Cloverfield(2008)

[Dodge_Sniper]

I can't even begin to explain how awesome this movie was. I'm a decent monster movie fan. I liked Godzilla slightly. The old monster movies were funny, good to watch every now and then. But this is the best monster movie I've ever seen. The CG is fucking amazing. I had to stay in my seat after the movie to rest for a second, catch my breath, and tell myself that the movie wasn't real. The camera movements make you feel like you're right there with the group of friends. The viral marketing and secrets that J.J. Abrams kept from us only made this film even better. People were skeptical and nervous about seeing the monster. My friend even said it'd be cool to not see the monster at all, for suspense purposes, but by the end he was glad to see the monster. Yes, you do get numerous very clear shots of the monster, but you have to pay attention, because they're quick, since the entire movie is handheld. If you think you’ll ever have an inkling of interest in seeing Cloverfield, and you should, see it in theaters, and see it as close to opening day as you can manage. Sure, all movies are optimally watched on the big screen, but this is the type of movie where the first viewing is always going to be the most powerful. With any mention of this in the future I’m always going to wishing I could go back and experience it for the first time again. Again, the only real way to understand how amazing this movie is, is to read the reviews at Bloody-Disgusting.

Cloverfield Movie Review - BLOODY-DISGUSTING.COM

Who would have thought that the writer of UNDER SEIGE: DARK TERRITORY would one day end up directing one of the most groundbreaking films in the past twenty years? I just got back from seeing the top-secret JJ Abrams project known only as CLOVERFIELD and ran directly to my computer to slam out some thoughts, all of which are positive. This is going to sound extremely bold, but CLOVERFIELD is life changing. Sure it's just a movie and yeah, it's not the best movie of all-time, but it will change the way films are made and will forever become a classic among young movie viewers everywhere.

Slice and I chatted a bit about this in the car, so there might be some overlap in our opinions, but do you remember the first time you saw JURASSIC PARK? Do you remember how it altered every film to come after it and your expectations? CLOVERFIELD works the same magic as it's so incredibly convincing and effective that it's mere existence will challenge your views of other films - "it just wasn't CLOVERFIELD" will become the new line heard round the campus.

Why is the film so damn effective? Funny how just yesterday I read an article online about horror video games and why they're better than actual movies. The author’s observations led him to believe that one of the main reasons was the game player is essentially THE character in the game, thus the gamer is experiencing the events first hand, which can be terrifying. CLOVERFIELD puts the same thoughts to the test by sticking a camera into some “Joe Smith’s” hands, and shooting the entire movie first person. The effect is that the viewer in the theater subconsciously feels as if they are that person with the camera. I know it has been done before (BLAIR WITCH, DIARY OF THE DEAD), but none done with such competence. What results is an actual scary movie with some genuinely creepy, tense moments and the fruition of well-developed characters.

The screenplay was truly in touch with reality. What transpires is an astoundingly believable situation, which we're supposed to be laughing at. A giant monster attacks New York City? Seriously? The fact that it's 100% believable only aids in the fear factor. The absolute best part of Drew Goddard's screenplay is that we learn nothing about the monster or it's parasites that jump off its back. We are left guessing until the end, but not having answers spoon fed to us only makes the film that much more frightening.

And although we don't learn anything about the monster's origins, we do get plenty of ass-kicking creature FX. The fact that the film is shot in first person helps hide many of the CG flaws making this one of the most realistic monsters to ever hit the big screen. Besides looking just fearsome, both the giant monster and its parasites have the most gut wrenching sounds.

The roar, which many of you have heard online, shakes the theater. If you see this film in a well-equipped theater, expect to have your balls shaken by some of the best sound design to ever hit a theater. The explosions and roars, and especially the creepy noises made by the parasites, will chill you down to the core. An effective score and sound design can turn a good movie into a great movie, which is the case here.

In the end, I was disappointed - and not by the movie. CLOVERFIELD is one of those films you wish you could see for the very first time again because the impact will just never be the same on second viewing. I treasured the experience of getting to see this in the theater and it will forever leave a mark on me. "This is a story that needs to be told..." there are still good movies to be made – and people who have the heart to make them.

 

[Charmer]

Please tell me that it is NOTHING like The Blair Witch Project?!

Reviews I have read are comparing it in style to Blair Witch and that was one of the worst movies I have ever seen in my life!

 

[Maulds]

Is it all shaky handheld cam?

 

[Joey]

Will leave that on Download whilst I go out.

 

[Boomer]

Please tell me its not a mutated hump back whale.

 

[Maulds]

Its not a mutated humpback whale. It looks more like a giant grey praying mantis mated with the Rancor from Return of the Jedi.

The movie is everything Dodge said and then some. The shaky cam is annoying at times, but not too bad. Thing about this movie is because of the camera work you feel like you're there. The previews don't show how intense the scenes are. It's unlike any movie experience you've had before.

And the thing is an alien, even though they never give away any info on it. Theres a scene late in the movie that shows it crash into the ocean a month before the attack.

 

[redsMULLT1]

Is it all shaky handheld cam?

Thats what I've been hearing.

 

[Maulds]

Thats what I've been hearing.

It is but its not so bad.

 

[Charmer]

My Wife is actually watching it right now with her friends.

Me? I'm here at home trying to referee the fights between my daughter and her two friends!

 

[Charmer]

Okay, my Wife just got home and the first thing she said about the movie is, "That movie sucked!"

Hmmmmm.......

She said the ticket taker asked them if they took their motion sickness medicine. My Wife thought that after the beginning at the party that the hand-held camera style would be over. She said she got dizzy just watching the film which distracted from the film as a whole.

 

[elluko]

the previews at the cinema hurt my eyes...

 

[Charmer]

the previews at the cinema hurt my eyes...

I guess I'll ask Dodge how he watched this movie. Obviously the shaky cam didn't bother him.

 

[hubersrj]

I think my sister-in-law is coming down this weekend...she's my fellow horror-flick watcher so maybe I'll take her to go see it.

 

[Dodge_Sniper]

Will leave that on Download whilst I go out.

:24: Who was it that mentioned that to him before? I just had to bring it up But seriously dude, GO see this in theaters. It won't be as amazing as it was in theaters.

I guess I'll ask Dodge how he watched this movie. Obviously the shaky cam didn't bother him.

Me, I just sat there. I guess I just have good eyes. Ever since the first trailer surfaced with Transformers, I'd heard reports of it being all handheld. I knew it would be, and I'm not prone to motion sickness. Not to mention, as Maulds said, the shaky handheld moments make you feel like you're right there with them. That's what makes the movie so amazing, and some scenes(Maulds can back me up on this one) so emotional. I thought the best part was going to the movie opening day, and seeing "WARNING: Motion sickness may occur during Cloverfield!" That just got me more hyped.

Like Maulds said, the monster is more like a mutated praying mantis. I've never seen Return of the Jedi though, so I can't comment on that. As for it's origins, again, you never learn of them, though you know it's an alien, because you see it crash into the ocean at the end(You have to really pay attention to see it), only one month before the monster attacks. It should be noted that someone mentioned that the monster may have fallen off of a Slusho(Slusho is the Japanese company Rob is leaving to work for. Jason can be seen wearing a Slusho shirt. Slusho was also seen in Alias and Heroes. It's all part of the viral campaign for Cloverfield) satellite, and grown larger and larger in the ocean up until it's attack, because it's obvious that the monster is amphibious. Also, trust me, don't believe any of the pictures you see online of this monster. I've seen them all, and none of them are what the real monster is. They are relatively similar, but none of them have the actual facial structure, teeth, eyes, etc. as the one from the movie.

Another note: Maulds caught the one hidden scene at the end, but if you have the time, stay for the credits. They are very long, but at the end, you hear a garbled radio transmission that says "Help us". If you replay the transmission in reverse, it says, "It's still alive". This could be hinting at a possible Cloverfield sequel. A friend of mine that has worked at a movie theater said that he heard of a possible Cloverfield sequel. He said that it will be the exact same movie(No new monsters, not a new city), same location, same monster, but it'll just be from the handheld view of a different group of people, which I think would be pretty cool. You can find two interviews with Cloverfield director Matt Reeves here and here. They both discuss the sequel plans for Cloverfield. But be careful, the second interview contains some spoilers.

 

[HisHoliness]

A friend of mine got so motion sick watching this film she threw up in her jacket part way through.

 

[Dodge_Sniper]

:24::24: People like that make me happy! It's great to see that the film had an effect on her

 

[Charmer]

I guess the producers could have that as a selling point: This movie WILL have an affect on you in one way or another; not only mentally, but physically as well. You WILL be talking about this movie for days after.

 

[Dodge_Sniper]

I guess the producers could have that as a selling point: This movie WILL have an affect on you in one way or another; not only mentally, but physically as well. You WILL be talking about this movie for days after.

Trust me, that is the selling point. I've been talking about it non-stop. The movie is very intense, as well as it being physically and emotionally draining.

 

[HisHoliness]

The motion sickness has nothing to do with the content of the film. Any film done in cinema vierte can cause motion sickness. It could have been an episode of Care Bears and she still would have thrown up.

 

[Charmer]

The motion sickness has nothing to do with the content of the film. Any film done in cinema vierte can cause motion sickness. It could have been an episode of Care Bears and she still would have thrown up.

Well, technically, the Care Bears or the Teletubbies, by themselves, (without any tricky camera shooting), are a cause of nausea. :yuk