Cloverfield - J.J. Abrams Project

[number8]

Seeing this tonight.

I'll hold back on the spoilers. ;)

[megladon8]

Seeing this tonight.

I'll hold back on the spoilers. ;)


Cool!

Can you please at least post a "it was good/bad" type thingy?

I find your feelings on movies are usually a pretty good guage of what I can expect.

[MadMan]

Cool!

Can you please at least post a "it was good/bad" type thingy?

I find your feelings on movies are usually a pretty good guage of what I can expect.I second this. number8 usually has good taste.


Now this would be awesome.

The whole film could play on a physical manifestation of mass hysteria. Some kind of massive, group hallucination angle would be incredibly provocative, especially in light of the times we live in, with all the fear mongering going on.

TERROR ALERT RED!
Why?
We just need you to be scared.
Oh.

Very cool idea, and again, like the fan-made drawings, probably more creative and inventive than the actual film will be.

This idea would make this for one of the more kick ass examples of science fiction cinema. An absurd premise examined under the light of social hysteria and a real phenomenon magnified to an extreme degree.Oh yeah. And heh my active imagination sometimes comes up with good ideas. I've had a bunch flowing around in my head for years-its just that I'm not good at writting fiction and some of them come too close to stuff that's already been done. I did come up with a story similar to the plot of the Resident Evil video games before I heard of the games (I've never played them either).


You're totally missing the point. Stuff would be exploding, and crashing, but the people would only think they were seeing a monster, when in fact it was just an earthquake, or a real military attack or something. The monster would be a hallucination born from our hysteria and fear conceived from the times we live in now.

It would be an extreme case of mass hysteria and with the social connection, I think it is a fascinating idea. Of course it would be harder to do correctly than just a "monster flick" and herein lies the rub: it's too creative and inventive an idea for a genre film now. They want lazy and easy.Dude that would be pretty damn brilliant, and would perfectly mirror the fear that has gripped this country since the 9-11 attacks.

[D_Davis]

Dude that would be pretty damn brilliant, and would perfectly mirror the fear that has gripped this country since the 9-11 attacks.

When I first read your idea, this idea instantly flashed into my head. It would be very cool to see a big monster used as a physical manifestation of post-9/11 American fear mongering.

If filmmakers want to elevate the "art" of monster filmmaking, this is how to do it. Raise the stakes, make a high concept film based around a low concept genre convention.

King Hu did this with the martial arts genre with A Touch of Zen, and it is a timeless classic.

[Ezee E]

jees. you guys realize that 8 only has 2 rep points right?

:)

[MadMan]

When I first read your idea, this idea instantly flashed into my head. It would be very cool to see a big monster used as a physical manifestation of post-9/11 American fear mongering.

If filmmakers want to elevate the "art" of monster filmmaking, this is how to do it. Raise the stakes, make a high concept film based around a low concept genre convention.

King Hu did this with the martial arts genre with A Touch of Zen, and it is a timeless classic.Pretty much. I think whoever argued that this entire board should get together and make a movie was right on target. I think we could all come up with something better than most of the tripe that gets released on a regular basis. It couldn't be any worse than Met the Spartans.

[number8]

Very, very cool.

They're smarter about the camera than Blair Witch.

[megladon8]

Very, very cool.

They're smarter about the camera than Blair Witch.


Is the description I've read that it's a "spider sea monkey" correct?

If not, please tell me in spoilers what it is. I can't take it anymore.

[number8]

I can't. :lol: Seriously.

[MadMan]

Very, very cool.

They're smarter about the camera than Blair Witch.Awesome to hear, considering that the shakey camera was a bit annoying in Blair Witch. One positive review out of....well.....hopefully many to come.

[origami_mustache]

I'm pretty sure the H. P. Lovecraft connections (at least so far as it being a Cthulhu movie) have been debunked - by Abrams himself, if I'm not mistaken.

I, for one, would hate that. Cthulhu is not the type of monster to go rampaging through a city.

I could personally care less what the monster looks like, however what did interest me was the nature the in which story is told. "It is written in a documentary style, with three independent narratives linked together by the device of a narrator discovering notes left by a deceased relative." I find the idea of recovered video footage retelling the incident to be very exciting and original for such a mainstream film, so I'm hoping this is the case.

[origami_mustache]

When I first read your idea, this idea instantly flashed into my head. It would be very cool to see a big monster used as a physical manifestation of post-9/11 American fear mongering.

If filmmakers want to elevate the "art" of monster filmmaking, this is how to do it. Raise the stakes, make a high concept film based around a low concept genre convention.

King Hu did this with the martial arts genre with A Touch of Zen, and it is a timeless classic.

I like this idea a lot as well. The concept sounds intriguing, although I doubt it will be the case.

[Sycophant]

The Host kind of did that in a big monster movie, but it used a virus instead.

[Bosco B Thug]

I can't. :lol: Seriously. Having read the spoiler rumor of megladon8's query: Hmmmm...!

Glad to hear this is at some degree something of an accomplishment!

[Acapelli]

Those look like incredibly inefficient feet.
Haha, reminds me of the complaints about the tripods in War of the Worlds.

[Boner M]

Gonna see this in 12 hours. Less hyped for the actual film than being the first person here to see it.

[transmogrifier]

You mean the second image?

Its legs kind of remind me of the behemoth from the end of The Mist


You have to mention the name of the movie you are spoiling OUTSIDE of the tags for spoiler tags to work, meg. :)

[Qrazy]

Haha, reminds me of the complaints about the tripods in War of the Worlds.

Yeah but at least they're metallic, that just looks painful.

[Wryan]

Yeah but at least they're metallic, that just looks painful.

They look more equipped to climb rather than run. Maybe it'll be sorta half-running half swinging half climbing on shit throughout.

[megladon8]

They look more equipped to climb rather than run. Maybe it'll be sorta half-running half swinging half climbing on shit throughout.


Plus, obviously it can swim since it comes from the ocean.

Unless it somehow just walks along the ocean floor - which would actually be kinda cool.

[number8]

Here's one thing I can reveal: LOST composer Michael Giacchino did a piece for the end credits that sounds like an updated Godzilla theme. It rocked.

[Wryan]

Here's one thing I can reveal: LOST composer Michael Giacchino did a piece for the end credits that sounds like an updated Godzilla theme. It rocked.

You son of a bitch. Had to go for LOST comparison instead of Incredibles/Ratatouille? You're dead to me.

[Rowland]

Keith Uhlich's Top Movie Monsters (http://www.ugo.com/movies/top-movie-monsters/)

[Dukefrukem]

Keith Uhlich's Top Movie Monsters (http://www.ugo.com/movies/top-movie-monsters/)

"what did you do Ray?!"

[number8]

You son of a bitch. Had to go for LOST comparison instead of Incredibles/Ratatouille? You're dead to me.

But it's more obvious!!!

He's also doing Star Trek. From now on, his name will be "That J.J. Pixar Music Guy".

[Wryan]

Keith Uhlich's Top Movie Monsters (http://www.ugo.com/movies/top-movie-monsters/)

Medusa was so stunning I almost peed myself.

[bac0n]

Keith Uhlich's Top Movie Monsters (http://www.ugo.com/movies/top-movie-monsters/)

What, no Godzilla?

This guy don't know what he talkin' bout.

But then again, Godzilla's so awesome, he'd take up all ten spots, which would make for a pretty boring list.

[megladon8]

What, no Godzilla?

This guy don't know what he talkin' bout.

But then again, Godzilla's so awesome, he'd take up all ten spots, which would make for a pretty boring list.


What? bac0n, seriously, tell me at what point this becomes boring...

10. Godzilla
9. Godzilla
8. Godzilla

Bored yet? Didn't think so...

7. Godzilla
6. Godzilla
5. Godzilla...

[Sycophant]

What? bac0n, seriously, tell me at what point this becomes boring...

10. Godzilla
9. Godzilla
8. Godzilla

Bored yet? Didn't think so...

7. Godzilla
6. Godzilla
5. Godzilla...You tease! Finish the list!!

[/eager]

[megladon8]

You tease! Finish the list!!

[/eager]


4. Godzilla
3. Godzilla
2. Godzilla
1. Julia Roberts

I mean...

1. Godzilla

[D_Davis]

What, no Godzilla?

This guy don't know what he talkin' bout.

But then again, Godzilla's so awesome, he'd take up all ten spots, which would make for a pretty boring list.

This list is like making a list of the top 10 kung fu movies and then not including a single film that has any kung fu in it.

[megladon8]

This list is like making a list of the top 10 kung fu movies and then not including a single film that has any kung fu in it.


And placing The Manchurian Candidate at the #1 spot because Frank Sinatra karate-chops a dude.

[Boner M]

http://fb.img.v4.skyrock.com/fb5/scenes-cultes/pics/452111754.jpg

[Boner M]

That said, anyone keen on seeing a daytime soap opera cast scream their way through the most tedious, irritating, fatuously 'realistic' re-enactment of 9/11 ever, with added CGI, might feel differently.

[Watashi]

Star Trek teaser?

Anyone?

[Boner M]

Star Trek teaser?

Anyone?
Meh. Pretty vague.

[Raiders]

Huh. Consider me surprised, boner. I expected you to be splooging all over this one.

[MadMan]

4. Godzilla
3. Godzilla
2. Godzilla
1. Julia Roberts

I mean...

1. Godzilla:lol:


What, no Godzilla?

This guy don't know what he talkin' bout.

But then again, Godzilla's so awesome, he'd take up all ten spots, which would make for a pretty boring list.Yeah any monster list that doesn't feature Godzilla or King Kong is invalid. Period.

I have a good feeling that the Star Trek prequel will be awful and rape what good is left is in the francise.

[Boner M]

Huh. Consider me surprised, boner. I expected you to be splooging all over this one.
It wasn't just me who hated it. The post-screening commiseration between strangers in the audience provided a more potent 9/11 parallel than the entire film. I even saw a few teens warning people in the ticket lines afterwards not to see it. Never seen such a hostile audience reaction before.

Anyway, Keth Uhlich (http://www.ugo.com/ugo/html/article/?id=18130&sectionId=2) pretty much nailed it.

[Barty]

I dug it. Clever, and maintains a deep sense of dread throughout.

Also, the end credits music that Number8 mentioned is freakin awesome. So is the Star Trek teaser.

[number8]

Decided to have a little fun with my review (http://www.justpressplay.net/movies/cloverfield/review/).

A little forced, but so is the movie. :)

[Boner M]

I'm so hyped for Diary of the Dead after reading the bunch of negative reviews of Cloverfield that cite Romero's film as a far superior alternative.

I will admit I thought the use of flashbacks was kinda neat, although perhaps only comparatively.

[Ivan Drago]

Cloverfield so far has a 71% Tomatometer....

Can this possibly be the movie that breaks the trend of crappy movies coming out in January???

[bac0n]

4. Godzilla
3. Godzilla
2. Godzilla
1. Julia Roberts

I mean...

1. Godzilla

QFT


This list is like making a list of the top 10 kung fu movies and then not including a single film that has any kung fu in it.

QFAwesome

[Dukefrukem]

Decided to have a little fun with my review (http://www.justpressplay.net/movies/cloverfield/review/).

A little forced, but so is the movie. :)

Very cute.

I still am very excited to see this movie. An 8 is about the score I was expecting.

[Boner M]

I just can't believe the good reviews this thing is getting. It's the kind of film that makes me wanna side with Armond White when he tears into critics for praising fashionably nihilistic and opportunistic films with trendy aesthetics. It's not even the shaky-cam that bothered me - nearly every shot is filmed on a slanted angle, because apparently that's how people hold a camera in fear. Blechfast in bed, I hate this film so much.

[Bosco B Thug]

I just can't believe the good reviews this thing is getting. It's the kind of film that makes me wanna side with Armond White when he tears into critics for praising fashionably nihilistic and opportunistic films with trendy aesthetics. It's not even the shaky-cam that bothered me - nearly every shot is filmed on a slanted angle, because apparently that's how people hold a camera in fear. Blechfast in bed, I hate this film so much.
D'oh. That slanted angle thing sounds like something that would bug me.

[Sven]

I'm thinking seeing this. Because I'm a film studies major in NYC, and it's a film that takes place in NYC.

But I don't wanna give Abrams my money.

Boner, seriously, would I like it?

[Sxottlan]

Cloverfield so far has a 71% Tomatometer....

Can this possibly be the movie that breaks the trend of crappy movies coming out in January???

That Tristan & Isolde came out in a January and I rather enjoyed it.

However, I wish they would have put this one off a month. I'm still trying to get caught up on all of the 2007 films and I like to see them all before I switch over to films from the next year. Both this and There Will Be Blood are opening tomorrow and I'm having a hard time deciding which one to go see and I won't be able to see the other until next week.

Decisions decisions.

[origami_mustache]

It wasn't just me who hated it. The post-screening commiseration between strangers in the audience provided a more potent 9/11 parallel than the entire film. I even saw a few teens warning people in the ticket lines afterwards not to see it. Never seen such a hostile audience reaction before.

Anyway, Keth Uhlich (http://www.ugo.com/ugo/html/article/?id=18130&sectionId=2) pretty much nailed it.

I saw it at Grauman's Chinese Mann which seats over 1000, and the audience seemed to love it. There was applause several times in the middle of the film.

[Boner M]

Iosos, I think you'll most definitely dislike it. I'll eat my shoe if I'm wrong.

Origami, I live in the suburbs of Sydney where we have discerning taste. ;)

I dunno. Maybe my reaction is a bit extreme, but I found nothing enjoyable, invigorating, exciting, challenging or just all round engaging about this film. It's basically a compendium of everything I hate about modern cinema (mainstream or otherwise) in one overlong 70 minute package. By the time a cloud of debris rolls through the streets of Manhattan and we get a mournful shot of everyone staggering around covered in ash, I just rolled my eyes, sighed, and patiently waited for it to end. At least I think I've officially gotten over my childhood-rooted fascination with seeing famous landmarks destroyed. Better late than never.

[origami_mustache]

Iosos, I think you'll most definitely dislike it. I'll eat my shoe if I'm wrong.

Origami, I live in the suburbs of Sydney where we have discerning taste. ;)

I dunno. Maybe my reaction is a bit extreme, but I found nothing enjoyable, invigorating, exciting, challenging or just all round engaging about this film. It's basically a compendium of everything I hate about modern cinema (mainstream or otherwise) in one overlong 70 minute package. By the time a cloud of debris rolls through the streets of Manhattan and we get a mournful shot of everyone staggering around covered in ash, I just rolled my eyes, sighed, and patiently waited for it to end. At least I think I've officially gotten over my childhood-rooted fascination with seeing famous landmarks destroyed. Better late than never.

Hmm, I can understand how a lot people will be annoyed with the film. The aesthetic style alone can be a bit nauseating and headache inducing, and I too find the whole destruction of the Statue of Liberty to be very corny. In fact that was the main reason for my skepticism and very low expectations, which probably led me to be so pleasantly surprised. Some of the dialogue is unnecessary and misplaced, and the script could use a rewrite, but personally I found the film very relevant in today's media age with youtube, affordable digital camera's, editing software, and the like, where every Joe Nobody has the ability to be a filmmaker or documentarian. The aesthetic itself is less based on the tactics of The Blair Witch Project and more on the amateur footage collected post 9/11. I typically don't watch big budget special effects films in general, and perhaps my underexposure is another reason for my enjoyment, but I found myself having a lot of fun, as the film provides plenty of entertainment and sensationalism. Fortunately it also avoids tidy explanations for everything as well. I also thought the editing was great. The recorded over Coney Island footage was an excellent bookend and the film accomplished what it wanted to achieve formally.

[Boner M]

Personally I found the film very relevant in today's media age with youtube, affordable digital camera's, editing software, and the like, where every Joe Nobody has the ability to be a filmmaker or documentarian.
Yeah, but didn't Blair Witch accomplish this (so, so much more effectively) 9 years ago? The whole project reeks of self-importance for creating an 'entertainment' that deals with our 'current reality', albeit in the most nauseatingly glib and just plain nauseating way. The supposed realism of the endeavour achieved pretty much the exact opposite in my eyes; every camera jolt, swerve, drop-to-the-ground, and inexplicably slanted angle feels so calculated that I couldn't shake off the feeling of a film student crew contriving the whole thing. Acting was competent at best, but the blandly pretty cast do the stab at gritty realism no favors. If it avoids tidy explanations, it's only because the writing is so lazy that it avoids anything other than opportunites for destruction, screaming, mind-numbingly tactless 9/11 parallels, and a cheaply nihilistic conclusion that actually is quite tidy and pat, in fact... not to speak of that interminably drawn out getting-to-know-and-hate-the-characters party sequence.

[number8]

The ending is nihilistic? No way. That's probably what impressed me the most with it. I was expecting a Blair Witch style ending because the camera footage was "found", but I loved the ending. The fact that it cuts back to the "flashback" and ends in Coney Island is great.

I think it's a really good thing that the camera feels calculated (which it is) because it allows for enjoyment. If they had made it really realistic, the movie would be unwatchable. It would be a series of unwarranted zoom ins and outs and wide shots all around, like a normal guy would shoot in that situation. For what it is, Cloverfield's cinematography was surprisingly stable. If you take out the camera dude's comments and shots of his own feet, you'd think Greengrass did this.

[Sven]

Iosos, I think you'll most definitely dislike it. I'll eat my shoe if I'm wrong.

Careful now. Remember Derek's testicle?

[Boner M]

The ending is nihilistic? No way. That's probably what impressed me the most with it. I was expecting a Blair Witch style ending because the camera footage was "found", but I loved the ending. The fact that it cuts back to the "flashback" and ends in Coney Island is great.
Was there something I missed? Cos I dunno, watching each main character desperately struggle for their lives before quickly dying in the end seems pretty nihilistic to me.


I think it's a really good thing that the camera feels calculated (which it is) because it allows for enjoyment. If they had made it really realistic, the movie would be unwatchable. It would be a series of unwarranted zoom ins and outs and wide shots all around, like a normal guy would shoot in that situation. For what it is, Cloverfield's cinematography was surprisingly stable. If you take out the camera dude's comments and shots of his own feet, you'd think Greengrass did this.
Considering how much destruction the camera withstands and the innately fantastical premise, I think a less headache-inducing approach wouldn't have hurt the film's 'realism' or commentary much. And by god, whose idea were all those slanted angles!? This just felt like amateurism, rather than mock-amateurism.

[number8]

Was there something I missed? Cos I dunno, watching each main character desperately struggle for their lives before quickly dying in the end seems pretty nihilistic to me.

Look at it from a romantic angle rather than a survivalist.

Rob and Beth slept together once and never established their relationship, both willingly accepting that Rob is going away to japan, killing their chance of getting together. When the night started, they had a fight that serves as Rob's motivation and guilt. But then he found her against all obstacles, escaped the dragon, climbed the tower, woke the sleeping beauty, and became an item.

Their last words before dying were "I love you" to each other, for pretty much the first time. Then it cuts to them from atop the Ferris Wheel, looking over a peaceful New York. The shot doubles as both a happy memory and a representation of "Heaven". They were together. I don't see that as nihilistic.

It's actually quite funny, because this is the typical Austen-esque romance story, where the guy has to make the mad dash to get to the girl before he loses her forever. Except this time, instead of an arranged marriage or a train to Paris, it's a giant sea monster.

[Wryan]

I dunno what the big beef is. I dug the film. No headache whatsoever. The 9/11 parallels are really not that insistent at all (shit, The 25th Hour was far less subtle). It's a tight, tense catastrophe film, not a monster film. Sure there are tropes that go along with that. Sure you have to accept the admittedly canyon-sized conceit that the camera would still function so well after so many bangs. Who cares. I didn't at least. I dug the film.

[Boner M]

Look at it from a romantic angle rather than a survivalist.

Rob and Beth slept together once and never established their relationship, both willingly accepting that Rob is going away to japan, killing their chance of getting together. When the night started, they had a fight that serves as Rob's motivation and guilt. But then he found her against all obstacles, escaped the dragon, climbed the tower, woke the sleeping beauty, and became an item.

Their last words before dying were "I love you" to each other, for pretty much the first time. Then it cuts to them from atop the Ferris Wheel, looking over a peaceful New York. The shot doubles as both a happy memory and a representation of "Heaven". They were together. I don't see that as nihilistic.

It's actually quite funny, because this is the typical Austen-esque romance story, where the guy has to make the mad dash to get to the girl before he loses her forever. Except this time, instead of an arranged marriage or a train to Paris, it's a giant sea monster.
I dunno. Still seems pretty nihilistic to me, only with a bittersweet/melancholic tinge. *shrug*

Meh. I give up. I was kinda predicting that my opinion would be the majority one here. Alas.

[Boner M]

The 9/11 parallels are really not that insistent at all (shit, The 25th Hour was far less subtle).
The difference between both films is that Lee at least tries to say something meaningful about 9/11, while this film simply 'repackages it as an amusement park ride', as Stephanie Zacharek says in her review (http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2008/01/18/cloverfield/). She also nails why it fails as such:


But from there, the picture becomes less intriguing and more numbing. There are very few, if any, touches of humor in "Cloverfield," but there's lots of screaming and lots of realistic approximations of human suffering: This isn't Godzilla cartoonishly chomping the heads off random citizens. The movie is unpleasant to the point of being unconscionable; it's so relentless that there's no suspense, nothing that makes us wonder what's going to happen next. The picture -- written by Drew Goddard -- does build dread, but not much else. And in places, it's very carelessly made: For the most part, we know it's Hud behind the lens, but in some later scenes, we have no idea who's manning the camera, as if that were a detail we shouldn't care about.

[Wryan]

The difference between both films is that Lee at least tries to say something meaningful about 9/11, while this film simply 'repackages it as an amusement park ride', as Stephanie Zacharek says in her review (http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2008/01/18/cloverfield/). She also nails why it fails as such:

I don't think standing at a window looking at ground zero while dun-dun-DUN music plays is "saying something meaningful."

And I don't think Zacharek nailed anything in that passage. I disagree about the humor, the suspense (just thinking about the skyscraper lean setpiece freaks me out), and also about it being carelessly made. I never really had much of a problem knowing who was manning the camera at any given time. Dunno why she did.

IMO, course.

EDIT: If... is a great film, btw. Glad you liked it.

[Boner M]

I don't think standing at a window looking at ground zero while dun-dun-DUN music plays is "saying something meaningful."
Heh, I didn't think so either (though I like the film), I was just comparing the intentions of both.

[Wryan]

Heh, I didn't think so either (though I like the film), I was just comparing the intentions of both.

Overall, I was impressed too. I love Brian Cox in it. And Barry Pepper comes outta nowhere. But some elements (par for the Lee course) grated me.

[number8]

(just thinking about the skyscraper lean setpiece freaks me out)

You too? The first time I saw that shot, I started biting my lower lip immediately. That was a fantastic setpiece all around.

[Boner M]

Oh yeah, that bit was good.

[D_Davis]

So is all the music in this diegetic?

[number8]

So is all the music in this diegetic?

Pretty much. I was amused by the end credits because they showed like 20 song credits and I realized that they were all in the party scene in the first 20 minutes.

[D_Davis]

Pretty much. I was amused by the end credits because they showed like 20 song credits and I realized that they were all in the party scene in the first 20 minutes.

That's cool.

[Wryan]

You too? The first time I saw that shot, I started biting my lower lip immediately. That was a fantastic setpiece all around.

Even though I admit I get vertigo easily and even though they didn't really show the scale of the possible fall so close to their side, I still got freaked out at the very idea of the whole thing.

[megladon8]

Even though I admit I get vertigo easily and even though they didn't really show the scale of the possible fall so close to their side, I still got freaked out at the very idea of the whole thing.


Scares like that are often much more effective than actually showing it.

But showing stuff can be effective, too. Just depends on the situation.

Anyways, I'm seeing this tonight. Though since I'm going with my friends, it's always a toss-up - they're the type that like waiting until 2 minutes before the movie starts to actually buy the tickets.

[Wryan]

Anyways, I'm seeing this tonight. Though since I'm going with my friends, it's always a toss-up - they're the type that like waiting until 2 minutes before the movie starts to actually buy the tickets.

If I had friends like that, they wouldn't survive around me.

As in, I would kill them after a couple rounds of that crap. :)

[Silencio]

:eek:

I wasn't expecting this to be my reaction. Frankly, I found the marketing, or the following and interest it got rather, redundant and laughable, but the film lives up to the hype the trailers promise. It's a truly intense, heart-pounding experience, as cheesy as that may sound. Maybe I was in the right mood, but as soon as the first "earthquake" hit, I literally started shaking and didn't let up until the end. The handheld camera concept may be gimmicky by now, but it completely works in correlation with the immediacy of the film's content.

I didn't really find any of the 9/11 parallels to be contrived or that prominent either. Sure, there are the "is it another terrorist attack?" snippets of dialogue, the dusty streets, collapsing buildings, but it leaned more to the realistic and current aspects of the situation than trying to somehow meaningfully allude to the attacks. I just accepted that this was about a group of friends who are trying to save another friend, rather than how it could be a reflection on 9/11. In other words, I fully believed everything that happens in this film, even if some of it is obviously implausible.

I found the contrast between the film's realism and the fantastical monster rather jarring. Like, you get scenes of quiet seclusion in those underground scenes, where the distant rumble and destruction could be anything, and then we get that revealing helicopter shot and it just makes the whole situation that much more disturbing.

Not sure about the film's longevity, or how it would hold up when not viewed in theatres, but it was money well spent for 75 minutes of a pure, adrenaline-pumping, descent into utter chaos and destruction.

[Silencio]

Scares like that are often much more effective than actually showing it.

But showing stuff can be effective, too. Just depends on the situation.And Cloverfield has a good balance of both (though that last close-up shot of the monster and Hud's death was just a tad forced, and took me out of the film's, up to that point, realism (I'm using that word a lot, but it's the best one I can do when describing this film).

A lot is implied, and I really appreciated how little information is given out to the characters, thus further pushing the whole "we are them" idea. But it also has some fantastic set pieces and money-shots like the aforementioned tower-lean and a fantastic sideways pan near the end of the film.

[number8]

I think we're making too much of the 9/11 connection. I want to ask, is it really that the movie made comparisons to it, or is it that the event was too embedded in your own psyche?

Because, really, you make any movie about the destruction of a city (especially New York) from the ground POV, it's going to look like 9/11. That's just how buildings going down look like. There's going to be dust, debris, and scared people.

[Silencio]

I think we're making too much of the 9/11 connection. I want to ask, is it really that the movie made comparisons to it, or is it that the event was too embedded in your own psyche?

Because, really, you make any movie about the destruction of a city (especially New York) from the ground POV, it's going to look like 9/11. That's just how buildings going down look like. There's going to be dust, debris, and scared people.You're right, that's exactly what I was trying to say. It really isn't that big of an aspect in the film, but the connections being made were pretty much inevitable from the beginning. It helps that the film concentrates more on the human scale, and specifically a small group of people, instead of being a full-out monster flick.

[MadMan]

Since I have Monday off next week I may try to go see this in the theater. I'm glad to hear positive thoughts about it, which is a good thing. And of course negative thoughts are fine as well-I read those too, although I avoid spoilers of course.

[eternity]

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS. I deleted a lot of them, but some important ones are still present.

SPOILERS

Since I first saw the trailer on a camera phone in July, Cloverfield has been a film that has consumed me. I watched both trailers hundreds of times, 1-18-08.com was my homepage until October, I studied the trailers, I studied the websites, I was on all the blogs, I was on Youtube, I was literally obsessed with this movie. I am a sucker for viral marketing, as the Halo 2 I Love Bees proved before all of this exploded onto the internet. But now, after keeping myself completely spoiler free the last three days, all this Slusho and Tagruato business really meant nothing. Nothing can prepare you for what Matt Reeves and J.J. Abrams have created in the most thought provoking, intense, scariest, saddest disaster films ever made, and by far, the best monster movie ever produced. My audience hated it, because they just didn't know what they were getting. We never really know what we are really seeing, which most monster movies go great lengths to explain to us everything, what the monster is, where it came from, why it's here, how they kill it, while Cloverfield does none of this, and for a really good reason.

People were incredibly skeptical of the Blair Witch "gimmick" used in the film, which in Blair Witch, it was a clever gimmick to make up for the incredibly low budget. But here, it is almost a necessity to the film's success, we go on a journey with these characters who continue to strive on, for different reasons. We don't get a big picture, we see what four people see with a video camera, and they see a lot. There's no cutting corners from seeing the monster or the destruction happening in New York City. We hardly see the monster at first, but as more buildings crumble and the skyline is only submerged in smoke, the monster comes in full view, but it's not like it matters, because it is almost indescribable. It's not a lion, it's not Cthulhu, it's better than that, it's something like an arachnid from the sea, it walks on four legs and is a lot like a spider/scorpion with sea creature eyes, and has little scorpion locust things that cause most of the grisly death in the film that you do see, as most arachnids do on a small scale. We don't know anything other than what's on the way from Point A to Point B, but we are taken on a journey that only gets worse for the people you're thrown into this apocalyptic New York City with, and the emotional trauma that is presented as things get put into place. Every character is pretty real, because it doesn't try to have characters in the traditional sense, just the people you'd meet at a party.

The film relies entirely on the journey and the imagery presented by it. The film only cost upwards of 20 million dollars to make, though it is more real and haunting in its imagery than I Am Legend or any other film with large amounts of special effects. The film starts with these characters absorbed in their own little problems, until things start to become life and death. Your best friends, your family die around you as you try to find a way for you and those you care about to survive. Friends and acquaintances helping each other survive something horrible and dying in the process, only with a whimper as everything around you is going on with a bang. The people are all scarred by what happens to them, and while it is never said, they all know that all hope is lost. What you see by the end of the film could never be portrayed traditionally with such sadness and power. Cinema can try, but can never capture the emotion of real life tragedy. But Cloverfield does. The last frames of the film are our two lovers, after falling apart, and reuniting through their self-sacrifice, letting it all go and spending their last moments in each others arms, ending off their video to let them know exactly what happened to them. Unless if 2008 is an amazing year, this is the defining moment of both the film, the year, and the monster movie genre. My little brother and the rest of the audience were complaining that there was no aftermath to the film, and they couldn't be any more wrong. This isn't about the monster, this is about the people who saw it, fought for each other, died for each other.

Cloverfield is a short 75 minutes, but you really don't know that until you look at your clock. Other than the 15 minute setup, which provides more of a feeling of realism as the film, after all, is only supposed to be about a brother and a best friend giving Rob a going away present. But the rest of the film is straight up, balls to the wall intensity. It's something that I wish could be the majority of my review, but there's not much to say other than the frantic war between the military and the monster, and the monster's feast on the civilians, while the military also tries to keep the hurt alive. Along with the special effects, which are pulled off so perfectly, there is nothing like this, and won't be for a very long time. This is some of the best action ever put on film, I'm sorry for the hyperbole, but you don't know until you see it. You really don't know, and you won't be able to imagine it, at least I couldn't. This is material that will make your heart skip beats, and it could have only been pulled off in this perspective. Who cares if we don't see the news except for the initial newscasts when we don't know what's going on in any way, who cares if we don't see the President and the government planning a way to deal with this situation. Who cares if we don't know if the monster is contained (if you listen to the very end of the credits, it's not. It's still alive.), and if it spread or what happened. If they didn't know, neither should we. When Cloverfield 2 comes out, which it will, this film was sold out at the screening I went to with 800 seats, we will probably get to know all of this in the first minutes, since all of this information, in the context of the film and how it's presented (it's a U.S. Government tape, recovered from what was formerly Central Park), but even though I wanted to know everything, since I spent so much time in 2007 trying to figure out, I'm not supposed to know, and neither are you. Those who let this bother them and were all booing and saying a bunch of stupid shit (the same people who talked through the first ten minutes about god knows what), it's your loss because you are wanting your films wrapped in a shiny bow, all Michael Bay style, because that's how you are used to your films. My audience for No Country for Old Men was the same way. You don't care how far they would have to reach for something like that, just because after thought hurts your brain.

Cloverfield could have not been done any other way, nothing could have been changed or altered for any reason. The film does what no monster movie in the past has been able to do. Create pure fear. Trembling, haunting fear that will stick with me for a very long time to come.

A+

[megladon8]

Just saw it.

Liked it, though it's definitely hugely flawed.

The monster is not at all what I expected (thanks, Boner :)), and I enjoyed the intensity the film effectively conveyed.

I've writing a full review for this one.

[Watashi]

Terrible film.

I should always put more trust into boner.

*strokes precious boner*

[Watashi]

It's a shame this move sucks because the concept is so freakin' awesome, but they had to ruin it with some of the most god-awful acting and dialogue ever. Did we need a more annoying narrator?

Also what was up with the invincibility of the the main characters? I mean, the girl is laying on the ground with a piece of pipe sticking out of her collarbone, and then is running around and flailing her arms like nothing ever happened. By the time they finally meet their doom, it's more of a "about damn time!" moment than a tragic one.

I immediately picked up on the "Sleeping Beauty" parables along the way, but it was way too silly especially the kiss to "resurrect" the hopeless damsel in distress.

The end credits ruled though.

[Silencio]

It's a shame this move sucks because the concept is so freakin' awesome, but they had to ruin it with some of the most god-awful acting and dialogue ever. Did we need a more annoying narrator?

Also what was up with the invincibility of the the main characters? I mean, the girl is laying on the ground with a piece of pipe sticking out of her collarbone, and then is running around and flailing her arms like nothing ever happened. By the time they finally meet their doom, it's more of a "about damn time!" moment than a tragic one.

I immediately picked up on the "Sleeping Beauty" parables along the way, but it was way too silly especially the kiss to "resurrect" the hopeless damsel in distress.

The end credits ruled though.It sounds like you had trouble suspending your disbelief. Which this film practically begs for from the beginning. Didn't have a problem with the acting or dialogue either. It doesn't really matter in this film, where a majority of it is shot literally behind character's backs and heads and little acting is actually done beyond the usual cry or scream of pain. What's there is serviceable enough. What dialogue did you find so grating? And I totally disagree about the doomed conclusion, I found that rather depressing.

[eternity]

Wats, I just wish one day we could agree on something...it would be so blissful.

[megladon8]

Cloverfield

a review by Braden Adam


So, how to possibly describe Cloverfield? I’ll just get it right out in the open - the movie is uneven. It has some occasionally annoying characters going through horrifying situations made to seem as realistic as possible despite the fact that they’re inherently unrealistic, and they make some ridiculous decisions through all of this which can’t really be covered by the “they weren’t thinking rationally because they were in shock” excuse. The effects are well done, and it has some surprisingly iconic images. And let’s not forget to mention that there are points throughout which are - get this - actually, genuinely scary. But it just feels so unsure of its own motives that I can’t possibly say it’s “brilliant”, but at the same time can’t deny it has moments of brilliance.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/megladon8/cloverfield3.jpg

Of course, for the past few months everyone has either been salivating to see what the monster looks like, or wanting to save the surprise. The viral marketing campaign for this movie has been insane, with videos and pictures being leaked to whet peoples’ appetites, and also disorient them with regards to what is and isn’t real. Is the monster visible in the clouds in the film’s poster? Or is it in the smoke? Was that a leg we briefly saw in the trailer, or was it a tail, or some other appendage? Or maybe it was just rising smoke? Then all of those news reports which were leaked not too long ago featuring hand-help footage of an ocean science facility being destroyed by something under the water raised even more questions. Is the monster a government project? Is it perhaps an alien? Did that science facility even have anything to do with the origin of the monster, or is it just meant as a red herring from the oh-so-clever J. J. Abrams? And then, perhaps the biggest question of all - will we even get to see the monster? Well, to set one thing straight without spoiling anything for you, we definitely see the monster in all its glory, and it’s very well done. Looking at how the film was made with a $30 million budget would lead one to believe much of that money was spent simply on the design and execution of the monster effects. And it certainly paid off, because it is something we have never seen before, and even if you wanted me to spoil it for you - which you don’t, trust me - I don’t know that I could describe what it is. Rest assured, it’s a great design.

But how good is the actual movie? Well, this is like the celluloid equivalent of someone with multiple personality disorder. Part of the movie thinks it’s a serious and frightening depiction of the mayhem which would be caused by such a monstrous attack on New York City. The other half is an almost unintentionally funny and satirical look at American vanity. Of course the 9/11 parallels are the first thing everyone’s going to look at, but that’s really not a huge part of it. There are some obvious images meant to evoke memories of that attack, but the entirety is played out more as “a general foreign body attacking American soil”, instead of a strict recollection of that event. The shot of the head of the Statue of Liberty being thrown by the monster and then landing in the street is literally showing America having its liberty thrown back in its face. And to add to that, there are a few parts with obviously placed American flags being destroyed that just seem like too ham-handed a way to show that this is an attack on America’s soul and way of life, not just buildings and streets.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/megladon8/cloverfield1.jpg

Most of the problems which arise are in the characters, though, who are all divinely good-looking rich people engaged in an almost soap opera-like existence where everyone’s gossiping and trying to find out who’s sleeping with who. That’s fine and good, but when the film’s biggest shtick is that it’s trying to show “realism”, this type of life just doesn’t connect with very many people - not to mention the characters’ apparent invincibility and the presence of the most durable camcorder ever made. But to then have the characters go on and make some incredibly ridiculous choices - like choosing to scale a toppled over building - just doesn’t make much sense at all, regardless of the honorable reasons behind these actions. Later on in the film, there is a scene (which was briefly shown in the trailer) where the main character is talking into the camera saying how “he has no idea what’s going on”. This also makes no sense and doesn’t excuse his stupidity, since the film we have seen has consisted of footage compiled entirely of situations in which he was involved, and he definitely saw and knew enough that he should have been trying to get as far away from the city as possible.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/megladon8/cloverfield2.jpg

Getting away from the negatives, though, there is a lot of good stuff to be seen in Cloverfield. Considering this is a PG-13, advertised up the arse, sell as many tickets as possible money-maker, there are enough moments of terror and tension (not to mention some excellent design ideas) which manage to make it a pretty good and very entertaining movie. And considering it’s not even an hour and a half long, it never overstays its welcome. While the film has been made with handheld cameras, it’s done strategically enough to never feel nauseating like the internet videos it is mimicking, and we get a great build-up to the explosive finale. I could actually see more comparisons being made between this and The Mist, than something like Godzilla or King Kong, because of its more personal scope and emphasis on our anxiety towards the unknown. It looks for the fear that would be felt down on the ground during a situation so horrible, and it often finds that and makes us feel helpless and vulnerable. But it can’t be denied that it’s deeply flawed, and these characters just aren’t likable or relatable enough to really feel the emotional impact that the film also occasionally strives for. If I could only use two words to sum this movie up, they would be “effective misfire”.

7.5 / 10

[Watashi]

It sounds like you had trouble suspending your disbelief. Which this film practically begs for from the beginning. Didn't have a problem with the acting or dialogue either. It doesn't really matter in this film, where a majority of it is shot literally behind character's backs and heads and little acting is actually done beyond the usual cry or scream of pain. What's there is serviceable enough. What dialogue did you find so grating? And I totally disagree about the doomed conclusion, I found that rather depressing.

Well, this film is basically Godzilla for the MySpace/YouTube generation where capturing the moment is more important than surviving it. Most of the cringe-worthy acting came from Hud. who in the middle of a city-chomping crisis, seems pretty calm and more interested in his crush than his own self.

The doomed conclusion was done much better in the similar "28 Weeks Later" last year, while here we kinda knew that humanity was hopeless from the start. We're entering a phase where 9/11 parallels are injected for "fun" and "thrilling". Trust me, Cloverfield will not be the first to do this. The worst device was the phone call from Rob's mom asking if everything is okay (which I'm relieved to find out that Nick Schager also picked up on this eye-rolling exchange in his review).

I think I die a little bit inside everyone calling this film better than War of the Worlds, which carries the same intentions, but Spielberg focuses the mayhem on a much more survival level than a simple "search and rescue" mission.

[Barty]

Someone had a seizure tonight in my theatre watching this.

[origami_mustache]

Yeah, but didn't Blair Witch accomplish this (so, so much more effectively) 9 years ago? The whole project reeks of self-importance for creating an 'entertainment' that deals with our 'current reality', albeit in the most nauseatingly glib and just plain nauseating way. The supposed realism of the endeavour achieved pretty much the exact opposite in my eyes; every camera jolt, swerve, drop-to-the-ground, and inexplicably slanted angle feels so calculated that I couldn't shake off the feeling of a film student crew contriving the whole thing. Acting was competent at best, but the blandly pretty cast do the stab at gritty realism no favors. If it avoids tidy explanations, it's only because the writing is so lazy that it avoids anything other than opportunites for destruction, screaming, mind-numbingly tactless 9/11 parallels, and a cheaply nihilistic conclusion that actually is quite tidy and pat, in fact... not to speak of that interminably drawn out getting-to-know-and-hate-the-characters party sequence.

I actually would contend that Cloverfield takes what The Blair Witch Project tried to accomplish to the next level. The Blair Witch, was a low budget independent film and the camera work is obviously less calculated and even more unpleasant to look at. Cloverfield in contrast is a big budget Hollywood product, and being that, the approach to film was very risky from a financial standpoint and should be lauded in my opinion. That said, the cinematography had to be incredibly precise and choreographed to work with the special effects as well as tell a coherent story visually as number8 pointed out. In fact I find the calculated nature of the supposed "on the fly" camerawork to be the most impressive aspect of the film considering the difficulty of it. When all is said and done I found Cloverfield to be vastly superior to and more engaging than The Blair Witch Project.

[Bosco B Thug]

Ummmm... effective in fits and starts and spurts... beckons as an affecting illustration of the human need to preserve experience instead of suppress it... but it's sappy instead of incisive, punchy but not really resonant, contrived when it should be breathing gravity into its visceral grimness...

The spider creatures, although scary, are a silly plot device... so is Hud... Marlena's just there to see blow up...

I guess the movie's gimmick keeps the film on a tight chain, so maybe this is the best we could have expected from it, a popcorn movie with aspirations of gravitas. The monster and its money shots were meh too, though. I never got to that "Oh yeah, that's good, that's enough for tonight. I'd love to go the whole night getting more monster but after that, I don't need any more monster scenes 'cause I'm spent!" state. I suppose you can say it's integrity to the high concept. But in the end, the film failed to satisfy me. I think the film's worth seeing in theaters, though, if the idea appeals to you.


Someone had a seizure tonight in my theatre watching this. Ack, hope it wasn't too serious.

[number8]

I liked Hud's commentaries a lot. He was funny.

[Skitch]

I think this style of filmmaking was the only way to make a monster movie...serious. You have some big sweeping steady cam shots and all of the sudden its a Bay movie, your focusing on the destruction or c.g.i., and the characters are an afterthought. Doing it this way helps make it realistically intense...at least as much as a monster movie can be.

I give it a thumbs up. Not perfect, but quite enjoyable.

[megladon8]

I have to give the movie props for actually scaring me. This is the first time I have ever seen a giant monster movie where the monster actually possessed a terror-instilling quality, rather than just being a "cool" spectacle.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I think my wife and I are seeing this tomorrow. If not, sometime later in the week.

[megladon8]

I think my wife and I are seeing this tomorrow. If not, sometime later in the week.


I hope you two enjoy it.

Despite my plethora of negative comments, I really did like it a lot. It's certainly unique, if only for its gimmick - and it is a gimmick.


I have to add in another little frustration, though...

Was anyone else pissed off by the monster's sudden ability to sneak up on people at the end of the movie? Seriously, the cameraman's death made no sense at all. This enormous gargantuan whose footsteps they could hear miles away, is now suddenly standing right overtop of them and not even ONE of them noticed its approach?

That really, really bothered me.

[Scar]

FUCKING AWESOME.

The preceding has been a Scar, Spun, bac0n review.

[eternity]

I hope you two enjoy it.

Despite my plethora of negative comments, I really did like it a lot. It's certainly unique, if only for its gimmick - and it is a gimmick.


I have to add in another little frustration, though...

Was anyone else pissed off by the monster's sudden ability to sneak up on people at the end of the movie? Seriously, the cameraman's death made no sense at all. This enormous gargantuan whose footsteps they could hear miles away, is now suddenly standing right overtop of them and not even ONE of them noticed its approach?

That really, really bothered me.
They just got out of a helicopter after it crashed, which is amazing how they even survived that.

[Scar]

The following is directed straight at Wats:

1) The kiss did not wake her up. She woke up, they kissed later.

2) Its rebar, not pipe.

3) The rebar may have destroyed her shoulder a bit, and she mentions after helicopter crash that she can't move her arm. And, honestly, if you are running from a grizzly bear, your going to be so hopped full of adrenalin, that you can run on a broken leg. If she happened to be flaying her arms while the creature was right there, thats good 'ol wunder-drug adrenalin doing its thing.

4) The worst device was the phone call?! I'm sorry, but right after the 35W bridge came crashin' down, I called my mom to tell her we were ok. Many people called me and texted me to see if I was ok. So, shut the fuck up.

[Scar]

They just got out of a helicopter after it crashed, which is amazing how they even survived that.

Correct.

[Wryan]

I can't fathom what you saw so bad in the phone call Wats. That was the most emotional part of the movie for me, the only time I teared up. The "you found me" scene and the bridge at the end were merely ok, but that phone call tore me up bad.

Maybe it's because I have an older brother like the siblings in the movie and it really struck me harder than I thought it would. I dunno, but the guy's acting was perfect in it and it made total sense to me. The cell phone was only intermittently working and the call finally came through while they were waiting.

That's also the time that Rob was able to fully process his brother's death since it happened. He was too stunned earlier and his brain was also crowded thinking of Beth. In the subway, having to say it to his mother, made him realize it completely for the first time too. His reaction was perfect and spot on.

[Watashi]

So, shut the fuck up.

Okay? I found it hokey and forced.

I'm sorry not to have the exact same opinion as you.

[Watashi]

I can't fathom what you saw so bad in the phone call Wats. That was the most emotional part of the movie for me, the only time I teared up. The "you found me" scene and the bridge at the end were merely ok, but that phone call tore me up bad.

Maybe it's because I have an older brother like the siblings in the movie and it really struck me harder than I thought it would. I dunno, but the guy's acting was perfect in it and it made total sense to me. The cell phone was only intermittently working and the call finally came through while they were waiting.

That's also the time that Rob was able to fully process his brother's death since it happened. He was too stunned earlier and his brain was also crowded thinking of Beth. In the subway, having to say it to his mother, made him realize it completely for the first time too. His reaction was perfect and spot on.

I don't have any issues with Rob's mom calling him (which is a natural procedure of worry during a national crisis, so I have no idea what Scar's problem is), but more of the calculatedness of the set-up to cheaply tie-in into the 9/11 allegory. The films stops for a breather as characters ask questions and reflect on what they just saw and then the call happens just as Rob is finally coming to terms with his brother.

[KK2.0]

I think we're making too much of the 9/11 connection. I want to ask, is it really that the movie made comparisons to it, or is it that the event was too embedded in your own psyche?

Because, really, you make any movie about the destruction of a city (especially New York) from the ground POV, it's going to look like 9/11. That's just how buildings going down look like. There's going to be dust, debris, and scared people.

Not only that but everyone followed 9/11 through amateur footage and internet which is pretty much what this film tries to capture so, the comparisons are even closer in that sense too.

can't wait for this movie, i think i'm gonna love it.

[Wryan]

I don't have any issues with Rob's mom calling him (which is a natural procedure of worry during a national crisis, so I have no idea what Scar's problem is), but more of the calculatedness of the set-up to cheaply tie-in into the 9/11 allegory. The films stops for a breather as characters ask questions and reflect on what they just saw and then the call happens just as Rob is finally coming to terms with his brother.

I didn't feel it was too calculated. I also don't know why so many critics had such a hard time leaving the 9/11 parallels aside. One person even said the entire film was LITERALLY a direct metaphor for 9/11. Now, that is eye-roll-worthy and I couldn't disagree more. But anyway, if I was in their situation, I wouldn't have handled the moment any different.

9/11 is never going to go away. Any time something even remotely smacks of parallel, someone will be sensitive enough to detect it and perhaps hurt enough to be disturbed/pissed off by it. We will never, ever be able to move past it 100%. It is going to affect a lot of stuff for the rest of the time we Americans have on this planet, right down to comparatively piddly stuff like filmmakers making a monster movie.

A better discussion would be: Why do we feel driven, perhaps even compelled, to destroy NY in particular above all other cities and places in the country, in disaster film after disaster film? Why that place and why so often? Even long before 9/11. What does that say about us?

[megladon8]

They just got out of a helicopter after it crashed, which is amazing how they even survived that.


But that's also stupid...how can you defend stupidity with more stupidity?

Am I actually the only one who thought it was retarded that it somehow snuck up on them?

[megladon8]

Oh and I wanted to mention that I really don't understand the comparisons between this and The Blair Witch Project.

The only similarity they share is that they're both filmed on handheld cameras...but then you might as well say Cloverfield is like the last two Bourne movies.

[Wryan]

Oh and I wanted to mention that I really don't understand the comparisons between this and The Blair Witch Project.


Superficial comparisons make Joe and Jane easy understand.

[Boner M]

The only similarity they share is that they're both filmed on handhld camera.
No.

[megladon8]

Superficial comparisons make Joe and Jane easy understand.


:) True.

I just think it's a really stupid and - you said it - superficial comparison.

"You should see Apollo 13! You loved Star Wars, and they both have scenes in space, so I don't see what could go wrong!"

[megladon8]

No.


Good rebuttal.

Clever, intuitive, challenging. Made me rethink the movie.

:P

[Boner M]

Good rebuttal.

Clever, intuitive, challenging. Made me rethink the movie.

:P
Both films are fashioned to look like evidence or a document (they begin with similar titles explaining that you're watching found footage), filmed by a character in the narrative. There's a huge difference between this and any other random film shot on handheld. Not a stupid, superficial comparison.

[megladon8]

Both films are fashioned to look like evidence or a document (they begin with similar titles explaining that you're watching found footage), filmed by a character in the narrative. There's a huge difference between this and any other random film shot on handheld. Not a stupid, superficial comparison.


I think that, in itself, is pretty superficial.

They're not similar at all. I would never tell someone to see Cloverfield because it's similar to/they liked Blair Witch.

[Boner M]

I think that, in itself, is pretty superficial.

They're not similar at all. I would never tell someone to see Cloverfield because it's similar to/they liked Blair Witch.
Neither, but you inferred that the former had as much in common with the latter as it did with the Bourne films. There's not many films that use the first-person handheld style from start to finish, so at least stylistically, BWP is a better reference point for the film's style than anything else.

[megladon8]

Neither, but you said you inferred that the former had as much in common with the latter as it did with the Bourne films. There's not many films that use the first-person camerawork style, so at least stylistically, BWP is a better reference point for the film's style than anything else.


Even there, I'm not sure I agree - though I know what you're saying. I'mnot denying it, I just think that many-a-time Cloverfield ditched the whole shaky-cam thing in order to show clear shots of the action. Whereas Blair Witch was consistently amateurish.

Its concept, yes, is more similar to Blair Witch...but I don't think it reaches much farther beyond that.

[megladon8]

Well, Boner, I really am terribly sorry that you didn't like it.

I really enjoyed it, and I'm sure it enrages you that so many are liking it - I know I've felt that way before.

But, as I always tell myself, it would be a mighty boring world we live in if everyone liked the same stuff.

And by the way, not sure if you read my preliminary thoughts (before my full review), but thanks a lot for not spoiling the monster for me, even when I begged you to :)

[bac0n]

I saw Cloverfield (with Scar & Spun Lepton, no less) earlier today, and all I gotta say is http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/grottoboy/homer_simpson_drool.jpg

[megladon8]

I saw Cloverfield (with Scar & Spun Lepton, no less) earlier today, and all I gotta say is http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/grottoboy/homer_simpson_drool.jpg


:)

Awesome, man. Next time I see you on MSN we gotta talk about it.

So glad you enjoyed it. Seems like it was made for you.

[bac0n]

It might as well have been. I've long been waiting for a Giant Monster story told from the perspective of someone caught in the middle of it, and in this regard, Cloverfield was everything I could have hoped for and more.

Godzilla 98: still not forgiven, but at least thanks to Cloverfield, it's been forgotten.

[megladon8]

It might as well have been. I've long been waiting for a Giant Monster story told from the perspective of someone caught in the middle of it, and in this regard, Cloverfield was everything I could have hoped for and more.

Godzilla 98: still not forgiven, but at least thanks to Cloverfield, it's been forgotten.


What'd you think of the actual monster?

I thought it was pretty badass, and I still can't think of how to describe it. It's not like any animal I've ever seen, so it's not like you could just say it's "a mutated ___________".

[Bosco B Thug]

Am I actually the only one who thought it was retarded that it somehow snuck up on them? No, not at all, I thought the same thing!

BUT... you know, it's kinda shows how commited they are to their "handheld camera" gimmick.

Maybe Hud knows the monster is right there, he just REALLY wants to save that camera! In a regular movie, they'd be able to put suspense music, show how utterly horrified Hud is of going back for the camera with clever editing... but here, there's none of that. And the monster comes in for the kill without any dramatic build-up!

[bac0n]

What'd you think of the actual monster?

I thought it was pretty badass, and I still can't think of how to describe it. It's not like any animal I've ever seen, so it's not like you could just say it's "a mutated ___________".

I thought the monster was great, tho I never felt I really got a full-on good look at it. Sure there were times when I could make out the general shape, other times when I got a good look at it's face, and so on, but I never got a really clear shot at all of it - which isn't necessarily a bad thing mind you, and probably in the end was a good thing, cuz, ya know, the movie was about the folks caught in the crossfire much for than the monster itself.

And as for the monster sneaking up on them in the end. They had just pulled themselves from the wreckage of a helicopter - I can totally see how they will have not taken full stock of their surroundings when they were trying to see how badly hurt each other was, so they weren't exactly running on Daredevil-level intuition, if you catch my drift.

Or maybe they were distracted cuz they had just survived a helicopter crash as I would have been in such a scenario.

Or maybe it's just that the rest of the movie is just so freakin' awesome that I don't give a shit how the monster snuck up on them; I'm just happy I got a nice closeup look at it's ugly mush. It was a good payoff, and I don't really overly dwell on the plot device used to give it to me. ;)

[megladon8]

I understand the fact that they just got out of a helicopter crash, but seriously, they could clearly hear the monster's foot steps when it was on the other side of New York City (which isn't exactly "small")...yet it walks right up to them and they are somehow surprised by its presence.

Oh well, it bugged me, but like you said, the awesomeness of so much other stuff in the movie kept me from feeling too badly about it.

I'm actually already planning on seeing it again with my brother.

[Wryan]

Both films are fashioned to look like evidence or a document (they begin with similar titles explaining that you're watching found footage), filmed by a character in the narrative. There's a huge difference between this and any other random film shot on handheld. Not a stupid, superficial comparison.

Don't give "superficial" excess connotation here. I meant it in a flat, "surface-level" way. As in, those qualifiers for comparison are all surface-level stuff. Critics use BWP as a reference point because it's easy to do so, handy, and has elements on the surface that let the reader more immediately identify with the idea. In other words, superficial. I didn't mean it in a negative way.

[Eleven]

I guess if you don't go to Japan fast enough, Japan comes to you. Also, I'm assuming that spoilers are to be expected in this thread by now.

An intriguing concept with choice moments (the riderless carriage, taking cell phone pics of the Statue of Liberty head, elements of the the tower setpiece) that is hopelessly marred by bland characters and overly structured editing and plot that, I feel, rubbed up against clear attempts at verisimilitude. I'm not sure why 9/11 parallels are somehow less of an issue because they are unavoidable; that would seem like even more reason for the filmmakers to usefully engage with this aspect of the material, which I'm not sure they did.

I don't blame the characters for not hearing the monster at the end, but even having seen it only a few hours ago, I don't remember if we hear the monster sneak up, that's my question.

[megladon8]

I don't blame the characters for not hearing the monster at the end, but even having seen it only a few hours ago, I don't remember if we hear the monster sneak up, that's my question.


That's my point. Neither the characters or the audience hear it.

It's done for a sudden surprise scare, but it just doesn't make any sense at all. Looking at how big the monster is, even if they didn't hear it, I'm sure one of them would have seen it coming before it was literally right on top of them.

I mean, it made a point of showing two of the characters sitting on the ground facing in the direction that the monster comes from. How did they not notice it at all?

[Wryan]

Isn't it possible the monster and helicopter occupied the same relative space while it was crashing to the ground? It just didn't.......move much from the general area that the copter crashed around. Granted, we don't know how long the people inside were out cold and we don't know its whereabouts during that time.

Top-down view:
[MONSTER] [HELICOPTER] -----> EXIT PATH FROM COPTER
<-----TURN AROUND TO GET CAMERA

[Dead & Messed Up]

Having just seen the film, it seems like the ultimate in pan-flashery. None of the characters have a tenth of the interest of the three leads in Jaws. Additionally, I thought there were way too many full shots of the monster, especially that final one.

Having said that, it moves fast, has some great visuals, and the dog-sized lice is a neat little trick.

[Dukefrukem]

Saw cloverfield last night. Most predictable, unclimatic movie i've ever seen. It ended how I hoped it wouldn't.... however, I really liked the last 5 seconds of footage of the movie where Rob and Beth were on the ferris wheel... it was a scene where I could see JJ say, "we need to put this in the movie"... did anyone catch it??? maybe it was more obvious than i thought but i had to squint to see it...

also:

so have we come to a conclusion whether or not the bites from the smaller spider things caused you to just get sick? or does it lay eggs in your body or something? did that girl explode? or did they guys kill her?

[Dukefrukem]

Okay? I found it hokey and forced.

I'm sorry not to have the exact same opinion as you.

I did too.

[Dukefrukem]

But that's also stupid...how can you defend stupidity with more stupidity?

Am I actually the only one who thought it was retarded that it somehow snuck up on them?

Also agree. There is more that is wrong with this movie than the sneaking up of the monster, the lame spider things, (which i predicted pages back), and \

an ending that pretty much ripped off Blair Witch Project... they took the easy way out with this one... and i was praying they wouldn't... I was more disappointed with this movie's ending than I was with the remake of War of the Worlds

[Dukefrukem]

I think that, in itself, is pretty superficial.

They're not similar at all. I would never tell someone to see Cloverfield because it's similar to/they liked Blair Witch.

They have the same fucking ending. All the characters die without showing the audience a tiny clue of how they might stop this enemy. Its a huge cop out and leaves the movie completely open ended. The only thing we do know that happened after the events that took place, is someone found the video cameras eventually.

[Dukefrukem]

It's a shame this move sucks because the concept is so freakin' awesome, but they had to ruin it with some of the most god-awful acting and dialogue ever. Did we need a more annoying narrator?

Also what was up with the invincibility of the the main characters? I mean, the girl is laying on the ground with a piece of pipe sticking out of her collarbone, and then is running around and flailing her arms like nothing ever happened. By the time they finally meet their doom, it's more of a "about damn time!" moment than a tragic one.

I immediately picked up on the "Sleeping Beauty" parables along the way, but it was way too silly especially the kiss to "resurrect" the hopeless damsel in distress.

The end credits ruled though.

Although I agree the film is not brought to complete potential, I didn't think it was horrible. I was very disappointed with my above posts, but the comic relief was great and needed. I did think a lot of the dialog was lame. I think I heard: "Oh my god" like 55 times throughout the whole film. After thinking about it more after typing this, I think I'm giving it an A for effort and a C for execution. Overall score: B

[Scar]

Okay? I found it hokey and forced.

I'm sorry not to have the exact same opinion as you.

And the other points I made? Like shooting down your Sleeping Beauty crap?

[eternity]

I'll tell you why we don't hear it, and neither do any of them. Because they just were in a helicopter crash, no way in hell they could have heard it. Why did we not hear it? Because WE ARE HUD. Hud is used as a device to substitute ourselves into the film, we are that character and we see everything through his eyes. Anything we don't know is because he/we did not see it. That's why his name is Hud, it's a clever little pun.

[Thirdmango]

Again I will say as someone who saw it that until reading these talks about 9/11 comparisons I hadn't thought of it at all during the movie. Cause it was a monster movie. Having said that, I liked the movie, it seems though that I am one of the few that are caught in the middle of neither hating nor loving the movie. I will say I liked it more then I disliked it. And I as well believe iosos will not like said film. I'll probably watch the movie once more, and possibly more then that if a second movie does come out. I do want to say that I love the concept of the movie a lot more then the actual movie.

Now for nit picky what not.

I do want to see it again only because I missed the monster falling into the ocean at the end of the movie when they were at Coney Island. Also I want to see if again for the apparent Dharma Initiative logo at the beginning of the tape.

I loved the explosion of the chick. The fact that she was bitten but no one noticed until she started bleeding out her eyes was quite intense and very nice.

The party scene though was needed, I didn't enjoy watching it, and maybe that was good as it was some stupid kid's going away video. Also I really didn't get the whole sex tension going on until near the end, I couldn't figure out due to probably not really knowing the names of the characters why it was so weird that they had had sex. Was it that the only time the two characters had sex was the night before the first video was made?

[Watashi]

And the other points I made? Like shooting down your Sleeping Beauty crap?
What about it? Whether the kiss resurrected her is not the point. The parable is still there. The knight in shining armor scaling the tower to rescue the fainted damsel from the mighty dragon, etc. It's too cutesy for its own good and only made a hokey love story hokier.

[Spun Lepton]

Well, I have to say, I really enjoyed it. Some of the complaints here seem a little like nitpickery to me, but whatever. No film is perfect, and, no, Cloverfield is not perfect. That said, it wildly succeeded in what it set out to do. It provided plenty of suspense and nail-biting situations along with large-scale monsterdamage (I'm writing Miriam-Webster right now to have that word created).

And, honestly, why would people go see a movie like this? Escapist entertainment. And it doesn't attempt to be anything more than that.

It draws some imagery from 9/11, yes, which would be expected, especially given that Godzilla was an a-bomb allegory, and this was Abrams' ode to good ol' Godzie. Once the dust swirls by, though, the whole 9/11 thing is dropped in favor of suspense and thrills. The scene in the tunnel had me so tense that I was squished down in my seat. Scar mentioned afterward that he checked me out during that scene, and apparently my eyes were as big as saucers. The leaning building was a brilliant idea, and simply seeing the building made my heart jump into my throat.

I had no problem with the characters, nor the acting. In fact, I was pretty impressed with the level of realism they managed to convey. The party scenes never felt calculated (although, I'm sure they were), the dialogue never seemed unnatural. The moment we're introduced to Hud I had to giggle, since his name is a in-joke for video gamers. So geeky.

As for the monster "sneaking up," I will have to echo the other sentiments... that they had just crashed in a helicopter, and the monster was pretty much right there when they crashed. Had it been real life, yeah, they probably would've noticed it. But, it's not real life. It's drama, and escapist drama at that, which is more about manipulating the audience's emotions than it is about realism. Strict realism in a movie like this would've made the movie far less fun and engaging. So, it's not a problem for me.

And come on, walking into the theater, I was already anticipating a one-on-one scene between the cameraman and the monster. It had to happen. I was glad to get a good look at its ugly mush.

Four out of five smilies: :):):):)

[Dukefrukem]

Again I will say as someone who saw it that until reading these talks about 9/11 comparisons I hadn't thought of it at all during the movie. Cause it was a monster movie. Having said that, I liked the movie, it seems though that I am one of the few that are caught in the middle of neither hating nor loving the movie. I will say I liked it more then I disliked it. And I as well believe iosos will not like said film. I'll probably watch the movie once more, and possibly more then that if a second movie does come out. I do want to say that I love the concept of the movie a lot more then the actual movie.

Now for nit picky what not.

I do want to see it again only because I missed the monster falling into the ocean at the end of the movie when they were at Coney Island. Also I want to see if again for the apparent Dharma Initiative logo at the beginning of the tape.

I loved the explosion of the chick. The fact that she was bitten but no one noticed until she started bleeding out her eyes was quite intense and very nice.

The party scene though was needed, I didn't enjoy watching it, and maybe that was good as it was some stupid kid's going away video. Also I really didn't get the whole sex tension going on until near the end, I couldn't figure out due to probably not really knowing the names of the characters why it was so weird that they had had sex. Was it that the only time the two characters had sex was the night before the first video was made?

Oh man you missed it????????????? I looked around in a packed theater after I saw it and no one seemed to have saw it either. I turned to my gf and said, "did you see that?" she was like: "see what"? How many other people saw it?

[Scar]

What about it? Whether the kiss resurrected her is not the point. The parable is still there. The knight in shining armor scaling the tower to rescue the fainted damsel from the mighty dragon, etc. It's too cutesy for its own good and only made a hokey love story hokier.

When people add stuff to their review that didn't happen in the movie, its rather irritating.

[Spun Lepton]

Oh man you missed it????????????? I looked around in a packed theater after I saw it and no one seemed to have saw it either. I turned to my gf and said, "did you see that?" she was like: "see what"? How many other people saw it?

You sure it wasn't just the LSD, Duke?

[Scar]

You sure it wasn't just the LSD, Duke?

Nah, I just confirmed it. Someone went back a second time and captured a pic w/ their camera.

[Spun Lepton]

Nah, I just confirmed it. Someone went back a second time and captured a pic w/ their camera.

Oh, well ... shut my mouth. Good eye, Duke. ;)

[Scar]

Oh, well ... shut my mouth. Good eye, Duke. ;)

http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=485479&st=720&p=15237257&#entry15237257

[number8]

I don't think it's the monster. One of the viral sites said that a satellite fell into the ocean on the date that was written in the footage.

[eternity]

Matt Reeves said in an interview that

Nothing is falling out of the sky per say, it's rather just the Cloverfield monster playing around in the water as it is a baby monster. A month later, it's all grown up, and it has separation anxiety because he lost his mother. That sounds really hokey though, so I don't know if he was joking or if it was a falsified interview.

http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/cloverfield-interview-with-director-matt-reeves.php

[Wryan]

What about it? Whether the kiss resurrected her is not the point. The parable is still there. The knight in shining armor scaling the tower to rescue the fainted damsel from the mighty dragon, etc. It's too cutesy for its own good and only made a hokey love story hokier.

I never once gave the SB parallel a single second's worth of time while I was watching. /shrug :confused:

[Dukefrukem]

Oh, well ... shut my mouth. Good eye, Duke. ;)

:) I was expecting something like this through the whole movie. I was even expecting the Dharama symbol on it, but i figured that would be a little extreme.

[Dukefrukem]

and actually...

those picture's aren't the splash i saw. I saw one directly the middle of the ocean, like something was falling out of the sky.

[Dukefrukem]

I don't think it's the monster. One of the viral sites said that a satellite fell into the ocean on the date that was written in the footage.

yeh actually a lot of people are saying:

Apparently it was the satellite that the company was looking for that crashed into the ocean and when they went to go look for it they disturbed the monster and woke it up from a 1000 year sleep.

[megladon8]

I don't think this monster was in a 1000 year sleep...the viral footage leaked a week or two ago showing that science facility collapsing seemed to be hinting at the idea of the monster being man-made.

And I don't mean to keep harping on about the same issue which is (admittdly) nit-picky, but back to the monster sneaking up on them...

I'm pretty damn sure that a bunch of time has passed between them crashing and then waking up and getting out. At least enough for the sun to come up, since it's just starting to get a bit of light out when they go down, and when the camera turns back on in the crash, it's full-light.

So I don't think the excuse that they crashed close to the monster, or that they were still shaken up from the crash really cover it, since it was at least an hour before they got out.

But, again, it's nitpicky. I still really liked (almost loved) the movie.

[Dukefrukem]

I don't think this monster was in a 1000 year sleep...the viral footage leaked a week or two ago showing that science facility collapsing seemed to be hinting at the idea of the monster being man-made.


I've never seen this footage. what are you referring to?

[megladon8]

I've never seen this footage. what are you referring to?


The links are somewhere earlier in the thread - it was news footage released in several different languages, where an ocean science facility is being torn apart from under the water, and collapses in on itself.

It's all shot similar to the actual movie, on a handicam in a helicopter flying away from the incident.

[Dukefrukem]

this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KarNwKx5mGY

i dont see anything about a satilite

[megladon8]

this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KarNwKx5mGY

i dont see anything about a satilite


Yes, that.

And what are you talking about? I didn't say anything about a satellite, either.

[Dukefrukem]

Yes, that.

And what are you talking about? I didn't say anything about a satellite, either.

umm oops. that was supposed to be in spoiler text.

why is everyone talking about satellites and crap???

[megladon8]

umm oops. that was supposed to be in spoiler text.

why is everyone talking about satellites and crap???


Because that part you were talking about where you thought the monster was jumping in and out of the ocean at the end, was apparently supposed to be a satellite falling into the ocean.

You're talking about two completely different things.

[Dukefrukem]

Because that part you were talking about where you thought the monster was jumping in and out of the ocean at the end, was apparently supposed to be a satellite falling into the ocean.

You're talking about two completely different things.

okay and my question is where does this satellite come into the story? and my theory about the splash is some kind of alien seed or something that gets hatched and grows into the huge monster.

[megladon8]

okay and my question is where does this satellite come into the story? and my theory about the splash is some kind of alien seed or something that gets hatched and grows into the huge monster.


The satellite doesn't come into the "story" - it's just that your theory that it's an "alien seed" has pretty much been debunked, as it's apparently a falling satellite.

And what I was saying earlier is that it wouldn't be an alien seed anyways, because that science facility footage I told you about hints at the monster having been created by man.

[Rowland]

I've had three people tell me this is one of their new favorite movies over the weekend. Seems people like it. I'll probably go during the week sometime.

[megladon8]

I've had three people tell me this is one of their new favorite movies over the weekend. Seems people like it. I'll probably go during the week sometime.


I don't know that you'll like it too much...then again there have been some movies you have unexpectedly loved, so I don't know.

Obviously, though, I hope you enjoy it.

[Scar]

I don't think this monster was in a 1000 year sleep...the viral footage leaked a week or two ago showing that science facility collapsing seemed to be hinting at the idea of the monster being man-made.

And I don't mean to keep harping on about the same issue which is (admittdly) nit-picky, but back to the monster sneaking up on them...

I'm pretty damn sure that a bunch of time has passed between them crashing and then waking up and getting out. At least enough for the sun to come up, since it's just starting to get a bit of light out when they go down, and when the camera turns back on in the crash, it's full-light.

So I don't think the excuse that they crashed close to the monster, or that they were still shaken up from the crash really cover it, since it was at least an hour before they got out.

But, again, it's nitpicky. I still really liked (almost loved) the movie.

I whole heartedly disagree about how much time has passed. Very little time has passed. Once the sun breaks the surface, it gets bright pretty quick.

They saw the monster get carpet bombed by the B2, the monster lashes out, they crash right by it. They get out of the crash, and its right there.

[megladon8]

I whole heartedly disagree about how much time has passed. Very little time has passed. Once the sun breaks the surface, it gets bright pretty quick.

They saw the monster get carpet bombed by the B2, the monster lashes out, they crash right by it. They get out of the crash, and its right there.


But the camera turns off when they crash, then when it clicks back on it's full daylight.

The sun doesn't rise that quickly.

Plus I have to point out again that when Rob and Beth climb out of the chopper they sit down on the ground facing the direction that the monster comes from. I understand that disoreintation and shock occur when you've been in a crash like that...but I'm sure you'd notice that freaking mammoth beast near you.

But seriously, I don't want to fight/argue about this :) It's just a little nitpicky thing.

[number8]

I don't think this monster was in a 1000 year sleep...the viral footage leaked a week or two ago showing that science facility collapsing seemed to be hinting at the idea of the monster being man-made.

That was an oil drill station, not a science facility.

[megladon8]

That was an oil drill station, not a science facility.


Really? I could have sworn it was a science facility - maybe it's because I'm remembering that footage from the inside of the structure, showing all the people in lab coats running up and down the stairs.

[Ezee E]

Wow. I figured I'd have liked it, but I didn't know that I would love it.

The 9/11 comparisons are a little forced by the reviewers. Besides a line or two of dialog, this is a movie that could've been released before 9/11 and would've remained the same. It happens to be a date that will be in all our minds forever, and anything involving explosions in NYC will immediately bring this to our minds. Hell, if anything really did happen in New York, what would you think? I'm pretty sure you wouldn't think of it as a monster as a first option.

The acting and dialog is questionable, but can be overlooked. What we're seeing is a city destroyed by a monster in a way I've never seen it before. Whenever there's action or suspense, it masterfully succeeds. Whether it be spiders, helping out a bit victim, or the high-rise rescue, it's all breathtaking.

Short but perfectly sweet.

[megladon8]

Awesome, E.

Glad you loved it.

[Scar]

The scene where the military is attacking it, and Hud's running, looks up, and you see the monster's face got a big 'Woah!' from me.

So awesome. So, so awesome.....

And the spiders/lice resulted in the most intense scene in the whole movie.

[megladon8]

The scene where the military is attacking it, and Hud's running, looks up, and you see the monster's face got a big 'Woah!' from me.

So awesome. So, so awesome.....

And the spiders/lice resulted in the most intense scene in the whole movie.


Which scene do you mean, with the spiders/lice?

I thought the death of Rob's brother on the bridge was done really well.

There wasn't some cheesily dramatic watching-him-fall scene...it's like they didn't even realize what had happened until they finally stopped running for a couple of minutes.

[Scar]

Which scene do you mean, with the spiders/lice?

The Subway Tunnel There's a reason why I use the shotgun in video games when you got shit like that coming at you!



I thought the death of Rob's brother on the bridge was done really well.

There wasn't some cheesily dramatic watching-him-fall scene...it's like they didn't even realize what had happened until they finally stopped running for a couple of minutes.

Yeah, that was definately well done.

[megladon8]

The Subway Tunnel There's a reason why I use the shotgun in video games when you got shit like that coming at you!

Ah, OK, ya that was good.

I especially liked when they turned on the night vision and saw a whole bunch of them RIGHT THERE.

Even though I knew it was coming - I've seen The Descent, afterall - it is the first time we actually see them, and it still made me jump.

Plus, anything with bugs makes me feel like I have them crawling all over me, and I start swatting my arms :P

[megladon8]

The more I think about it, the more I like it.

I'm going to wait until I see it again (I'm sure I'll see it at least one more time before it leaves theatres), but I wouldn't be surprised if I bump it up to an 8.

I'm also super surprised that Canada gave it a rating of PG!!! That's insane!!

[eternity]

Davis proved me wrong about the action sequences in Cloverfield. There's a lot of better action in a lot of different monster movies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPn-aweCAN8

Never doubt Davis on his knowledge of asian cinema.

[megladon8]

Davis proved me wrong about the action sequences in Cloverfield. There's a lot of better action in a lot of different monster movies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPn-aweCAN8

Never doubt Davis on his knowledge of asian cinema.


Wait wait wait...Davis saw Cloverfield???

Did I miss this somewhere?

[Sven]

Aaaaah! I knew it! I KNEW IT!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/iosos/Random%20good%20pictures/Groverfield.jpg

[D_Davis]

Davis proved me wrong about the action sequences in Cloverfield. There's a lot of better action in a lot of different monster movies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPn-aweCAN8

Never doubt Davis on his knowledge of asian cinema.

I'm sure Bacon and Scar will back this up as well.

[Watashi]

Oh come on. The 9/11 parallels are so blatantly obvious that is goes beyond mere "explosions in New York". Abrams and Reeves knew very well they were staging a "9/11 with a monster" film and this isn't a criticism against the film, but just common obversation.

[megladon8]

Oh come on. The 9/11 parallels are so blatantly obvious that is goes beyond mere "explosions in New York". Abrams and Reeves knew very well they were staging a "9/11 with a monster" film and this isn't a criticism against the film, but just common obversation.


I agree they knew it, and it is there.

I just thought the movie was more blatant American patriotism than anything else - though even that couldn't seem to figure out if it was being genuine, or almost satirical.

[bac0n]

I'm sure Bacon and Scar will back this up as well.

A-HA! I KNEW I had a nit-pick about this movie!! There wasn't a single cheesey giant monster move in the entire damn thing! No Godzilla Dropkick, no nuclear godzilla body press, no MechaGodzilla Atomic Cross Body Check, no flying bird bomb, no NUTHIN'!

And for that matter, I didn't see a single Japanese schoolboy with his shorts pulled all the way up his butt-crack either!

AND YOU CALL THIS A GIANT MONSTER MOVIE?!?!?

FEH!!!

FEH, I SAY!

[Wryan]

Oh come on. The 9/11 parallels are so blatantly obvious that is goes beyond mere "explosions in New York". Abrams and Reeves knew very well they were staging a "9/11 with a monster" film and this isn't a criticism against the film, but just common obversation.

It's a common observation because it literally can't be otherwise. It is not the filmmakers fault and it certainly is not a 9/11 film that happens to have a monster in it. IMO.

No opinions were harmed in the making of this post.

[number8]

Just got back from seeing it a second time. Got an observation:

I paid attention to all the slanted camera angles. They were NOT because it looks like that's how people film when they're terrified. In every single one of them, it's because Hud does something very typical when non-professionals are filming: they forget they're filming and take the camera off their face to see the important things, instead of shooting them. The camera then rests slanted on their hand, just off the side of their face. In most of the slanted camera angles, you can see that the others are looking at Hud off the camera instead of directly into it.

[Henry Gale]

I saw it Saturday night and forgot to say anything about it here because I was too busy reading up on others' reactions and stuff regarding it that I avoided days prior to seeing it. But yeah... such an awesome movie.

I was sitting in the 5th or 6th row and except for the first couple of scenes (before the camera upgrades for the party scenes and everything onwards) I didn't have any problem with the style and was completely immersed in the experience the whole way through, finding myself really caring about the characters and what was happening. In some scenes I have to say it was the most tense I'd been since seeing No Country a few months back.

All of this isn't to say I was entirely surprised to love it, knowing that it was concocted by Drew Goddard and J.J. Abrams was enough to already win me over without all the compelling marketing or footage I saw beforehand. But I will say that it did on the otherhand surprise as to why I came out loving it. It sucked me in which such a rich and well thought out atmospheric and left much more of an emotional resonance than I ever thought it would.

***1/2 / ****

[Sxottlan]

I'm glad someone was able to capture a snapshot of the splash in the background. I hadn't noticed it at my screening until people started talking about it online.

If one of the film's many mock websites is saying one thing, I don't know why that'd have to be taken at face value. That is what he meant by viral sites right?

I generally like the idea of the fake web stuff to promote a film, but I almost feel like I'm missing something because these sites are really hyped that much. At least in the circles that I run in. Same goes for all those Lost sites.

[Ezee E]

Oh come on. The 9/11 parallels are so blatantly obvious that is goes beyond mere "explosions in New York". Abrams and Reeves knew very well they were staging a "9/11 with a monster" film and this isn't a criticism against the film, but just common obversation.
What else is there besides the mentioned "terrorist" shouts in the party? There's no mention of terrorists or 9/11 otherwise. As mentioned, it's something thtat will never leave our memories. It feels a bit weird to even see older movies where New York is destroyed.

If you want a movie with 9/11 parallels, then Inside Man has them. War of the Worlds has them. Cloverfield only has them because of what's already engraved in us. It's a monster movie, it knows it, and stays as one.

[Dukefrukem]

The scene where the military is attacking it, and Hud's running, looks up, and you see the monster's face got a big 'Woah!' from me.

So awesome. So, so awesome.....

And the spiders/lice resulted in the most intense scene in the whole movie.

That was very cool.

Btw, no one pointed out that you guys owe me a beer:

http://match-cut.org/showthread.php?p=12227#post122 27

[Scar]

That was very cool.

Btw, no one pointed out that you guys owe me a beer:

http://match-cut.org/showthread.php?p=12227#post122 27

http://www.ratebeer.com/beerimages/full_size/413.jpg

[Dukefrukem]

I'll have a Stella please.

[Scar]

I'll have a Stella please.

You didn't specify. Hence, you get the Beast.

[Ezee E]

I'll have a Stella please.
Nasty.

[Dukefrukem]

I'd also like to point out one more than for all of you praising this film. I don't usually guess endings, and certain events that often in films. Esp when I read about you guys doing it all time on the forums, but didn't you think this film was very predictable??

1. The Brooklyn Bridge. We all knew is was gonna be destroyed, whether or not you saw the previews or not.

2. The Subway - after seeing the thing drop the little spider things, it was obvious the group was gonna run into them in the subway.

3. Getting Sick - at least to me, after the girl got bit, I knew she was gonna get sick or something was gonna hatch out of her or something to that affect...

4. Helicopter Crashing - again at least to me, I thought, "wow they are pretty close to the monster, i bet it's tail is gonna whip up and knock it out of the sky or something."

5. the ending - I figured from the first 5 minutes int he film that there was no way they were gonna write an ending for this film. it was gonna end either like, war of the worlds did, or blair witch did. No explanation... nothin'.

[Dukefrukem]

Nasty.

oh whats your drink of choice? probably the god awful Heineken?

[Ezee E]

oh whats your drink of choice? probably the god awful Heineken?
Killian's.

[Scar]

I think you watched the trailer one too many times, Duke.

And the ending was obvious before we even saw the film.

[Dukefrukem]

I think you watched the trailer one too many times, Duke.

And the ending was obvious before we even saw the film.

ok but thats 1 of 5. what about the others?

[Scar]

ok but thats 1 of 5. what about the others?

See my first answer.

[megladon8]

ok but thats 1 of 5. what about the others?


All of the points you made of things which were predictable were scenes which were shown in the trailer.

So, of course they're predictable - you had already seen them.

[Dukefrukem]

All of the points you made of things which were predictable were scenes which were shown in the trailer.

So, of course they're predictable - you had already seen them.

2 and 4 wern't...

arguably 3 wasn't either...

[Scar]

2 and 4 wern't...

arguably 3 wasn't either...

2 was. And you were championing three forever.

[megladon8]

2 and 4 wern't...

arguably 3 wasn't either...



Um...yes they were...

The scenes in the subway are shown, we just don't see the actual creatures. We see them wandering through the subway and Marlena hears the sound of insects and says "Did you hear that?"

The helicopter crash is also shown in the trailer.

I remember distinctly because it pissed me off that such blatant spoilers were shown in the trailer of a movie which seemed so intent on keeping things very hush-hush.

[Scar]

And just for the sake of it, allow me to be blunt:

This was probably the best theatre experience I've ever had. Well, maybe second to T2 when I was 12.

[Dukefrukem]

man i would havethought you guys picked this film apart... Even if you didn't see the scenes in the trailer, which I obviously didn't see, the events are extreemly preditable... there was almost no thought put into their journey, other than climbing the building... I mean, even the destruction of the Bridge we already saw in I am Legend...

[Scar]

man i would havethought you guys picked this film apart... Even if you didn't see the scenes in the trailer, which I obviously didn't see, the events are extreemly preditable... there was almost no thought put into their journey, other than climbing the building... I mean, even the destruction of the Bridge we already saw in I am Legend...

:|

So, they watched I Am Legend, then made Cloverfield?

[Dukefrukem]

And just for the sake of it, allow me to be blunt:

This was probably the best theatre experience I've ever had. Well, maybe second to T2 when I was 12.

Man i can name a dozen films that trump this...

Snakes on a Plane comes to mind first, Independence Day (the ship approach was very memorable), Blair Witch Project (burned into my mind), Mission Impossible (the heist scene), the Matrix (lobby scene), Matrix Reloaded (burly brawl) 28 Days Later... even Borat.

any of those scenes alone I remember thinking, holy crap this is totally freakin sweet... this movie just... is stuck somewhere in between

[Dukefrukem]

:|

So, they watched I Am Legend, then made Cloverfield?

no but i think it's pretty coincidental that the same bridge was destroyed in both movies. gives me a relapse of, Armageddon and Deep Impact... studios leaking information and trying to beat each other...

[Scar]

Man i can name a dozen films that trump this...

Snakes on a Plane comes to mind first, Independence Day (the ship approach was very memorable), Blair Witch Project (burned into my mind), Mission Impossible (the heist scene), the Matrix (lobby scene), Matrix Reloaded (burly brawl) 28 Days Later... even Borat.

any of those scenes alone I remember thinking, holy crap this is totally freakin sweet...

No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No

EDIT: Duke, I honestly don't give a shit if you thought these other experiences were better. I... don't.... care.

[megladon8]

My greatest theatre experience ever was probably opening night of Batman Begins.

I wish Cloverfield had been a better theatrical experience, but the audience didn't really do or say anything at my showing.

[Dukefrukem]

No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No

All I'm saying is this film did nothing extraordinarily different or new. And the films I listed did to a certain degree. No obviously Alien invasions have been done before, but ID4 depicted it very differently to a certain caliber. As did all the other films making it a very enjoyable experience in a surrounding with a lot of people.

[Dukefrukem]

My greatest theatre experience ever was probably opening night of Batman Begins.

I wish Cloverfield had been a better theatrical experience, but the audience didn't really do or say anything at my showing.

Ah i forgot about that one. I also forgot about Star Wars: Episode One and watching all three original films in the theater back in 97.. or 98.

[Scar]

Ah i forgot about that one. I also forgot about Star Wars: Episode One and watching all three original films in the theater back in 97.. or 98.

Dude.

[Dukefrukem]

Dude.

It was a big deal! There was tons of hype, 30 years between movies, there were people running around in Star Wars outfits and lightsabers and everything. Maybe YOUR theater experience sucked, but on opening night in Boston, it was pretty friggin fun.

[Scar]

It was a big deal! There was tons of hype, 30 years between movies, there were people running around in Star Wars outfits and lightsabers and everything. Maybe YOUR theater experience sucked, but on opening night in Boston, it was pretty friggin fun.

No, the movie sucked. Aside from Darth Maul, that is.

[Dukefrukem]

No, the movie sucked. Aside from Darth Maul, that is.

Are we talking about quality movies or theater experiences?

[Scar]

Are we talking about quality movies or theater experiences?

:|

I can't see having a great theatre experience with a shit movie.

[Dukefrukem]

:|

I can't see having a great theatre experience with a shit movie.

I didn't think it was close to shit. The ending fight scene would prove this.

[Scar]

I didn't think it was close to shit. The ending fight scene would prove this.

The end fight was tits.

The rest was balls.

[megladon8]

The end fight was tits.

The rest was balls.


:)

"Genital Movie Reviews by Scar"

A new segment on Ebert & Roeper.

[D_Davis]

:|

I can't see having a great theatre experience with a shit movie.

Obviously, you didn't see House of the Dead theatrically.

[Dukefrukem]

Obviously, you didn't see House of the Dead theatrically.

Bwhahahahhahahah!

[Scar]

Obviously, you didn't see House of the Dead theatrically.

I saw Batman and Robin in the 'hood. It was painful.

[bac0n]

no but i think it's pretty coincidental that the same bridge was destroyed in both movies. gives me a relapse of, Armageddon and Deep Impact... studios leaking information and trying to beat each other...

Duke, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most iconic structures in New York City. Of course they're gonna trash it. I'm actually rather surprised that the Empire State Building didn't get trashed as well. Hell, Abrams and Co. probably thought of it at one point, but decided not to for fear of it being too obvious.

It's the same reason that the Tokyo Tower always gets trashed when Godzilla, Gamera, MechaniKong, Rodan, etc. attacks Tokyo. There's no coincidence; they're just going for an easy target, something which the destruction of you don't necessarily need to be a New Yorker to be affected by.

And as far as predictability, yeah I knew that X was gonna happen the minute the heroes did Y. But then again, I wasn't going in suspecting surprises and plot twists. I was expecting totally sweet monster mayhem, and that's what I got, baby.

[Dukefrukem]

Duke, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most iconic structures in New York City. Of course they're gonna trash it. I'm actually rather surprised that the Empire State Building didn't get trashed as well. Hell, Abrams and Co. probably thought of it at one point, but decided not to for fear of it being too obvious.

It's the same reason that the Tokyo Tower always gets trashed when Godzilla, Gamera, MechaniKong, Rodan, etc. attacks Tokyo. There's no coincidence; they're just going for an easy target, something which the destruction of you don't necessarily need to be a New Yorker to be affected by.

And as far as predictability, yeah I knew that X was gonna happen the minute the heroes did Y. But then again, I wasn't going in suspecting surprises and plot twists. I was expecting totally sweet monster mayhem, and that's what I got, baby.

Funny you mention the Empire State Building. Because if they had chosen that structure, i would have been MORE disappointed for it resembling too much like King Kong. I suppose I was expecting a lot because of JJs rep.

[Scar]

Funny you mention the Empire State Building. Because if they had chosen that structure, i would have been MORE disappointed for it resembling too much like King Kong. I suppose I was expecting a lot because of JJs rep.

It would've resembled King Kong if he climbed it, which this guy wouldn't have. If he climbed it, and got shot at by airplanes, I probably would've thrown bac0n's nachos at the screen.

[bac0n]

It would've resembled King Kong if he climbed it, which this guy wouldn't have. If he climbed it, and got shot at by airplanes, I probably would've thrown bac0n's nachos at the screen.

You wouldn't have had to. My stomach would have done the job for you.

[eternity]

man i would havethought you guys picked this film apart... Even if you didn't see the scenes in the trailer, which I obviously didn't see, the events are extreemly preditable... there was almost no thought put into their journey, other than climbing the building... I mean, even the destruction of the Bridge we already saw in I am Legend...Brooklyn Bridge falling in Cloverfield >>>>>>>>>> Bridge falling in I Am Legend, which all the set pieces are incredibly boring in.

[Raiders]

No obviously Alien invasions have been done before, but ID4 depicted it very differently to a certain caliber.

I don't consider "dumber" to be different in a positive way.

[Scar]

I don't consider "dumber" to be different in a positive way.

I'm all outta rep.

[bac0n]

I'm all outta rep.

gotcha covered

[Raiders]

I'm all outta rep.

Besides, what did that film do differently? The aliens came, they saw, they conquered--until Big Willy Style showed up anyway. It was a standard alien invasion story. It had better effects than in the 50s, but many invasion films, namely Earth vs. The Flying Saucers, are noticeable templates for this film.

I'm greatly looking forward to Cloverfield. I'll be seeing it this weekend.

[Spun Lepton]

I'd also like to point out one more than for all of you praising this film. I don't usually guess endings, and certain events that often in films. Esp when I read about you guys doing it all time on the forums, but didn't you think this film was very predictable??

1. The Brooklyn Bridge. We all knew is was gonna be destroyed, whether or not you saw the previews or not.

2. The Subway - after seeing the thing drop the little spider things, it was obvious the group was gonna run into them in the subway.

3. Getting Sick - at least to me, after the girl got bit, I knew she was gonna get sick or something was gonna hatch out of her or something to that affect...

4. Helicopter Crashing - again at least to me, I thought, "wow they are pretty close to the monster, i bet it's tail is gonna whip up and knock it out of the sky or something."

5. the ending - I figured from the first 5 minutes int he film that there was no way they were gonna write an ending for this film. it was gonna end either like, war of the worlds did, or blair witch did. No explanation... nothin'.


Duke, the reason they showed the lice critters before the group went into the tunnel was so you would anticipate the subway attack. Don't pat yourself on the back for expecting it to happen, I'm pretty sure they wanted it that way.

The "getting sick" aspect was hinted at in the trailers.

Helicopter crashing -- well OF COURSE it's going to crash. There were only two ways for that situation to resolve -- they get away, leaving the movie with one monster-sized plot hole and numerous unfinished storylines. Or they crash in central park -- which is foreshadowed right at the beginning of the movie.

The ending was perfectly fine. We got as much closure as we needed to know what happened to the characters. Personally, I didn't need to know for sure whether the monster was dead. Leaving that open leaves it open for sequels, which I would expect was what they may have had in mind.

[Wryan]

I had a great theatre experience with it, although I had a better experience with The Orphanage even though there were only like 12 people in the theatre. I loved the film so much I didn't care.

I liked the Cloverfield experience. I'm trying to decide if I want to see it again. I'm wavering toward yes.

[number8]

I noticed that Cloverfield has the head of the Statue of Liberty on the ground. That disappoints me, as we've seen that before in the poster for Escape From NY. Too similar.

Why can't they make a giant monster movie where the monster destroys structures we haven't seen before in movies? Maybe set the movie in Iowa. Then it can step on barns. Oh wait, barns were in Witness. Darn.

[D_Davis]

I noticed that Cloverfield has the head of the Statue of Liberty on the ground. That disappoints me, as we've seen that before in the poster for Escape From NY. Too similar.

Why can't they make a giant monster movie where the monster destroys structures we haven't seen before in movies? Maybe set the movie in Iowa. Then it can step on barns. Oh wait, barns were in Witness. Darn.

How about Fresno? They could destroy fig orchards and grape vines.

[Russ]

How about Fresno? They could destroy fig orchards and grape vines.
Nah. Gotta be Brainerd. It could crush Bunyan and Babe with one swipe.

[origami_mustache]

I suppose I was expecting a lot because of JJs rep.

I don't see where this alleged rep has comes from...Lost, Alias, and MI3...and now he's a headlining name? really?

[D_Davis]

I don't see where this alleged rep has comes from...Lost, Alias, and MI3...and now he's a headlining name? really?

Totally. I never got this either. "The next JJ Abrams project..."

Who?

[Dukefrukem]

I don't see where this alleged rep has comes from...Lost, Alias, and MI3...and now he's a headlining name? really?

yes

[Ezee E]

A monster should go after Seattle. The Space Needle, a Starbucks, all that rain. It would work.

[D_Davis]

A monster should go after Seattle. The Space Needle, a Starbucks, all that rain. It would work.

And it could attack the building where I work - it is the tallest building on the west coast.

[origami_mustache]

yes

I suppose the Lost fanbase is strong.

[megladon8]

I actually think it could be a surprisingly strong commentary to have a monster film which begins in a smaller, "less important" city, and no one really does anything or cares (aside from its citizens, obviously).

But the minute it steps foot in Washington or NYC or something like that, it instantly becomes a super-red-alert international crisis and media sensation.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I actually think it could be a surprisingly strong commentary to have a monster film which begins in a smaller, "less important" city, and no one really does anything or cares (aside from its citizens, obviously).

But the minute it steps foot in Washington or NYC or something like that, it instantly becomes a super-red-alert international crisis and media sensation.

Indeed. It would also be a fun little poke at the problems of Katrina. Who's more monstrous? The beast from below the sea, or thick bureaucracy?

[megladon8]

Indeed. It would also be a fun little poke at the problems of Katrina. Who's more monstrous? The beast from below the sea, or thick bureaucracy?


Pfft...we all know that the government purposely bombed the levees in a great scheme to lower the black population of America.

/Spike Lee

[Wryan]

I don't give a shit about Lost or Alias but MI3 was bitchin. And not just cause of Hoffman blustering up a storm, either.

[Boner M]

After much deliberation, I'm bumping my rating up a bit. I still hate the film, and believe it will be largely forgotten by next year, but there are signs of talent here and there. Doesn't warrant the rating that I usually reserve for stuff like Smokin' Aces and Cannibal Holocaust.

[number8]

Pfft...we all know that the government purposely bombed the levees in a great scheme to lower the black population of America.

/Spike Lee

Didn't we go through this before? Stop misquoting Spike Lee.

[Winston*]

The amusement park comparison is a good one, while watching I was thinking of those 3D movie spin-off things you get in Disneyland and such, minus a dimension. Kind of like "Honey I Shrunk the Audience" but with less emotional resonance.

Has it's moments, but whatever.

[megladon8]

Didn't we go through this before? Stop misquoting Spike Lee.


I wasn't quoting him.

[number8]

I wasn't quoting him.

I know it's not a direct quote. But you were poking fun at him, as if it was something Spike Lee would say. I'm pointing out that the premise of your joke was flawed, because Spike Lee thinks that people who believe in a government conspiracy are retarded.

[Dukefrukem]

I'm still not convinced. The monster was cool, that's about it.

I am Legend >> Cloverfield

[bac0n]

Nah. Gotta be Brainerd. It could crush Bunyan and Babe with one swipe.

Apparently no-one's ever told you that those two statues come alive to defend the city if a certain Lutheran incantation is uttered.

[Scar]

Apparently no-one's ever told you that those two statues come alive to defend the city if a certain Lutheran incantation is uttered.

....or that Bunyan's ax is a +5 Vorpal Ax.

[D_Davis]

Apparently no-one's ever told you that those two statues come alive to defend the city if a certain Lutheran incantation is uttered.


....or that Bunyan's ax is a +5 Vorpal Ax.

Brilliant.

[megladon8]

I know it's not a direct quote. But you were poking fun at him, as if it was something Spike Lee would say. I'm pointing out that the premise of your joke was flawed, because Spike Lee thinks that people who believe in a government conspiracy are retarded.


He definitely didn't used to, because he was at that round-table discussion back in '05 where he argued that yes, the government blew up the levees. Here's the video (http://youtube.com/watch?v=R7j0SqSn14A).

I'm not arguing about this anymore, because it's an old issue, and I know where I stand - I agree with Carson that Lee tends to be quite a fear-mongerer sometimes.


And I want to chime in that it would be amazing if they made a giant monster movie where the Statue of Liberty independently stepped off its pedestal and starting fighting.

Its torch could turn into a sweet laser-katana.

Directed by Woody Allen.

[Dukefrukem]

I think I found a good example: Blair With Project is filmed the same way correct? Compare the outcome of the film with Cloverfield. This is where Blair Witch Project was so successful because the outcome, journey and terror is entirely unpredictable. Hence the execution of Blair Witch Project is much better than Colverfield.