Cloverfield Review (Spoilers)

[foofighter15]

DO NOT READ THIS THREAD IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE MOVIE YET AND DON'T WANT SPOILERS!!!

So I figured since this movie is getting such mixed reviews from "the pros" and the public we could have the debate. (maybe a poll)

Here is what I ask of you?
1. Did you like it?
2. Did the camera affect if you liked it?
3. Did the camera work make you feel sick or dizzy?
4. Monster: Badass or Let down?
5. How bout the ending?
This isn't a test, these are just opening questions.

Go ahead and discuss

(feeling I started this in the wrong thread somehow....sorry)

[foofighter15]

I guess I can start it out.

I totally loved the movie. I thought how true they were to making it a homevideo was awesome, specifically that point where Putt was saying he had it on camera, and then everyone watched it and it cut to that sidestory for a second, and cut back.
The opening where it said "retrieved from the site...." gave away the ending, but I'm pretty sure we all saw that coming anyway.

IMO the monster was pretty cool, especially the mini monsters (did anyone else notice the bite mark glowing) but I think I would prefer to have seen less of the monster. Specifically that scene at the end when it was staring Putt in the face. (That is partly because I think we are at a stage in special effects/CGI that is going to be embarassing someday when our kids ask us how we could watch that)

Ending. There were two possible endings. Happily ever after, or get caught in the final blow. I like how we don't know what happened...well, the details not about the characters. (obviously the monster got brought down because if it won, there would be no US government to have possession of that tape) but the fact we don't know so much, makes the movie that much better.

As for the side story of the stuff being taped over, good add to the plot.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

1. I loved it, gonna see it again this thursday night for sure. I was going in with HUGE expectations and it met every single one.

2. The camera was such a non issue. A couple times I found myself tilting my head a bit, but thats what made the experience fun.

3. The camera didn't make me sick, dizzy or feel the need to go outside for a break. People are just different I guess, but I was totally fine, I did however sit in the back two rows of a huge Silvercity theatre.

4. the monster was truly badass, I loved it. I loved how we didn't see much of it thru the first 45-hour of the movie. Usually I don't find myself watching a movie and saying "Holy " out loud in the theatre, but two parts I definitely did:

1. Right before the guys go into the subway, they are being chased, Hud falls down and right as he looks up, the monster is screaming at him and we see the monster's face for the first time.
2. At the end in the helicopter, after the big explosion, the monster comes right out of the fire and attacks the chopper.

5. The ending was perfect. yes, I pretty much knew they were gonna die in Central Park, but didn't know the how or the why and was intrigued by those questions and the way it happens doesn't let me down.

9/10, best monster movie I have ever seen, and done in an original way. Gives you a real experience, well as real as it can be for a monster attacking Manhattan movie.

[Flames89]

Kinda mean to have the title say "Cloverfield Review", but not allow us non-spoiler people to view it because of spoilers ...

The self-control is ... killing ... me ...

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by foofighter15

1. Did you like it?
2. Did the camera affect if you liked it?
3. Did the camera work make you feel sick or dizzy?
4. Monster: Badass or Let down?
5. How bout the ending?

1. I thought it was a pretty solid movie. Didn't have huge expectations, but I was extremely curious to find out just what the hell was attacking the city. Needless to say, the clever marketing strategy caught me hook, line, and sinker. To me it met my expectations, it didnt disappoint at all. I also don't get why people are complaining they didnt get to learn enough about the characters beforehand. I felt I knew enough about them, almost the first full half of the movie was spent establishing this. What more did you really need to know?

2. I enjoyed the camerawork, I felt it brought a more "real"(authentic) feel to the movie, making it more believeable. I dont know why, but in the last couple years I'm on a serious realism kick, where I appreciate movies more based on realism rather than special effects and dramatic acting(which is probably why I hated "300" when everyone else loved it). So for me, this was absolutely perfect. On a regular camera, I dont think it wouldve had the same effect for me.

3. As much as I loved the use of this type of camerawork, yes I did have to look away a couple of times because of dizziness. It seemed to settle down the second half of the movie, but the first half had a couple rough parts. It was particularly bad when Hud ran away from the monster with the crowd towards the Brooklyn Bridge, the camera was everywhere. I honestly wanted to yell "Zoom out!!!", and had to look away. Other than this and a couple other times, I was fine with it.

4. As I previously mentioned, I didnt have huge expectations for the movie itself, but for the monster I definitely did. And it did not disappoint, I thought it was awesome. I was actually shocked I liked it so much, as I really felt going in that I would probably be disappointed with it. It looked great. I hear ya about whoever mentioned in this thread that they didnt like the up close look of it near the end because they feel we are in an age when current CGI will be laughable in 10-20 years(see: I Am Legend). Just try watching one of those old re-done Star Wars trilogies from 1997 for further proof of that. I was worried about this as well for Cloverfield. But I was actually relieved at that close-up scene at the end, I thought it looked great, and realistic.

5. I liked the ending, due to what I mentioned before as my love of realism over Hollywoodish feel-good endings(evidently I'm in the minority on this, as in the theatre I was in, many people were laughing when they discovered that was the end, including the group behind me). I really dont see why there needs to be a happy ending for this type of movie, especially because the movie itself seems to be more based on the people running away from the monster, as opposed to the monster itself. I really enjoyed the ending. Plus it could always leave the door open for a sequel, which I would definitely go see.

[foofighter15]

I don't know if I would want a sequel. I would watch it still, but don' think I would be pleased. I liked the fact that it was all done on the one camera. It can make you think its you almost.
The only thing I could see possible is if they did it during the time frame that this one was done, and it was another story going on during the attack. Which has to do with the honesty they had to the one camera, on one tape. No cutting to other stuff at all.

I think the reason I was so intrigued by this movie was because, as horrible as it sounds, when it comes to tragic disasters like this in real life, I wish I could be there, so I can get a true grasp on it. Like, again horrible, 9/11. As brutal as it was, can you imagine being there, and seeing it all happen, and to say you were there.

Then I'm also interested in the politics in this kind of thing in real life. If this actually happened...would they try to rebuild New York, or just leave it alone.

Its just some thoughts I've been entertaining for awhile, and the cliffhanger ending has brought them to full focus because it leaves it open for this kinda stuff

[Eastern Girl]

1. Did you like it?

I've seen it twice now. I liked it the first time, not as much the second time around.

2. Did the camera affect if you liked it?

Possibly, I did find it annoying at times.

3. Did the camera work make you feel sick or dizzy?

Nope. It just annoyed me because it made it difficult to see what was going on at times. I want to see the monster, etc, not the guys feet as he runs. I understand why they did it, but it still made for some difficult viewing at times.

4. Monster: Badass or Let down?

Took a little too long to give a clear view of it, and I think as a result, I wasn't as impressed with it. I would say I am somewhere in between "let down" and "blown away" by its badass-ishness.

5. How bout the ending?

Yeah, how bout it? I liked it. You couldn't have anyone live. It made the film more realistic, and it even made it seem more eery and creepy. Kinda like the Blair Witch movie. You don't see how they die, but you know when the film ends, they are...

[Maritime Q-Scout]

1. Did you like it?

I really enjoyed the movie from about the 30 minute mark until the end of the movie you're in suspense and wondering what's going on the entire time. I also loved how there was foreshadowing for stuff that didn't happen. For example, we know form the previews that the Statue of Liberty's head is launched sky high and lands in the streets. But they show a news casts of an oil tanker that capsizes in New York Harbour, I instantly thought "and that's how the Statue of Liberty is blown and the head goes sky high, neat twist." Here it didn't happen.

2. Did the camera affect if you liked it?

It did, it added to the realism of the film. I know I've been filming drunk not being able to hold it steady, or forgetting to turn it off, hit pause, and you see shots of people's feet as I'm carrying the camera around, oops. Also leaving the little bits of what was pre-recorded on was gold. It viewed exactly as it would if you filmed it yourself, you rewind, re-watch, then there's that bit of tape that you fast forward over to ensure you don't record over what you want. Brilliant!

3. Did the camera work make you feel sick or dizzy?

At times I had to close my eyes and take a breath, but hey that was part of it. It's like going to a horror movie and complaining that you were scared. Or that a comedy made you laugh. The shaky work was helping hold true to the realism. However I wonder if Hudd actually had a fascination with Nokia.

4. Monster: Badass or Let down?

I never got the impression of either. To me badass signifies that the monster knows what he's doing and is doing it with evil intentions. I don't think the monster knew what was going on, and was just reacting, as evidenced by his curiousness looking at Hudd then was looked like tasting him to see what he was. Kind of like how my dog used to look at bugs. That said he wasn't a let down either.

5. How bout the ending?

It was sudden, I expected to see the military stop the tape and then end the film. However the fact they didn't I'm cool with. I think they could have added to the movie, but it would have taken away the uniqueness of how the movie was presented. All in all I'm happy, however I don't see it as a timeless classic. I don't think I'll enjoy it the second time around,
*might* even find it boring

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by foofighter15

Here is what I ask of you?
1. Did you like it?
2. Did the camera affect if you liked it?
3. Did the camera work make you feel sick or dizzy?
4. Monster: Badass or Let down?
5. How bout the ending?

1. I followed the viral marketing from the beginning and I wasn't let down. Perfect movie? Nope, but excellent nonetheless.

2. The camerawork was gritty and real. That was the goal, right... we're not following President A-List Actor, Captain A-List Actor, Major A-List Actress and General Character B-List Actor this time... because these people were obscure, it felt real and less of a spectacle as it could have been.

3. I definitely felt nauseous, which shocked the hell out of me, cause I have a stomach like a rock. I was able to press on though... closing my eyes and/or looking down during calm periods.

4. Monster was very bad-ass. It almost looked like a (spoiler) mutated human with fish-like features.

5. Ending was good. Very good. You knew things weren't going to end well for the group... but you don't know whether it ended all bad. People can easily believe that they survived the fallout and delivered the video to the armed forces who rescued/retrieved them. Or that tough little camera was all that remained. The monster is more than likely dead now... despite the (spoiler) "its still alive" heard at the very, very end. All that meant to me is the first phase of Hammerdown didn't work. The military would likely have found the video after they killed the monster.

[foofighter15]

i didnt hear the second spoiler you mentioned there. Good ears. I must of been too busy thinking how awesome this was.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by foofighter15

i didnt hear the second spoiler you mentioned there. Good ears. I must of been too busy thinking how awesome this was.

well, that's what the whisper says backwards... or so say some people with more time on their hands than I do. I thought it said (spoiler)"help us".

[foofighter15]

it did say spoiler, but I don't remember the whisper either. guess I'm gonna have to go see it again. Dang.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by foofighter15

it did say spoiler, but I don't remember the whisper either. guess I'm gonna have to go see it again. Dang.

See, I stayed behind to recouperate from the motion... and got treated to that at the very end.

[the_hound]

Anybody going to see this movie again...........



SPOILER :


Watch the scene at the end where the girl says "this has been a good day", look in the background to see somthing VERY RELEVANT. I did not see this the first time and WOW does it explain ALOT !!!!

[Jason14h]

Can you post what it was for those not seeing the movie in the theaters again!

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by the_hound

Anybody going to see this movie again...........



SPOILER :


Watch the scene at the end where the girl says "this has been a good day", look in the background to see somthing VERY RELEVANT. I did not see this the first time and WOW does it explain ALOT !!!!

Damn, I saw this opening night and didnt even notice this. Do tell(in spolier lettering font)

[foofighter15]

ya please do!
also, I saw a thing online...trying to find it again saying that sequel is being talked about and is exactly what I said I would want. Same thing, same attack, different person/group

[foofighter15]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1060277/faq#.2.1.34 you can find a picture of what he's talking about there

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by foofighter15

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1060277/faq#.2.1.34 you can find a picture of what he's talking about there

What am I looking at here?? The thing in the top left corner of that pic??

[foofighter15]

off to the right in the water I believe