So let’s put aside for a second the fact that Transformers was quite Teh Awesome, and take a look back to those few minutes of haphazard footage that we saw about a minute before the movie started.

***SPOILER: If you haven’t seen Transformers yet and you don’t want to read about a trailer that previewed before the movie, then stop right here and come back after you’ve seen it — you gotta see it!!!

At first we think we’re getting the straight dope preview *approved for all audiences* on the next Road Trip or some other blah-de-blah wannabe hep twenty-something Sundance channel coming of age special. We’re shown a young man’s going away party when suddenly we’re slammed face-first into what feels seems like a realistic interpretation of Independence Day meets Armageddon … sponsored by Galactus — all through the lens of a party-goer’s grainy handycam. There’s what appears to be an earthquake, followed by explosions while panic-stricken people are running through the streets of New York City, then BAM! something hits the ground … the head of the Statue of Liberty.

WTF is this movie?! Hell, I make it my business to know shit about upcoming movies and all that jazz, but this quick preview honestly took me by surprise.

According to AICN, this is the teaser trailer for a yet-to-be named film working under the title Cloverfield. It’s being done through J.J. Abrams‘ production company Bad Robot, and because it was the only bit of text I was able to catch as the credits flashed, I thought it was going to be the movie’s name — which kind of excited me.

They’re holding this one close to the vest, people. So far all we know is that it’s going to be a monster movie (YAY!) featuring something referred to internally as “The Parasite”; Matt Reeves (The Pallbearer) is slated to direct it; Drew Godard (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) wrote the script; and its scheduled in-theater date is January 18, 2008.

The January release date is the one thing that worries me. Show of hands — How many people remember a good movie being released in the dim months of January/February? That time of year is usually the graveyard of throw-away movies.

Anyhoo, let’s break it down. My first instance of trailer shock-n-awe since The Matrix + J.J. Abrams seemingly involved in a big way + word on the street is it’s gonna be a muther-funkin’ genuine honest to GoD monster movie = I’m sold!

But, I want to be surprised on this. When I truly anticipate a movie (like I did with Transformers), I refuse to watch even the shortest of trailers/previews/TV ads. I’m like a sequestered juror, free of outside influences and bias, so chances are, this is the last about Codename: Cloverfield you’ll hear from me. I’ll leave the movie preview reporting up to the rest of the Doomers.