'Cloverfield' - Beware Spoilers

[six-gun]

EDIT - I am quarantining the Cloverfield discussion because I know a lot of people who want to see it haven't yet and I don't want people crying about spoilers in the General Movie Thread, and I want those who have seen it to be free to discuss the movie, unfettered. - Conor

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Cloverfield was perfection in every conceivable way.

[esophagus]

Originally Posted by Six Gun

Cloverfield was perfection in every conceivable way.

I'm jealous. Is it playing on Imax? I'm going to a mall with an Imax on wednesday, so perhaps I should squeeze that in.

[six-gun]

Originally Posted by esophagus

I'm jealous. Is it playing on Imax? I'm going to a mall with an Imax on wednesday, so perhaps I should squeeze that in.

It's only an hour and a half, which is one of its strongest points, there is no fat on this movie, just scenes that need to be there

imagine one and a half hours of the best, most intense scenes of Lost with a bigger budget and a satisfying ending

that's the only way I can describe its awesomeness (I also have a theory about a political statement it's trying to make but I may be reading to much into it)

[esophagus]

Originally Posted by Six Gun

It's only an hour and a half, which is one of its strongest points, there is no fat on this movie, just scenes that need to be there

imagine one and a half hours of the best, most intense scenes of Lost with a bigger budget and a satisfying ending

These were basically my reasons for wanting to see it. Glad to know it won't let that down.

[jon_samuelson]

Cloverfield made me want to barf. That's my lasting sentiment of it. I don't know that I can give it a fair shake because of that. I was forced to sit in the front row for most of the movie until I just couldn't take it anymore and watched the remainder standing in the exit aisle. So I guess you should take my opinion with a grain of salt.

My opinion is that it wasn't that great. I'm not saying it was bad, but I'm definitely not going to tell my friends to run out and see it. Other than the one scene in the subway tunnel I don't think the fact that it was shot on a handheld camera added anything at all to the movie. You can argue with me all you want that it added a frantic, edge of your seat, right in the action feel, and I'll reply that I've seen plenty of movies do the exact same thing infinitely better using conventional camera work. All this made me think was, "I think I'm gonna see this popcorn again."

I'll agree with you Six, that there could certainly be a sort of political statement in the film, but I think it's the fairly standard "gov't fucks with shit, and it comes back to bite us in the ass" statement that basically every monster movie is. If you think it was more than that I'd be interested in hearing your opinion, because I've never been terribly good at deciphering metaphor.

This sounds really negative, and I don't mean it that way. It was neat. I'm glad there are some studio execs who'll let film makers experiment a little. It didn't sugar coat anything, which I always respect. I was just on the whole a little underwhelmed, but like I said... part of that may have been because I felt like barfing throughout most of the movie.

[jon_samuelson]

Argh!!! Quarantined... I feel so dirty. Like Typhoid Mary or something.

[six-gun]

I thought that it was a comment on the war on terror (Americans cling to each other in the face of an enemy that simply won't die)

Also, I want McFarlane toys to put out a replica of the monster

[luthor]

I just got out. Pretty sweet deal. I'm still kind of processing it. I'm worried that if I start to think about it too much, my affection for the movie will wane. At the same time there was a lot to think about, so I'm at a crossroads.

One thing for sure, lots of unhappy people in the exit crowd. I heard many people complaining about the camera(although, if you'd seen the commercials or trailers you knew exactly what to expect).

It's a very small and personal film, despite the subject matter and I think that will win out for me. I'll let you know tomorrow.

[jon_samuelson]

I can certainly see the implacable enemy thing being embodied by the monster, but I dunno about more than that. I'm not saying it's not, but I don't see it.

[tad]

Thanks, Conor.

I thought it was brilliant the way Hud was setup at the party, clueless, socially inept so he states and does things that leads to him getting private stuff on the camera. He takes on the role of document guy because it makes him feel more important, maybe a little closer in status to his friends who have their acts together.

Having Rob need batteries for his phone, prompting the visit to the electronics store which is filled with big screen TVs showing wider shots of the monster and its parasites was really smart.

I appreciated that after the teasing glimpses of the creature, we got to see it clearly and the long, steady close up by Hud.

The gimmick of the hand held technique, and my appreciation of how smartly it was used, kept me from getting really involved plus I keep asking myself, "How long is that battery good for?" "Running and climbing between buildings in high heels?"

Liked the idea of one building leaning on another. Liked the night vision reveal of the parasites. Early on I thought Lily seemed stuck on Rob since she spent so much time on his party but then Beth stayed in the picture. I usually don't remember character names so on that level the movie was pretty involving for me.