Cloverfield aka 1-18-08

[MaxPower]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Meh, I liked it. There were a few people actually booing at the end of it, I dont see why though. I thought it was good. I totally understand people complaining about the camera movement, especially once they first start running. A couple of times I wanted to yell "ZOOM OUT!!!". One of the things I really liked about it was the realism, which seems to be a big sticking point for me in movies these days, why I dont know. Of course the plot isnt realistic, but what I mean is, the actors were behaving in a way you'd expect real people to react in this situation(as opposed to a Hollywood, Bruce Willis/Will Smith, etc type who would turn and fight it with a cocky attitude and some zinger one-liners, with a cigar in their mouths). And even though the camera was jittery, I think it added another feel of realism to it, plus I felt the shaky camera helped represent all the chaos around them.

One more thing. Despite all my high expectations, the monster did NOT disappoint. I was very impressed with its appearance. For the first half I was getting mad, thinking we'd never get to see a clear view of it full on. But in the second half, especially near the end, you get some nice, long views. Over-all, dont expect much in terms of character development(it is only a 90-minute, "monster attacking the city" movie after all). But for a good action movie, I recommend it. Just prepare yourself for some Blair Witch-type camerawork.

PS- Just had to add: is it just me, or are movie crowds getting more annoying? I'm seriously finding myself getting uncomfortable during intense, quiet scenes, for fear of some idiots in the crowd yelling/making fart noises with their mouths, etc(which happened during this movie tonight every time such a scene occurred, to which for some reason half the crowd broke out laughing and cheering). I've had terrible luck with movie crowds over the past two years or so(eg people talking throughout, kicking seats, yelling during quiet parts for a laugh, etc), this has become a regular occurance with my movie-going experience. Are people as a whole really getting dumber and more annoying, or am I just getting older and crankier?

Well I agree with pretty much every word in this post.... The movie was awesome for me because it seemed to have an element of realism on it's side IF (read: IF) something like this actually happened. The 'monster' is hardly the focus.... the people and their reactions is the focus. Similar to why I'm anticipating the upcoming Batman movie; the Joker looks like an actual psycho, not like he had a professional do his make-up and costume ala the first Batman movie.

And yes, the general movie-going public are a bunch of ing ######s. I had the exact same experience. I'd like to watch it in my home but that's a poor substitute for the picture/sound in the theater, plus I do not want to wait. I guess that's the price I pay? (aside from the $12.50)

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Eastern Girl

I agree with your review and I liked it too, I suppose we just might be in the minority.

Well, this movie does have an 8.3 rating (with 2,600 votes) on IMDB. That is really good for any movie regardless of genre.

I'm still torn. I might go see a matinee today - either that or Sweeney Todd.

[Thunderball]

I really liked it, though I was surprised just how jarring it was. I have a really strong stomach, I never get motion sickness on boats or anything... but I felt quite nauseous during the movie. I'd say a good dozen people left my screening, some looking visibly sick. Everyone around me was complaining they felt sick... it took 20 mins and a beer to feel normal again.

I look forward to watching it on DVD, it won't be as jarring on a TV.

The monster is extremely badass.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

PS- Just had to add: is it just me, or are movie crowds getting more annoying? I'm seriously finding myself getting uncomfortable during intense, quiet scenes, for fear of some idiots in the crowd yelling/making fart noises with their mouths, etc(which happened during this movie tonight every time such a scene occurred, to which for some reason half the crowd broke out laughing and cheering). I've had terrible luck with movie crowds over the past two years or so(eg people talking throughout, kicking seats, yelling during quiet parts for a laugh, etc), this has become a regular occurance with my movie-going experience. Are people as a whole really getting dumber and more annoying, or am I just getting older and crankier?

/\ This really needs its own thread. People at the movies seem to think they are in their own living rooms.

I was at I Am Legend a week ago and I couldn't believe the two ######s sitting next to my wife and I. They seemed to be an mid twenties couple with foreign accents, likely east european. Anyway, they commented in their regular speaking voices after nearly every interesting shot or plot development. I've never seen anything like these two. During the "Fred the manequin" scene this a-hole actually takes a phone call. To his credit he lowered his voice and kept his responses short but c'mon, keep the phone in your pocket man. I finally leaned over (they kept avoiding eye contact with me), put my hand on her arm (immediately got his attention) and told them to quiet down right now. That more or less ended their rude behaviour.

People suck.

[Flash Walken]

I was hoping it was going to be Lord Xenu.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

God, people who are complaining about the jittery camera obviously missed the point of the movie.

[Hakan]

What is the point then Ebert?

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Hakan

What is the point then Ebert?

The camerawork was designed and used to give the viewer a sense of what the characters are going thru. The movie is not about the monster, it never was, it's about survival. It's a story about a group of a few 20-sometings trying to survive a bloody monster attack. It's not about the army couter-attack, it's not about a scientist trying to figure out the weaknesses of the monster.

The camerawork also provided a very original look to a not so original concept of a movie. We've seen the big monster movies done to death, and they tend to be the same movie. This was not, it was truly original. Yes, Blair Witch and other flicks have used the same tactic but not on a scale like Cloverfield. So the people whinin that the camera was too shaky or that they didn't see enough of the monster really need to re-think. For argument sake, let's say you're in Manhattan and you see an huge explosion, followed by tremors, then the bloody Statue of Libery head gets tossed like a baseball, and you have no idea what's going on. Are you gonna try to get a good look to see what's causing this mess?? No, you're gonna try to get the hell outta there, you're gonna try to make sure the people you are with are safe. You are gonna take cover, you are gonna try and find places to hide. That's what the people did in this movie and that's exactlly what we saw.

Character development, sure, it was a little weak, but in all honesty, I didn't walk out thinking that there should have been more scenes getting to know the characters. Thru the opening 20-25 minutes, I felt I knew enought about the 4-5 main characters to know why they were doing the things that they were doing in a crisis like this.


Gonna see it again this week for sure.....CLOVERFIELD ROCKED!!!

[Tyler]

There should be a distinct line between trying to give the impression that this movie was shot through the eyes of five Manhattanites, and being callous in filming a movie that was very disorienting and physically uncomfortable for people shelling out money to watch it

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Tyler

There should be a distinct line between trying to give the impression that this movie was shot through the eyes of five Manhattanites, and being callous in filming a movie that was very disorienting and physically uncomfortable for people shelling out money to watch it

Come on, it wasn't that bad. If you didn't like the movie, fine, but it wasn't physically uncomfortable. Maybe, if you were in the first few rows at a Silvercity thetrea, sure, but I saw Ocean's Thirteen in the third row in a huge cinema and that was physically uncomfortable.

For Cloverfield, I was in the back 4-5 row and I was more than okay. But thats just me.

[Flames09]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

/\ This really needs its own thread. People at the movies seem to think they are in their own living rooms.

I was at I Am Legend a week ago and I couldn't believe the two ######s sitting next to my wife and I. They seemed to be an mid twenties couple with foreign accents, likely east european. Anyway, they commented in their regular speaking voices after nearly every interesting shot or plot development. I've never seen anything like these two. During the "Fred the manequin" scene this a-hole actually takes a phone call. To his credit he lowered his voice and kept his responses short but c'mon, keep the phone in your pocket man. I finally leaned over (they kept avoiding eye contact with me), put my hand on her arm (immediately got his attention) and told them to quiet down right now. That more or less ended their rude behaviour.

People suck.

For some stupid reason I decided to watch 30 days of night a while back, and this group of teens sitting in the top row were annoying the hell out of everyone, but it didn't take long for security to come and remove them from the theatre. Personally I'll go complain even if that means missing a few minutes of the movie and enjoying the rest w/o the noise, and I dont care who thinks Im childing for doing so, I'm going to get my $13 worth even if I have to knock you out to get you to shutup.

[Drunk Skunk]

I went to see it tonight, and was not disappointed at all. It's not often I say it, but I was happy to spend $10 to see it. The only time the camera really bothered me was during the very beginning, it made me kind of dizzy.

Don't waste your time sitting through the credits though, there is nothing at the end.

[Jiggy_12]

This movie was pretty much what I expected, so I was pretty happy with it.

I'm not sure what some of you wanted from this going into it, but it delivers exactly as advertised.

[Roast Beef]

Originally Posted by Drunk Skunk

The only time the camera really bothered me was during the very beginning, it made me kind of dizzy.

Same here, the first bit in her apartment made me wonder if i was going to last through the whole movie. Once my brain got used to how the camera moved i was just fine.

Originally Posted by Drunk Skunk

Don't waste your time sitting through the credits though, there is nothing at the end.

Well there actually is *something* at the end, but its not worth writing home about.

[Drunk Skunk]

Originally Posted by Roast Beef

Well there actually is *something* at the end, but its not worth writing home about.

That thing at the very end is what people are talking about?

[Burninator]

Saw it last night. Went to the late show at Empire Studios 10 and didn't get into the actual theater until 10 minutes before the movie started. We deduced from the frantic staff going in and out of the theater carrying kitty litter and the bags over two seats in the third row that someone threw up in the previous showing. To be honest this only raised my anticipation for the movie more. I assumed the person got sick from the motion of the camera, but I liked to think they got sick from shear terror. Now onto the actual movie.

The Good
Apart from the first 15 minutes of the movie you are on the edge of your seat for the whole movie. It does a great job of keeping you tense the entire time. I thought they did a good job of creating what actual real people would do if they were in a similar situation. In terms of character development I thought it was just fine. I liked the camera style and basically the whole style of the movie. I am getting so sick of moves that tell you every detail and point everything out to you like the audience is full of idiots. The audience, for the most part (more on that later) is not full of idiots, people can be given just a little bit and figure things out. And we don't need everything wrapped up in a perfect little package at the end either. Happy endings are over rated. I like not knowing every detail, I like being kept in the dark. The mystery of things and speculating on others is what makes movies interesting. There is enough movies out there that allow you to watch without a brain.

The Bad
Really this movie is nothing original. Big monster attacking New York, done. Camera in the perspective of hand held, done. This movie is Blair Witch but the forest is replaced with Manhattan and the witch is now a huge monster. I guess the camera style could be a problem for some, but it wasn't for me. If it bothers you, sit at the back, not close up, or simply don't go. I don't really have a lot of complaints about the movies, I did enjoy it. I can see this getting a lot of similar reactions that Blair Witch did. Either you liked it, or you hated it.

The worst part of the movie was the row in front of me and about 6 seats over. A guy and a girl (especially the girl) talked through the whole movie. A couple people sssh'd her and a couple yelled shut up, but she would just laugh and keep talking. It's just beyond ignorant for someone to go to a movie a talk the whole way through. I was pretty furious. I honestly wanted to physically remove her from the theater. I am sure I would have gotten a clap from the audience. Unfortunately I am wussy and I didn't do that or yell at her and I completely regret it.

But now I am a taking a vow to yell at a someone talking in a theater or a similar public venue if they are being a distraction. And if I go to a movie and the same things happens I'll start a thread and CP can publicly shame me.

Anyways, I liked the movie. If it sounds interesting to you I recommend seeing it. It's definitely a good theater movie. If you don't like the idea of the camera work and if you hated the Blair Witch style, stay home. And if you want to go see it and want to talk all the way through it, go to hell.

[Roast Beef]

Originally Posted by Drunk Skunk

That thing at the very end is what people are talking about?

Yep. apparently it makes sense if you play it backwards.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Roast Beef

Yep. apparently it makes sense if you play it backwards.

Anyone else think its kind of ironic showing something at the end that needs to be recorded so it can be played backwards.

[Drunk Skunk]

SPOILER LINK!.

It's what is said at the end of the credits, backwards.

[the crispy badger]

I just got back from seeing this..it's certainly a rollercoaster ride through the majority of the movie with some VERY tense scenes and expect a sequel from a different groups perspective.