By Gregg Shapiro

Contributing writer

In theaters
“Cloverfield” (Paramount)—In just the first few minutes of the fast-paced modern monster movie “Cloverfield,” we learn that the title comes from a Department of Defense designation code for the disaster and devastation that occurred in Manhattan and what was once known as Central Park over the course of several hours one May. Blatantly borrowing from the exceptional recent Korean monster flick “The Host,” the hand-held horror of “The Blair Witch Project” and the sci-fi classic “Alien,” “Cloverfield still comes out smelling fresh as, well, a field of clover.

In April, Rob (Michael Stahl-David) captures the bloom of his new romance with Beth (Odette Yustman) on his video camera. But soon after, Rob accepts a job that will relocate him to Japan—we get a firsthand look at how hurt Beth is when she shows up at his surprise going-away party at Lily’s (Jessica Lucas) loft with another guy. This domestic drama is captured on Rob’s aforementioned video device by his goofy but lovable best friend Hud (T.J. Miller), who has been given the job of recording the party guests’ farewell “testimonials” to Rob. Hud also manages to focus the lens on Marlena (Lizzy Caplan, who played Janis to perfection in “Mean Girls”), in whom he is interested.

After midnight, when the party is in full-swing, room-rocking tremors send some of the revelers outside where they witness explosions in the city’s skyline. The arrival of the Statue of Liberty’s severed head in the middle of the street is another bad sign. A TV news report tells of a capsized tanker in the harbor (leading us to believe that the trouble came from under the water), while outside, the tremors and explosions continue to demolish the city, including the Brooklyn Bridge. The massive prehistoric-looking beast, from which smaller beasts emerge to create havoc, stomps through the island, immune to the weapons of the military. Instead of following evacuation instructions, Rob—determined to make it up to Beth, who left the party in a huff before the destruction began—heads to Midtown to find her. He is joined on his insane rescue mission by Marlena, Lily and Hud, who keeps the camera (and the necessary humor) running. At 75-minutes, the makers of “Cloverfield,” director Matt Reeves and producer J.J. Abrams, were wise enough to know when enough was enough and deserve to be commended for that and for crafting a first rate fright fest.

“For The Bible Tells Me So” (First Run Features)—Beginning, aptly, with the pie-in-the-face delivered to the deserving, hate-spewing, born-again beauty queen Anita Bryant, Daniel Karslake’s doc “For The Bible Tells Me So” is, in a word, a revelation. With the tidal wave of old-time religion washing over the United States, Karslake closely examines the impact on five families of what happens when a lie is told enough times that people start believing it.

In this case, the lie being told involves homosexuality and the misuse of the bible to promote hatred. The subjects and their families range from the well-known, such as Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson and Chrissy Gephart (daughter of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt), to ordinary but uncommon people such as Tonia Poteat and Jake Reitan and their respective families, as well as parent Mary Lou Wallner. The telling of each of their stories is nothing short of compelling and, at times, emotionally wrenching.

Also woven into the fabric of the film is a look at the practice of selective reading of the Bible, disregarding historical context, culture and custom, the rise of biblical literalism and the negative impact of so-called “reparative therapy.” In addition to a variety of interviews with pro-LGBT religious leaders, including Bishop Desmond Tutu and Rev. Irene Moore, the doc features an animated “educational cartoon” segment consisting of facts about homosexuality that even the most fanatical fundamentalist would find both entertaining and informative. —At the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State, Jan. 25-31.

“U2 3D” (National Geographic Entertainment)—U2 are old pros when it comes to concert movies. Some of their concerts have been committed to celluloid since the 1980s, perhaps most famously in “U2: Rattle and Hum.”

The band enters another dimension altogether in the Mark Pellington/Catherine Owens film “U2 3D.” U2 and IMAX are a good match, bringing the concert experience to another level. Drawing on songs from different chapters of the band’s nearly 30-year career, including “Beautiful Day,” “New Year’s Day,” “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” (the Passengers’) “Miss Sarajevo,” “In The Name of Love,” “Where The Streets Have No Name,” “One” and “With or Without You,” all performed before an adoring capacity audience in Buenos Aires, U2 proves their unshakable mettle.

In 3D you get to see the sweat on Bono’s neck and the powerful muscles in drummer Larry Mullen’s arms. You also get to see the band’s effect on a crowd and unexpected homoerotic touches courtesy of Bono, including a hug from behind for The Edge and a tender stroke of the cheek and kiss on the lips for bass player Adam Clayton. But is all of that enough to make one overlook Bono’s penchant for theatrics, which includes turning his “Coexist” headband (with letters made of Islamic crescent, the star of David, and a cross) into a blindfold and sundry other acts? Diehard fans are sure to gobble this up, while those on the fence might think a 3D IMAX version of his Bono-ness might be too much to handle.

—At the Navy Pier IMAX Theatre, 700 E. Grand. Call (312) 595-5629.

Limited runs
The Chicago premiere of “Election Day” takes place Jan. 25 at 8 p.m. at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State.

Director Ruth Leitmann appears in person at the 8 p.m. screening on Jan. 26 of “Lipstick & Dynamite: The First Ladies of Wrestling,” her documentary about the rise of women's professional wrestling in the 1940s and 1950s, at Chicago Filmmakers, 5243 N. Clark.

The Jeff Bridges-narrated art world doc “The Cool School” has its Chicago premiere at 8 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State.

Mae West and Cary Grant co-star in West’s second film of 1933, “I’m No Angel,” screening Jan. 26 at 6:15 p.m. and Jan. 28 at 8 p.m. at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State.