Cloverfield Thoughts (non-spoiler)

Professor S · 01-18-2008, 11:23 PM

I thought it was a great take on the monster movie. The documentary/cinema verite take definitely added a lot to the suspense and action. There are some amazing scenes in this film and even pretty decent character development, which is amazing considering how it was shot. The monster was impressive, also, up until the end.

I was annoyed by the audience I saw it with, though. Several cynical sexless geeks in the crowd complained that there was no plot at the end of the movie. Did they see any of the previews or commercials? Did they get what this was about when it went to the "found footage" part in the beginning? This was not about plot or having everything wrapped up in a neat package. It is about the experience, and sharing in it. Morons.

I am interested in any symbolic takes any of you might have. I have my own thoughts on this and I'll share them after more people see and post their thoughts on the film.

BlueFire · 01-18-2008, 11:33 PM

It was pretty good. I have more to say about the movie, but I'll post it later.

Fox 6 · 01-19-2008, 07:10 PM

I am seeing it tomorrow with Swan and another friend.

Jason1 · 01-20-2008, 11:55 AM

Okay, I'll try to elaborate on what I just posted in the other thread. If was good, I liked it, but I didnt think it was awsome. Im not too crazy about the handheld camerawork...I see what they were going for, and I respect it, but its just not really my thing. Also, I disagree about the character development. I didnt feel a connection with any of the characters, and that is probably my biggest gripe with the whole film...

Swan · 01-20-2008, 06:58 PM

Just got back from this seeing this with Foxxy and another friend. I quite enjoyed it and the monster was pretty sweet. You can't really ruin what the monster is for someone who hasn't seen it unless you show a picture of it....which is pretty sweet

Fox 6 · 01-20-2008, 07:08 PM

what a crazy ride that movie was. Well worth the price of admission

BlueFire · 01-21-2008, 12:26 AM

Well, I definitely didn't enjoy the camera work. I've never been a fan of that shit.

But the movie was fun to watch. Everything was kept in mystery, which I did enjoy. I also like how the monster, while being a main aspect of the movie, did not have the story revolving around it. And who didn't enjoy the part when Marlena "didn't feel too well"? :P

I've heard the strangest complaints about this movie, my favorite being: the characters look too "model-like". It's terrible!!

Oh yeah, that is one hell of a camera they had. Seriously. It survived so much and has the most amazing battery life! I wish I had one

But yeah, that movie was pretty enjoyable. I recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

Professor S · 01-21-2008, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLueFire

I've heard the strangest complaints about this movie, my favorite being: the characters look too "model-like". It's terrible!!

Oh yeah, that is one hell of a camera they had. Seriously. It survived so much and has the most amazing battery life! I wish I had one

Those were the two "complaints" I had. The model-like complaint is valid, I think, just because the movie was going for a "real life" feel and they had only beautiful people in the movie. It took me out of it in the beginning, but only in the beginning.

*******SPOILERS*********

The uber-camera complaint is is realistic but you need an uber-camera for the movie to even happen. I guess they could have mentioned bringing spare batteries or something for the party, but I don't think its a big deal.

Overall, I thought this was an excellent examination of terrorism with defnite overtones of 9/11 and what those victims might have felt like they were going through. Make a movie about 9/11, it bombs. Couch the same movie in the monster genre, and its safe and makes money.

One thing I did like were the two lines of dialogue before the attack and right before Rob and Beth died.

Before attack: "You need to forget everything else and focus on what really matters!"

Before death: "I love you" from both of them.

Sometimes it takes a tragedy for us the focus on what really matters...

GameMaster · 02-16-2008, 03:26 AM

ZOMG!

Angrist · 02-16-2008, 10:55 AM

So much for the "non-spoiler" status of this thread.

Fox 6 · 02-16-2008, 02:20 PM

hahahaha. way to blow it GM :P

I wouldnt mind getting a better look at the "parasites."

GameMaster · 02-16-2008, 04:27 PM

Swan · 02-16-2008, 10:14 PM

I guess sort of spoiler?

I would like to hear some peoples opinions on what they think the thing falling into the ocean in the end was.

GameMaster · 02-17-2008, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swan

I guess sort of spoiler?

I would like to hear some peoples opinions on what they think the thing falling into the ocean in the end was.

I assumed that it was the monster crashing onto Earth. And it either hibernated under sea before emerging or it was just an egg or larvae and when it came out of the ocean, it was fully grown.

Angrist · 01-29-2009, 10:06 AM

I saw this movie again yesterday. (My sisters had bought it on DVD. They liked it enough, but they couldn't resist trading it for my Narnia DVD.)
It was still good. Sometimes it felt a bit off though... as if I was missing something.

I think Jason makes a good point:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason1

I didnt feel a connection with any of the characters, and that is probably my biggest gripe with the whole film...

I have to agree. Rob was a nice guy who was in a complicated love, but going to Japan because he had become vice-president of a company? That's not something I can relate with at all...
We didn't see enough of Beth. I think she would have made a very interesting character to film, but we've only seen like 20 minutes of her.
The brother (Jason) died way too soon to feel sorry for him and his relatives. I felt sorry when Rob told their mom, but that was like 20 minutes later.
Lily, Jason's girlfriend, was nice, but nothing special.
Hud, the video cam guy, was a little bit too slow to be believable. They made him act like he was retarded. Not 'best friend' material.
Marlena, the girl he was in love with was one of the better characters, but too detached to care much about.

I want to care about Rob and Beth, because I think they're very cute together. We just have so little to work with.
I guess that's my biggest gripe. The rest is pretty cool. Also reminds me of Gmoewul (The Host).