10 Things I learned from Cloverfield

News Type: Event — Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:08 AM EST

entertainment, movie, reviews, jj-abrams, cloverfield, matt-reeves

A movie that wasn't a movie. Cloverfield.

After seeing the much hyped Cloverfield, I found that I just can't do a simple review. So I opted out for this semi-review with some minor spoilers. If you really want to see the movie because of the hype and marketing, then skip this review so you can make up your mind what you think of it.

10. Handheld camera Point of view movies like Blair witch Project will make you nauseous in less than 30 minutes into the movie. And you will seriously wonder if the whole movie will be like this. It is, except that it gets worse once things start to happen. Unique, but it gets old real fast.

9. Not everything JJ Abrams touch will turn to gold. Great marketing and hype will bring a lot of viewers in, but the question is will they like it? This movie will polarize a lot of viewers - those who thought it was brilliant and those who thought it was a bunch of .. er crap.

8. You don't need a music score. It kinda works in this movie along with the panic stricken camera point of view - if you like that kinda thing. Apparently there is some music at the very very end of the credits, but it may not be worth 7 minutes of your time to stick around and listen.

7. When the decapitated and mangled head of Statue of Liberty comes screaming out of the night-sky and narrowly misses you, you should immediately try to leave the city. Which leads me to the next point.

6. Not all stupid people die horribly. Once you learn that a monster has attacked your city, and the decapitated head of the Statue of Liberty almost lands on you, hang around to take phone calls on the middle of a bridge, then start screaming 'did you see it, did you see it," then if you somehow survive it, then try to get killed in the crossfire between the military and the monster, then if you somehow survive it, head down into the dark subway tunnels, and even if you make it out alive.. OK you get the point, somehow, some people actually make it through all of it.

5. At least the monster doesn't look like a rehashed Godzilla. And if that wasn't enough, the big monster 'sheds' these little monsters that personally come after you.

4. Not everyone likes this type of movie. In fact more than a few people will leave 30 minutes into the movie to forgo the Cloverfield experience - and continue to leave until the very end.

3. Do all movies have to have a point? Or can they just be a free flow of visual diarrheas?

2. Who needs endings when you can have "Brought to you by Nokia," slogan and logo at the end. Kidding, no such thing at the end, but it almost looked like a Nokia commercial at the beginning.

1. I still can't make up my mind if I liked it or hated it. The Cloverfield experience is like - you hear about this great bar that everyone is talking about, so you go there and somehow you didn't quite like it. It could have been the decor, the drinks or any factor of things. So you come back, but don't want to talk smack about it because it will make you look lame that you actually went to the place, so you contrive to make up something about it - yeah, kinda like a list with 10 things or such.

Miss it if you don't like unusual movies - not because of the plot but because of the way the story is told. See it, if you have an hour or two to waste.

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2.5

2.1

0.7

{"commentId":1372758,"authorDomain":"tschreck"}

tschreck

thanks for the thoughtful review..

i was considering screening this ~~flim~~ movie.

now i feel there is no need what-so-ever.

you saved me a ten spot.. i should buy you a beer!

:-)

{"commentId":1372758,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"tschreck"}

2 votes

#1 - Thu Jan 17, 2008 11:32 AM EST

{"commentId":1375047,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Clipped to the Review Cafe

{"commentId":1375047,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#1.1 - Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:46 PM EST

{"commentId":1375247,"authorDomain":"thura"}

Thura

Free beer is always welcome!

{"commentId":1375247,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"thura"}

1 vote

#1.2 - Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:17 AM EST

{"commentId":1372879,"authorDomain":"mmhuffaker"}

Megan To Pagan

Great review! Think I'll wait for it to be on TV. :)

{"commentId":1372879,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"mmhuffaker"}

1 vote

#2 - Thu Jan 17, 2008 12:00 PM EST

{"commentId":1375256,"authorDomain":"thura"}

Thura

TV may not improve the Cloverfield experience.

{"commentId":1375256,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"thura"}

2 votes

#2.1 - Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:20 AM EST

{"commentId":1373118,"authorDomain":"jaawalla"}

Jace

Despite all the hype, I have little desire to see this movie, although I would like to know what the monster is and what the "twist" is, if any. It's similar to the way I feel about all the formulaic crap M. Night Shaymalan puts out. Thanks for your review. Now I'm off to look for more spoilers.

{"commentId":1373118,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"jaawalla"}

1 vote

#3 - Thu Jan 17, 2008 12:54 PM EST

{"commentId":1373581,"authorDomain":"divbyzero"}

Division by Zero

Did they show a preview of the next Star Trek movie? That's all I want to know....

{"commentId":1373581,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"divbyzero"}

#4 - Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:08 PM EST

{"commentId":1374658,"authorDomain":"rkfan"}

Logan D

Another Trek movie? Did the first one do well enough to merit a sequel?

{"commentId":1374658,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"rkfan"}

#4.1 - Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:24 PM EST

{"commentId":1375253,"authorDomain":"thura"}

Thura

I got in late so missed most of the trailers.. maybe they did though.

{"commentId":1375253,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"thura"}

#4.2 - Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:19 AM EST

{"commentId":1375512,"authorDomain":"darkside"}

Mykola Bilokonsky

There is a very brief and very well done little teaser. It was exciting. :)

{"commentId":1375512,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"darkside"}

#4.3 - Fri Jan 18, 2008 2:58 AM EST

{"commentId":1377779,"authorDomain":"gregjarvis"}

gregjarvis

the movie was amazing.

{"commentId":1377779,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"gregjarvis"}

#5 - Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:26 PM EST

{"commentId":1378410,"authorDomain":"sfoote66"}

Steph-

I thought Cloverfield was well made (what does the title mean?)- I jumped a few times, and all the Trek trailer had going for it was a very familiar voice saying a very familiar phrase...Made me smile though!

{"commentId":1378410,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"sfoote66"}

#6 - Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:00 PM EST

{"commentId":1389207,"authorDomain":"rkfan"}

Logan D

The name of the government project appears briefly on the screen at the beginning of the movie: Project Cloverfield. Isn't Cloverfield a district of New York?

{"commentId":1389207,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"rkfan"}

#6.1 - Tue Jan 22, 2008 12:33 PM EST

{"commentId":1378765,"authorDomain":"ratsrule223160"}

Brandon-227919

I completely understand why some people would not like this movie, though I personally enjoyed it. I can see how the camera could give someone motion sickness, though I thought it was a lot less jerky than Blair Witch. I nearly left the theater during Bourne Ultimatum during the action sequences because of the terribly jerky cameras, Cloverfield wasn't like that. The shaking cameras flowed well and I have not talked to one person who got motion sickness from the movie. I thought it was very well done, I was impressed with all the actors and actresses, except the woman who played Beth, I thought she was mediocre at best. Overall I thought Cloverfield was extremely well done and will definitely see it again in theater. I hope the movie does very well so that we can see more movies that are different and not just high priced action movies - though Cloverfield definitely packs in the action.

{"commentId":1378765,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"ratsrule223160"}

#7 - Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:42 PM EST

{"commentId":1379217,"authorDomain":"thura"}

Thura

Blair Witch was kinda cool, but after that the novelty was gone, except in Cloverfield, it is now a flash mounted, infered capable camera. I almost expected a Sony Handycam HD placement and such, but alas it was not to be.

As said I still cannot figure out I liked it or not, but it sure was different.

{"commentId":1379217,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"thura"}

#7.1 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 3:47 AM EST

{"commentId":1379006,"authorDomain":"ralphs-views"}

Ralph-124C+

I'm not a monster-movie person, but i was intrigued by the trailer and really enjoyed the movie. I agree the handheld camera thing could get annoying, but only in the way it irritates me to see any poorly shot home video. I would definitely recommend the movie to anyone who might enjoy something different. But where does the title come from? Yeah, i saw the "military designation" but was that it, just a random name? I felt my money was well spent.

{"commentId":1379006,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"ralphs-views"}

1 vote

#8 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:48 AM EST

{"commentId":1379219,"authorDomain":"thura"}

Thura

I agree the handheld camera thing could get annoying, but only in the way it irritates me to see any poorly shot home video

Heh, I have tens of hours of vacation videos of such quality and half of that are shots of my shoes and the pavement and the backsides of whomever happened to be in front of me to the annoyance of my family.

But where does the title come from? Yeah, i saw the "military designation" but was that it, just a random name?

Must be that because I didn't see it being explained in the movie.

{"commentId":1379219,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"thura"}

#8.1 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 3:51 AM EST

{"commentId":1379152,"authorDomain":"cynanne65"}

CynAnne

... Total agreement, Ralph-124C+ - well worth my 8.00 for the literal gasps of horror and shock J.J. was kind enough to present to me for 90 something minutes of my life, watching people I'd come to feel sympathy for try not to die horribly, caught between monsters and mortar-fire. I did watch a couple people wobble towards the door as the 'shaky-cam' technique was repeated (I thought it added realism - I mean who, exactly, is gonna take the time to focus when giant uber-angry critters are dogging your footsteps?), but all in all, a h*ll of a ride! ;) ...

{"commentId":1379152,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"cynanne65"}

#9 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:30 AM EST

{"commentId":1379385,"authorDomain":"sadricamber"}

Sadric Amber

12 people left the theater holding their hands over their eyes (obviously on the verge of puking). I, myself was very sick for hours after the film. There was no call in filming like that. It was a blatant way To "evoke" your senses. I can just see the director wringing his hands together saying "my masterpiece". Well it wasn't. It sucked. The ENTIRE theater bood at the end. It was terrible. A total waste of money. If they had made it longer than the cheesy 90 minutes (by the way it wasn't that long. I think IMDB is wrong) and filmed it without the stupid Blair Witch Project thing it might have been palatable. Wait the ending sucked anyway so never mind. Trust me don't believe the hype. The movie is very bad. I hope other movies dont follow suit.

{"commentId":1379385,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"sadricamber"}

#10 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:05 AM EST

{"commentId":1379921,"authorDomain":"daveup2bat"}

daveup2bat

I thought the movie was quite good, sure there were a few cheezy parts, but some good laughs too! Which made it come across more realistic. Sure sometimes you think this part is a bit over the top, but then again you catch yourself thinking, oh wait, I guess that is more realistic than a monster attacking NY, so you go on. I regress, the movie was fun, the handheld camera thing was really only annoying in the first 5 to 10 minutes, and then you just got used to it. In many cases it added good humor and intensity to the movie. The film is only 1hr 24mins long, but for some it didn't feel short. Both my wife and I enjoyed and we are not typical monster or horror movie fans.

If nothing else for a matinée it would be a great afternoon flick.

{"commentId":1379921,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"daveup2bat"}

#11 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:56 AM EST

{"commentId":1379949,"authorDomain":"daveup2bat"}

daveup2bat

I would go see it, before it hits video, the theater has a better chance to really get you caught up in it... you definitely won't want to get up for a restroom or refreshment stand break, it's pretty intense.

{"commentId":1379949,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"daveup2bat"}

#12 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:04 PM EST

{"commentId":1379968,"authorDomain":"ThomasVA"}

ThomasVA23322

Yeah I think "Cloverfield" was just a code name for the location that was once Central Park. I assuming that after all was said and done, all that was left of Central Park was a field that later became overgrown with clover plants. If you saw the previews before the movie, there was a History Channel show talking about life after Chernobyl and it showed EVERYTHING covered in plants and weeds, so Im assuming that after all this the only thing left was clovers. Later when the military found the tape, they just renamed the location (Central Park) to Cloverfield. Like it was stated in the opening it stated "footage found at Cloverfield, location once known as Central Park."

{"commentId":1379968,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"ThomasVA"}

#13 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:09 PM EST

{"commentId":1379986,"authorDomain":"ThomasVA"}

ThomasVA23322

{"commentId":1379986,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"ThomasVA"}

#14 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:16 PM EST

{"commentId":1380738,"authorDomain":"Bulseye"}

Bulseye448

the movie was great1 the first 10 - 15 minutes everyone kinda giggled waiting for some kind of "Godzilla" but once you got through the "prep" story it was awesome. Jumped a few, yelled a little, and one scene i looked around and a lot of people were crying.... (the mom phone conversation).. Definitely go see this movie again!

{"commentId":1380738,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"Bulseye"}

#15 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 4:14 PM EST

{"commentId":1382052,"authorDomain":"thura"}

Thura

The first 15 min took a bit of patience to get through.

Welcome to the Vine.

{"commentId":1382052,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"thura"}

#15.1 - Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:02 AM EST

{"commentId":1380990,"authorDomain":"fxbergmeister"}

Semiman

Just saw this with my 16 year old son. The film is great!
Recommend seeing it on the big screen.
And it is just a movie, so enjoy it and move on.

{"commentId":1380990,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"fxbergmeister"}

#16 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 6:35 PM EST

{"commentId":1382055,"authorDomain":"thura"}

Thura

This is one of the movies where you should see it on big screen, otherwise you lose the impact. Sound was great too.

Thanks for the comments.

{"commentId":1382055,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"thura"}

#16.1 - Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:04 AM EST

{"commentId":1381636,"authorDomain":"lizajane91"}

LizaJ

I saw "Cloverfield" last night. Guess I am one of the minority here because I walked out about 40 minutes into it. It was the ONLY movie I have ever walked out on and I didn't feel it was worth my $8.00.

{"commentId":1381636,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"lizajane91"}

1 vote

#17 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:00 PM EST

{"commentId":1382050,"authorDomain":"thura"}

Thura

I have never walked out of a movie, but Cloverfield wasn't that bad for me to walkout.

Thanks for the comment and welcome to the Vine.

{"commentId":1382050,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"thura"}

#17.1 - Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:00 AM EST

{"commentId":1381921,"authorDomain":"enjoibear52"}

Enjoibear52

for numbers 7,6 and 4 ok

7-6. if they all left the city and escaped the mess, there would be no story, it would only be a 30 minute movie.

4. if you don't like "this" kind of movie why would you go see it in the first place.

so i don't know why you made this stupid review.

I thought the movie was great and you should go see it if you are up for an action thriller

{"commentId":1381921,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"enjoibear52"}

#18 - Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:18 AM EST

{"commentId":1382046,"authorDomain":"thura"}

Thura

4. if you don't like "this" kind of movie why would you go see it in the first place.

so i don't know why you made this stupid review.

The teaser and marketing was great and quite well done to generate interest. I do watch a lot of genre movies and I didn't say I don't like this movie type. And I do review 80% of the movies I see even the ones I didn't like, but mostly it is easier to review movies I really like than dislike. Besides, 4-5 days after seeing it, I am still not sure if I liked it or did.

Anyway, thanks for the comment and welcome to the vine!

{"commentId":1382046,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"thura"}

#18.1 - Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:56 AM EST

{"commentId":1381938,"authorDomain":"fivetengal"}

Connie in AZ

I saw Cloverfield this afternoon and liked it a lot. I'd heard about the handheld camera and went into it with some concern, because Blair Witch really nauseated me. Didn't have that problem at all with Cloverfield, and I think the approach made it an even better movie than it would have been if it had been done more traditionally. Lots of scary moments, snippets of humor throughout and good work done by all involved.

My ONLY problem with this film is that the Statue of Liberty head that landed in the street is way too small to be believable -- but the emotional impact of seeing that happen made up for the technical discrepancy.

I'm glad I saw it on the big screen. It won't be as good on DVD, where you can't really have the full experience. So, see it now!

{"commentId":1381938,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"fivetengal"}

#19 - Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:27 AM EST

{"commentId":1382047,"authorDomain":"thura"}

Thura

My ONLY problem with this film is that the Statue of Liberty head that landed in the street is way too small to be believable -- but the emotional impact of seeing that happen made up for the technical discrepancy.

Yup, it looked too small to me too. Apparently either JJ or Reeves was inspired by the poster of Escape from NY - where the head was BIGGGG!

{"commentId":1382047,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"thura"}

#19.1 - Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:58 AM EST

{"commentId":1382061,"authorDomain":"thura"}

Thura

Wow, Just noticed that the last 5-7 comments are from new Viners making their first comments. Just curious - if you don't mind - did you find this on MSNBC? or elsewhere?

Thanks for the comments,
Thura

{"commentId":1382061,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"thura"}

#20 - Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:09 AM EST

{"commentId":1383022,"authorDomain":"nipmuc58"}

Mike-228397

It is a very good movie easily as good as I am legend

{"commentId":1383022,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"nipmuc58"}

#21 - Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:52 PM EST

{"commentId":1389267,"authorDomain":"rogerhorvath"}

Roger Horvath

I saw the movie this weekend and the reviewer misses the point. First and foremost....THIS IS A MONSTER MOVE!! Not a horror movie like Alien a monster move like Godzilla. The handheld camera work did take some getting used to and it was somewhat uncomfortable to watch but I'm pretty sure that was the point!! It only added to the confusion and anxiety in the move. As to "Stupid People"....let me revert to my first point....THIS IS A MONSTER MOVIE....It ain't Ordinary People.

I loved this movie...It did everything I want a movie to do...take me somewhere else....it was a thrill ride that will be fun on DVD to watch but should be enjoyed in a sound rattling, larger than life format that ONLY the theater provides.

{"commentId":1389267,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"rogerhorvath"}

#22 - Tue Jan 22, 2008 12:48 PM EST

{"commentId":1393206,"authorDomain":"Andimia"}

Andimia

I really liked it too. I agree that you have to see it in theaters because it makes you feel like you're right there in the action. You get scared right along with the actors.

Afterwards I felt like I'd been on a roller coaster, a bit disoriented but not nauseated.

{"commentId":1393206,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"Andimia"}

#22.1 - Wed Jan 23, 2008 2:01 PM EST

{"commentId":1393994,"authorDomain":"rkfan"}

Logan D

Afterwards I felt like I'd been on a roller coaster, a bit disoriented but not nauseated.

My dad actually suffered from motion sickness and had to leave the movie twice.

{"commentId":1393994,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"rkfan"}

#22.2 - Wed Jan 23, 2008 5:49 PM EST

{"commentId":1403826,"authorDomain":"frankm1"}

Frank-m21

Yes, don't let the review throw you, this movie was fun and scary. I walked out of the theater scanning the horizon for anything unusual. The video camera made it more personal, like you were there with them trying to escape the monsters.

About point 10. This only applies to a certain few people.

Point 1. As a reviewer I would hope you wouldn't be concerned about hype before walking in and seeing it. Then watch it and draw your own conclusions, not the conclusion you came to in the 1st sentence

{"commentId":1403826,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"frankm1"}

#23 - Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:42 AM EST

{"commentId":1406039,"authorDomain":"rashnak"}

Rashnak

I loved the movie. Way back in 1976 Steven Speilberg taught us that the less you see of a movie monster, the scarier it is ("Jaws"). The first person perspective, shaky camera and lack of a musical score adds immediacy to the action. The movie has a perfect length- ending just about the right time.

Just a few comments from other reviews to add some depth- apparently the little monsters are some kind of parasitic tick that falls off the big guy. Why not? Big scary monster has scary parasites.

Also- apparently 'Cloverfield' is the military code name for the area or somethng- but I read that Cloverfield was also a name of a telephone exchange in manhatten from the 1950's. Way back then there was no area code system so to make a call you would tell the HUMAN operator Cloverfield 7564 (I dunno how many numerals they had in each exchange- but each exchange had a name). Other areas of the city would have different names for their exchange.

I dunno why the name of the movie but it works- like the movie itself. The camera technique will obviously spur imitators in other generes.

{"commentId":1406039,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"rashnak"}

#23.1 - Sun Jan 27, 2008 4:23 AM EST

{"commentId":1406344,"authorDomain":"thura"}

Thura

Oh, the hype was what drove a lot of people into seeing this movie - most likely including you and most definitely me. This is a great case study of how to successfully market a movie. See this excellent article about the marketing efforts of Cloverfield.

{"commentId":1406344,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"thura"}

#23.2 - Sun Jan 27, 2008 9:10 AM EST

{"commentId":1868097,"authorDomain":"allovuhsudden"}

Astrid Reed

I really enjoyed Cloverfield in the theater, but seeing it at home was not the same.

{"commentId":1868097,"threadId":"204402","contentId":"1234509","authorDomain":"allovuhsudden"}

#24 - Sat May 31, 2008 11:46 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"204402","isPrivate":false}

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