SEVERE SPOILERS
I enjoyed this also. John Goodman rocks, as many others as have said.
The first thing I found interesting when attempting to connect both Cloverfield films is in the fact that John Goodman's character Henry, works for a satellite company. If I'm not mistaken, the original catalyst for the 'alien' was that a satellite fell into the sea and out came the monster. I'm not sure if that's what was actually settled on in the first film, but I do remember talk of that concept.
Oddly enough, if that monster did come from the sea, then they've now acquired spaceships. Perhaps I'm remembering the first film wrong though. Anyway, the way this movie plays out is great!