Cloverfield (2008)

[Dashel]

Just got back from the preview opener and was pleasantly surprised by the film. Its not great but it does have its moments. I think this is a perfect bookend for people who enjoyed The Blair Witch project. As such the shaky cam gets old quick, especially when the operator spends a good portion of the movie running and doing very fast pans.

If you need to see a disaster hit NY, I'd recommend this one over that other movie, I am Legend.

I was disappointed that it appears he just made up the monster and isn't from an established canon. (at least I can't place it until I see some high quality stills). I enjoyed the Lovecraft/Dagon theory the most going in. That you leave the theater still not sure what it was seems sort of a copout to me, though I guess we got exactly what the trailer gave us, a lot of teasers. It isn't a monster movie as much as a backdrop for the drama of the main characters. I enjoyed the camera man part at the end thoroughly.

Edited January 16, 2008 by Dashel

[psybapunk]

Sounds good, I was hoping for Cthulhu.

[sundayx Veteran]

Whats the other movie.

[Napalm Frog]

Probably the Godzilla remake.

[Rappy Veteran]

Sounds good, I was hoping for Cthulhu.

It was always gonna be a brand new monster not one we have seen anywhere before.

[EL1TE]

Official website: http://www.cloverfieldmovie.com/

HD Trailers: http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/cloverfield/

Looks nice :)

[Guyro]

I was disappointed that it appears he just made up the monster and isn't from an established canon. (at least I can't place it until I see some high quality stills). I enjoyed the Lovecraft/Dagon theory the most going in. That you leave the theater still not sure what it was seems sort of a copout to me, though I guess we got exactly what the trailer gave us, a lot of teasers. It isn't a monster movie as much as a backdrop for the drama of the main characters. I enjoyed the camera man part at the end thoroughly.

from reading the other thread, the things you find bad about the movie are what other people are going to enjoy most - it's what they are looking forward to most

[Dashel]

What are they looking for exactly? Its not that I found it bad, but seemed to take the easy way out by slapping together parts from other monsters then never really giving the viewer a good look. Don't get me wrong, it is worth seeing with a group of people/date movie.

Its an event/rollercoaster piece. I don't think it will hold much replay value though (except on video to be able to pause some shots). Its like all the phoney hoopla when Basic Instinct came out. POS movie that everyone had to see to chat about at the watercooler. This is a movie where geeks can go home and blog about it and their theories.

If his aim was to create a truly American monster, he has failed. Its devoid of mythos and is scenery, not a character.

Edited January 17, 2008 by Dashel

[.kvn]

Thanks for that Dashel. You've given a decent review from what the trailers show me as a poor B movie flick.

[NienorGT]

Trailer look nice, but the Camera will make me sick...

[Frank]

Trailer look nice, but the Camera will make me sick...

Exactly. I couldn't stand the blair witch because of this.

[zulugod]

Where the hell was the ending??!!!! God damn writers strike!!!

[Hurmoth]

Where the hell was the ending??!!!! God damn writers strike!!!

What does the writer's strike have to do with this film? This was filmed way before the strike began.

[Rappy Veteran]

What does the writer's strike have to do with this film? This was filmed way before the strike began.

Maybe he is trying to find someone to blame?

[Tech Star]

Why did they try to kill that person behind the curtain? Fudge, this movie looks good.

[Boz]

This movies looks crazy good. I love the fact that they filmed it as a real life event with amateur cameras. I think this will be a good one and I love the fact that the movie deals with human drama as well.

[thenut]

So how many have actually seen Cloverfield? I admit I'm a J.J. Abrams fan so of course I'm looking forward to it.

I have some free movie tickets that I planned on using for Cloverfield. Is Cloverfield worth using my free tickets on? :laugh:

[Hurmoth]

So how many have actually seen Cloverfield? I admit I'm a J.J. Abrams fan so of course I'm looking forward to it.

I'm going to go see it in about three hours :D Can't wait to see it.

[thenut]

Please give us a review immediately afterwards, spoiler free of course. :D

[Hurmoth]

Please give us a review immediately afterwards, spoiler free of course. :D

Will do :D I haven't been this excited about a film since I saw the first Saw film.

[thenut]

I share your excitement. I would go see the early screening tonight but I can't talk my girlfriend into it. :laugh:

So I'll wait to see what people have to say about the movie but I'll probably go and see it tomorrow night no matter what. :D

[Razorwing]

Will do :D I haven't been this excited about a film since I saw the first Saw film.

well you weren't THAT excited before.. lol. It was me and Rappy hypin' everything up.. lol.

[Rappy Veteran]

well you weren't THAT excited before.. lol. It was me and Rappy hypin' everything up.. lol.

Yeah you were all like "this sounds alright but its probably gonna be crap" but now your all stoked due to me and razorwing who sadly dont get a box office share...you know we should sue JJ Abrams.

[Hurmoth]

Yeah you were all like "this sounds alright but its probably gonna be crap" but now your all stoked due to me and razorwing who sadly dont get a box office share...you know we should sue JJ Abrams.

I'm stoked mainly because of the positive reviews from horror fans that are coming in (i.e. Blood Disgusting, etc.).

[Sam Symons Veteran]

I saw Cloverfield earlier today, and in a word, it is: good.

I found that the camera work, while being annoying at times, added to the drama of the movie. You felt as if you were there, it was immersive, and it helped tie me to the characters better. I don't know if that's the case with everyone, but that's how I feel.

The monster...yeah, I was sort of disappointed. There were a few decent shots of it, but nothing to get worked up about. You go into the theatre expecting to learn about this thing, and come out expected to have learn about this thing...but you don't.

Cloverfield, while being a monster movie, isn't really a monster movie, in my opinion. I would call it a love-friendship-whatever movie with monsters thrown in. It's hard to explain. Well, actually, you could call it a monster movie with a rather strong focus on love. You get what I'm getting at. It has love. It has monsters.

I felt disappointed at the end of the movie, but I couldn't pinpoint why. Maybe it was to do with the lack of information about this monster, but I dunno. Just a note, Cloverfield is fairly short compared to other movies nowadays, but it seemed to drag out. I suppose this is a good thing.

It's worth a watch...but I don't think I'd see it a second time.