Cloverfield

[schild]

Yup. Used to be called 1-18-08.

[sidereal]

Here's a URL to a review of a pre-screening.

ACHTUNG!   SPOILERS SPOILER SPOILERS.  Do not read this link if you don't mind learning the super secret and/or how shitty and/or awesome this movie is.  ACHTUNG!
I was trepidatious about reading it, but I'm glad I did, for what that's worth.

http://edomaniac.newsvine.com/_news/2008/01/10/1218859-cloverfield-spoilers-and-review

[murdoc]

That reviewer just seemed bitter that the monster wasn't explained better. Cloverfield was not the movie he was looking for imo.

[Riggswolfe]

I am having alot of trouble getting interested in this. Every review I've read has talked about the handheld camera work. Bleh. I hate that shit. Maybe if it wasn't so overdone these days I could tolerate it but sadly that's not the case. I fully expect my daughter's next Barbie movie to have "Hand held" camera work to make her feel like she's really right there with Barbie!

[Margalis]

Harry at aintitcool gave it his patented slobbering fanboy review, which means it probably sucks.

[Gutboy Barrelhouse]

Well here is his review

Spoilers below



Spoilers are really below








Yep really










Harry knows what CLOVERFIELD is!!!

Utterly Brilliant.

What is CLOVERFIELD?

For the past year or so, that’s been the question that everyone has been asking. Well… they also wanted to know: What was that trailer? What’s the name of this movie? Who are those actors? What is a SLUSHO? What does any of this mean?

Having seen the film, I can tell you – I have completely forgotten the marketing. I no longer care why the film is titled CLOVERFIELD, I don’t think it has a secret meaning – other than the fact that the movie that the marketing would lead you to, if it will… will knock your cinema-going mind into the floor of the theater.

CLOVERFIELD is a bold genre-reinvention unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.

The basic premise that we know is there. The film is found footage, not an assembled film. The footage is recovered in Central Park. From trailers and ads you know that it probably starts at a party, something happens, and we think there is a giant monster. You’re pretty sure there’s a giant monster attacking New York City… specifically Manhattan.

Well, I’ve just come home from watching CLOVERFIELD. The security on me and my wife for seeing this movie was un-frickin-believable. I suppose some would have the temptation to snap a pic of the monster and send it out online to end, forever, the “mystery” – but folks… there’s no mystery.

The movie is fucking brilliant. It’s what we were told it was going to be. An intimate perspective on an impossibly grand scale human disaster beyond most human levels of comprehension.

What is the monster? How do you describe something that doesn’t look like anything you’ve ever seen before? It’s not a fucking upright walking whale. It doesn’t look like any iteration of GODZILLA that we’ve ever seen. It is enormous. And even though I’ve seen it… I am hard-pressed to come up with a comparative creation. You know that big fucking thing in THE MIST? It isn’t that. Is the creature a biped? I’m not sure, I think it might’ve been a four-legged beastie… it has a tail, it has teeth and freaky eyes like that horse that died in ANIMAL HOUSE. It’s kinda of a grayish-yellowish-off-white looking thing. But more important than the creature is what this fucker does. He basically goes bug-nuts.

The creature isn’t the groundbreaking thing about the film. It is, but it isn’t.

You see, what has me so excited about this film is that this is the giant monster movie that isn’t at all like any giant monster movie we’ve seen before… but is exactly that movie.

I guarantee you that as this movie takes place… all the shit that you’ve seen in Giant monster movies is happening. Somewhere a general is screaming about nuking New York…. Somewhere is a politician screaming that you can’t nuke New York. Another General wants to know why our weapons are not affecting this thing. A PRESIDENT wants to know where it came from – and several thousand journalist are trying to figure all that out too.

But this film isn’t about the scientist, the generals, the Presidents, the mayors or any of the big people. This time, the film is from the perspective of those people that live in those buildings that the monster is breaking through. This is about the people running in the street that scream, “GODZILLA!!!” and run. This is about trying to survive that insanity. Not just that, but to try and save one life.

Like SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, but instead of Nazis it’s a giant monster.

This is a handheld camera movie – knowing this and knowing not to sit too close is probably a good thing… but having said that… you can’t sit far enough from the screen to feel safe. As many of you people know, I am in a wheelchair – and while watching movies, I have my brakes on. There was one moment, so unexpected and so intense that I went 3 ft back.

What about the characters?

You learn everything you need about them in the first 20 minutes. Rob is going to Japan to a new job. He has a brother Jason and a best friend Hud who gets strapped with filming testimonials at his surprise party – but Hud has the hots for Marlena and got talked into it by Jason – who was told to do it by Lily, who loves him. Oh – and they’re taping over a tape that Rob shot of the morning after he and Beth finally did it – after being friends forever. But now he has to go to Japan for his career and Beth shows up with some dick at his party because he didn’t know how to talk with her after they had sex.

It’s a fairly real situation that could happen to anyone. These are just regular good people in the rat race – and trying to have a good time. When the shit goes down.

I wasn’t expecting to like any of the characters. That changes… a lot.

My favorite character? Probably Hud… our cameraman. He’s not a professional photographer, though this “tape” tells an incredibly focused and direct story of epic sweep and filled with intimate reveals. But HUD is “the best friend”. But if I could compare him to any character actor, I’d say he’s like a reigned in Bill Paxton. He’s not going around screaming obscenities… but the shit that comes out of his mouth cracks me up.

The story of this film is actually beautiful though. When the world goes to fuck, you instantly think about the person you love that you don’t know is OK or not. That’s this story. Beth left Rob’s party before the shit went down. They had a fight. When it all goes to hell – Rob and his friends are just trying to get off the island, when a call comes… Beth is somewhere… she can’t move, she’s bleeding and she needs help. And oddly… 911 is busy.

This group of friends sets off through the biggest sort of hell you can imagine to save Beth. Characters die. Shit goes horribly horribly wrong – and it rules!

There’s no score, there’s no rules, there feels like there’s no script and no movie. It feels found, but it is so huge that you can’t ever really believe that… but handheld film just has never had a story of something this fantastical or huge happen. The movie is a landmark genre film. A true milestone in film.

It is all at once art, commercial and grotesquely gleefully gargantuan.

This frankly launches two giant film careers at once. As of this second, I will see and eagerly anticipate every film that J.J. Abrams produces. This sort of stepping back from a genre convention and reinvention is EXACTLY what needs to be done. It isn’t simply going, “Oh, I can make a better Godzilla movie,” but the audacity of saying I’m going to tell that story from one of the most loathed film approaches – the found footage – and simply make the most fucking amazing found tape ever. It won’t just be what it is, but the characters and the story and the emotion and the scope and the journey that the tape takes us on. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Then there’s Matt Reeves, I don’t know this guy. But I’ll tell you what. You’re gonna mark his name after this. He just came out with a film about as SUNDANCE as you could imagine. This is like an INDIE film – that you’d dream Spielberg would make. Remember the beard’s WAR OF THE WORLDS? Now just imagine that, but with the disarming nature of handheld photography. Where if the camera got dropped and suddenly you’re looking the other way… you don’t see the seams. There’s no backlot, this isn’t two blocks at a time… it’s fucking Manhattan being torn to fuck and they’re just smack dab in midtown and midtown has giant lice monsters and some monstrously huge creature… and then there’s the fucking military… and they are on target, and buildings get hit, shit is going everywhere – and the man directing this apocalypse is Matt Reeves and the planning to just deliver what this spectacle is – is daunting. But sir, BRAVO!

Folks – CLOVERFIELD is worth the obsession, worth the months I’ve had to put up with fans wondering what the hell it was – worth having to deal with reporters asking me what it was – and I didn’t know either. This is a towering movie. A complete reinvention of the disaster movie, the giant monster movie and even the love story. I absolutely love this film and the only thought I had when it was over was how I wanted to watch it 5 more times today.

I want to see the details, I want to watch this film once I’m so familiar with it that I can appreciate the complexity of the frames and the shots. To try to pull the film apart – but I don’t think you’ll be able to. It is just that fucking good! And the flaming hobos... holy fuck man... flaming hobos, but not with shotguns!

Good Bad Robot, Good Bad Robot!!!

 

[Velorath]

We've sunken so low as to copy/paste one of Harry Knowles' reviews here?

[Moosehands]

This is the first time in my life I've ever wanted to go watch porn so I could see less sloppy blowjobs.

[rattran]

Meh, at least it killed any slight interest I had in seeing the film.

On the other hand, I don't suppose cam copies will be much worse than seeing it in the theater.

[sigil]

could you tell the difference?

[Tebonas]

That is a serious review? Because it reads like a satire where some prick edited away the punchline.

[NiX]

I hate JJ Abrams. I also hate that my friends tend to fall for shitty marketing like this. I'll get someone to pay for me to go see it and then laugh at them when it sucks.

[Gutboy Barrelhouse]

And I remember he had a review like that before Ep 1, and he loved Jar Jar.

[Jain Zar]

Ignore everything that fat tub of lard says.  Its pretty much been proven he is on the take from any studio who will give him stuff.
That being said, I have seen some other preview reviews on various forums that says its pretty good if you like Daikaiju movies (Godzilla and Rodan and Gamera and stuff), and Blair Witch styled films.

Considering I really liked Blair Witch and I read G Fan whenever I can get it (Godzilla semi pro magazine that's been running for close to a decade now.  Currently quarterly, given the fact no new Godzilla movies have been made in a few years.   Some of the articles are from guys who write for Fangoria and Starlog.) I really want to see it.  (Note to self: finish painting that Godzilla Aurora model rerelease I got for 1.50 at Job Lot....)

[Tale]

and most importantly what the monster is?

It's a lion! :) Hilariously, there were thousands of people who claimed after the first trailer that one of the characters says "It's a lion! It's huge!". Google it. The line is actually "It's alive! It's huge", but to this day there are people on IMDB insisting that it's a lion.

[Ironwood]

If I ever wrote a review like that, I'd probably shoot myself in shame.

Jesus Christ.

[WayAbvPar]

and most importantly what the monster is?

It's a lion! :) Hilariously, there were thousands of people who claimed after the first trailer that one of the characters says "It's a lion! It's huge!". Google it. The line is actually "It's alive! It's huge", but to this day there are people on IMDB insisting that it's a lion.

Maybe it was a Siberian tiger from San Francisco?

Heard an interview with JJ on Adam Carolla this morning. He said the "Blair Witch meets Godzilla" label is fair, which means there is not a chance in hell I will see it on a big screen. If I want to vomit, I can do it by drinking way too much, which is a lot more fun.

[Velorath]

Found out when I got to work this morning that my theater would be getting this after all.  Put together a print this afternoon (looks like it's going to be a really fucking short movie, about an hour and a half at most not counting the trailers and end credits), so I'm heading back in about four hours to go dry run it.

[Margalis]

Tell us how it is.

Also why is JJ getting the credit for this? He's the producer. Big whoop.

[Strazos]

I'm seeing this on Friday with some people. I'm not a film snob. I'll tell ya how it goes afterwards.

[Velorath]

Tell us how it is.

Also why is JJ getting the credit for this? He's the producer. Big whoop.

JJ is the producer and Drew Goddard (who also writes and produces for Lost) did the screenplay, so it comes across as almost a side project to Lost.  The way JJ's name is plastered across most of the promotionial material would suggest that even though he isn't directing, this is very much his project.  That and the fact that the director has a pretty atrocious filmograpy, so he's not really the guy you want to highlight.

Side Note:  There's a teaser trailer for Star Trek attached to the print.

As far as telling you how it is after I see it... I can already guess that this is going to be one of those movies that people end up either loving or hating.  The fact that it's supposed to be made up almost entirely of footage that one of the characters is filming will probably be enough to turn a lot of people off (even I'm going in expecting to be annoyed by it).

[Velorath]

Ok, my initial "make sure you all go in with low expectations" review here:

 

I'm not really going to dissect the plot here (there isn't one anyway, and to point out plot holes, or shit like "there's no way that person should be able to get up and walk with the injury they've got" is almost missing the point of a movie like this) or how the movie was shot (you likely already know whether or not the camera thing is going to bug you).  The fact is that the commercials pretty much give away the beginning and the end (we know the whole movie is what's on that camera, and we're told in some of the trailers and at the beginning of the movie that the camera was found by the military in Central Park), so unless you really manage to get yourself to care about the "guy goes to rescue the woman he loves" thing, there's really only two things to focus on.

The first would be the special effects, and the creature, and to be fair, what precious little we get of that is (mostly) cool, with a few moments of awesome.  A bit of not so awesome too, but overall good stuff.  I think people are focusing a little too much on what the creature is.  We don't get its origin, and giving a physical description of it only dulls the suspense of struggling to see it early on in the movie (and thus takes away one of the few things about this movie that actually works).  And that's really one of the only times when the movie does work.  When the characters can shut the fuck up long enough to make you feel like you're there and trying to figure out what the hell.

In fact, let's talk about the characters (the second of the aforementioned two things to focus on).  Harry's review would have us believe that they are in fact the best part of the movie, and that it's nice to see this kind of movie from the perspective of "real people" rather than the military or the president of whatever.  Fuck these 20-something, obnoxious, clichéd fucking "real people".  Every second the camera guy opened his mouth was pure fucking torture.  You want to see real people deal with some sort of extra-normal situation, watch fucking Night of the Living Dead or something.  Yeah, I'm probably overstating how annoying they were, partly as a reaction to Harry's review, but to see this cast who look like rejects from the O.C. or something, be help up as an example of "real people" seems like such a far fucking step back from movies like the aforementioned Night of the Living Dead that have a broad range of believeable characters struggling to deal with a situation beyond comprehension, and no amount of relationship drama can turn the two-dimensionial twats in this movie into characters I can give a shit about.

But most of you in this topic are going to see this movie anyway, and I'm willing to bet that a decent number of people are going to think it was a great fucking movie, and wonder what the hell I was talking about.  And really, I encourage going to see this movie, despite what I have to say about it.  As flawed as I think it is, it's a fairly unique experience (even if it is just Godzilla and Blair Witch mashed together), and like I said, I'm sure there are going to be people here that appreciate it in a way I just don't.  Go in with low expectations, and try to block out the characters as much as possible and just get into it as much as you can.  Also, feel free to walk into the movie around 15-20 mintues after it starts (the entire first reel is character setup, and the party you see in the trailers, which builds up all the relationship drama).

Edit:  I really shouldn't even be partially surprised by Harry's praise of the characters.  This is a guy who thought Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning had great character development (and not in the context of a half-naked Diora Baird).

[DraconianOne]

I tried to avoid all this but frankly, I think you've summed up pretty much my expectations of the film.  I fucking hated Blair Fucking-Why-Can't-They-All-Just-Fucking-Die-And-Leave-Me-The-Fuck-Alone Witch because the whole "filmed like it was real" concept that was meant to make it immersive was the thing that took me right out of the film.  Plus they were stupid cunts who deserved everything they fucking well got.  Also - not scary.  At all.

[Riggswolfe]

I tried to avoid all this but frankly, I think you've summed up pretty much my expectations of the film.  I fucking hated Blair Fucking-Why-Can't-They-All-Just-Fucking-Die-And-Leave-Me-The-Fuck-Alone Witch because the whole "filmed like it was real" concept that was meant to make it immersive was the thing that took me right out of the film.  Plus they were stupid cunts who deserved everything they fucking well got.  Also - not scary.  At all.

You know, the only part of Blair Witch I found scary was the very last moment of the movie. The dude standing in the corner just like the murdered kids had. That was kind of creepy.

My fiance (yeah, I'm getting married, I'm kinda weirded out too...) wants to see this but I have zero interest. I think it's mostly a gut level reaction to all this hand-held=immersive crap that is going on right now.

[WayAbvPar]

You know, the only part of Blair Witch I found scary was the very last moment of the movie. The dude standing in the corner just like the murdered kids had. That was kind of creepy.

Yep, that was genuinely creepy.

[HaemishM]

You know, the only part of Blair Witch I found scary was the very last moment of the movie. The dude standing in the corner just like the murdered kids had. That was kind of creepy.

Yep, that was genuinely creepy.

Double plus yes. I liked the Blair Wittch a lot, taking into account just what it was. It got way over-hyped, but I think for what it was trying to be, it was fairly effective.

I've tried to avoid as much spoiler material on this as I can, I expect to see it and enjoy it on Saturday.

[Moosehands]

"there's no way that person should be able to get up and walk with the injury they've got"

The older I get the less I'm able to give this shit a pass.

Attention Hollywood:  A busted arm pinned under a bookcase will sufficiently immobilize someone to put them where they need to be for a plot point while still allowing them to be freed and run away more or less under their own power.  A sucking chest wound and/or compound fracture of the femur IS NOT A WALK-IT-OFF WOUND.

[DraconianOne]

Double plus yes. I liked the Blair Wittch a lot, taking into account just what it was. It got way over-hyped, but I think for what it was trying to be, it was fairly effective.

I saw Blair Witch when it came out on the big screen and didn't rate it much then.  I watched it a couple of months ago on the small screen where the effect of hand held black and white 16mm generally worked better but I still found myself bored to tears.  The last scene is effective but it really needed more of it for the other 89 minutes or however long it was.  I appreciate what the film-makers were trying to do but to be honest, it was pure fail as far as I was concerned.

I know a lot of people who like it.  I even respect some of them.  Hell, I might even respect you.  Personally I just fucking loathed it.  If it had been more like "Man Bites Dog" (to give another example of a low-budget, hand-held, b&w 16mm film) in terms of quality, it would have been soooo much better.

Cloverfield at least has the advantage of money.  I'm also pretty determined to see it and hope that I like it too.

[Velorath]

Cloverfield differs from Blair Witch due to the sheer scope of what is going on.  Anyone who ever plans on seeing Cloverfield must see it in the theater, because what redeeming qualities the movie has are going to be completely null and void on even the best home theater set up.

[HaemishM]

Well, I liked Blair Witch, but I saw it on DVD not the theater, and I've only seen it the once. So it isn't like I thought it was a fantastic achievement in filmmaking, but it was an interesting experiment. It's as interesting for the way the marketing worked than it is as a film.

Also, Blair Witch 2 sucked monkey cock.

[Venkman]

One review I read (which was short of spoilage anyway) pointed out that JJ Abrams achieved the desired semi-Blair Witch effect by reversing the usual monster movie thing. Studios generally get themselves all drooling over fancy CGI, spewing out crap like that last Godzilla movie, because they can't help but go Gods-eye view to show off their tech. Abrams, meanwhile, made it scary by making it smaller. Not the monster itself, but the point of view, that of the people getting trampled, rather than succumbing to the studio/budget pressure to show them as specks getting trampled from afar by omgCGIrun!

I knew I was going to wait for rental/streaming anyway. These types of movies aren't usually my thing anyway. I just think it's interesting what he could do with this sort of classic type of movie, which makes me even more interested in what he could do with Trek.

[schild]

Without the first 15 minutes, that shit was fucking awesome. It made up for I am Legend.

[Velorath]

Without the first 15 minutes, that shit was fucking awesome. It made up for I am Legend.

Someone is going to mention the fact that you also think that ID4 is fucking awesome.  I suppose it might as well be me.  That said, I figure my opinion on Cloverfield might well end up being in the minority.  Everytime I was getting into the fucking awesomness of it, the fucking stupidity invariably ended up cockslapping me back into reality.  Spoilers: People do not get up and run around after being impaled through the chest and left bleeding for hours, and the movie should have ended with the helicopter crash because 3 people managing to live through that was fucking cartoonish.

[schild]

That was my second biggest complaint besides the first 15 minutes. The movie was another case of not knowing how to end it.

[Venkman]

What move was ID4? Too many freakin' acronyms...