclear assault? Even lamer--Cloverfield is not another monster movie. Like you said, if you want onw of those, go see Gojira (by the way, Andrew, if you want to try to win a Gojira DVD, we're doing a giveaway in the Monsterfest Talk forum above this post.).

I have visions in my head of a Blair Witch 2 repeat which will not only be terrible, but sully the whole idea of this movie. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, J.J., move on to something else. We can always use more Star Trek movies.