Cloverfield Reviews

[Highly rated reviewer]

A rollercoaster ride from beginning to end

Some advice - if you haven't seen this film stop reading! It is best enjoyed with no preconceived ideas about plot, character or content beyond the few snippets of information that the trailers give. Just sit back and let the ride begin for one of the most exciting experiences to see on the screen. But if you MUST know more be warned - it will detract from the shock factor, which is a big part of 'Cloverfield'...

So, for those that have decided to read on, 'Cloverfield' is an excellent film and with a running time of only 90 minutes, is all the better as the pace is fast, thrilling and at times scary as hell. The effects are truly amazing, assuming you even notice them, as they are so integrated with the surroundings you have to pinch yourself to remember it isn't real. Because that's what this film is about - portraying a monster attack with a level of realism rarely seen in film. So real in fact that if you suffer from motion sickness you may want to have a bag at the ready as things get very 'bumpy' along the way.

Instead of a huge cast of characters, 'Cloverfield' instead focuses on the attempts of only five (later six) people to save their friend and get out of the city when a huge 'terrible thing' comes to town to eat the locals. This is Godzilla from the ground, and not a scientist or biologist in sight. And unlike that other big mean eating machine this one is neither green nor reptilian and is a lot scarier for it. This thing plows through buildings and is apparantly impervious to all harm. Oh, and comes with little friends...

Finding flaws with 'Cloverfield' is difficult. Many will complain about the simple story, the lack of explanations, and the non existent character development, as well as the fact that all the protagonists are essentially archetypes. But to judge the film on these gripes would be missing the point. This film is not meant to be intelligent or 'high art' - it's a monster movie, and a brilliant one at that. If you really like taut silences, and meaningful looks this film will disappoint. However if you're after an exciting ride and more 'bang for your buck', as it were, this is a definite must see.

[Highly rated reviewer]

The Blair Witch Project with Tenticals

The cliche of mounting a camera on a rubber pole was copied from The Blair Witch Project but now is exagerated and unnatral - it is not possible in real life to have the camera spinning so much. It is hard to imagine it as 'a great step forward in cinemimatic action'. Unless Blair Witch Project does Manhatten is a step up from some woodland, or did 'Cloverfield' cost the same to make as Blair Witch ?

Anyone with a brain would point it in the direction of the filming. A few people left the theater with motion sickness it was that bad (I wished I joined them). So if we add The Blair Witch Project and Godzilla with some CGI you think the CGI would benefit the movie - no not at all. How about a script? It is meant to be in a documentary format and the guy opperating the camera has no idea of what he is doing(yawn), well that bit is lame as well. The only redeaming feature of his role is his sense of humor that rescues this movie. The monster looks like something out of Scilent Hill but you could not really tell, subtle CGI then? So this movie shows what happens when there is a writers strike on in hollywood when you still need to make movies. I was so looking forward to this movie, but my heart sank after the first 10mins. At the end of the movie you ask - is that it? I look forward to the remake of this movie. War of the Worlds this is not. Once you take away the noise of the wabble camera, you are left with the script and CGI. Some moments of the CGI are worth (but negated due to the camera use), the scipt - I wonder how compelling the book was? Best wait till this is on DVD or ideally dont pay to see this movie. The only redeaming part of the movies were the trailers for some ace movies coming up such and 'Jumpers' , Ironman( how many Marvel comics are there?) and 'Enterprise'.

Watched this in HD - No point! As the 'camcorder' it was recorded in is sub VHS.

I watched this second time around and could not take more than 30mins without hitting Fast Forward. It does have good 5.1 sound (not available on the 'CamCorder' strangely enough).

This movie has the promise to be so good, but you will leave it feeling cheated.

It being on HD is just taking the piss out of you and as you pay for the abuse.

All I can suggest is check out the 5 star votes from the others and see if you share their taste.

A movie is stark contrast to this (quality, script, constrcution&execution) is 'I Am Legend - Wil Smith ' which as the same ambiance as this movie, the same settings, could almost be just around the block - but what a contrast. Maybe then get both these movies out and watched them back to back?

* * * This review contains spoilers * * *ShowHide

[Highly rated reviewer]

Lost?

Yep i believed the hype! Yep once again i was dissapointed, grr why do i let it get me everytime!!

Forgive me if i'm wrong but i thought the whole idea of doing a film with handheld cameras was to input some realism into the film, not an excuse to do a monster movie on a tighter budget.

I loved Blair Witch mainly because it understood that to do a film this way, you would need characters you cared about and situations, that no matter how unbelieveable, felt realistic due to the characters.

This film would've lost nothing if it had been filmed like Mann's Miami Vice with DV cam's to bring a gritty realism. It artistically has no point and gains nothing from being shot from the handheld pov. The only reason i can think of for it to filmed this way is to save money. It tries to be sujestive with the majority of the money shots off camera or so blurred due to shakeage that you cant make out a thing. However once you see the monster, hats off, its a great creation.

Other gripes i have with it:

Why is the monster everywhere the cardboard characters are? It just lumbers around the city and always seems to turn up where they are. Shouldnt it really have a goal or something? What, does it like getting shot at?

The Monster makes a massive amount of noise moving and growling, yet somehow manages to sneak up on one of the main characters? Come on atleast try to keep some realism.

Some of the 'monster jumps out' moments are pointless.

There is too much in the heat of the film with nothing happening where, i think, you're meant to relate and feel for these annoying characters.

Characters with poles stuck through them miraculously heal.

Only the main characters survive a helicopter crash.

To be honest even i'll agree i'm being a bit harsh. But when you film on handheld pov the dynamic dictates realsim.

Once you've given up on this being a gritty, realistic film Hud actually becomes quite amusing and keeps you entertained while you wait for the next glimpse of the monster.

Why 3 stars? Well once you've abandoned all hope of this being what the trailers and viral marketing sold you its quite a thrilling film. Advertising people need to sell films for what they are not what will get people through the doors.

Become one of the cast..

Cloverfield is a great step forward into cinema action, although it is entirely shot on camcorder it has none of the side effects shown in Blair witch, instead of seeing the story unfold around you, it gives the feeling of you being one of the characters. the cast is made from unknown actors that grants more realism, as you dont have any connection to them and they seem to be everyday Joes.

The beginning gets you involved in a light background of the main cast, who all meet up at a friends leaving party.. During the party tragedy strikes New York and you are thrown into a plot of survival with the friends you have become familiar with. There is also no reasoning in the plot, so none of the if, how and whys being asked, its all about survival against the worst odds.

The whole film is filled with action and excellent special effects, you have to watch it with the lights off and the sound up, just to get the extra fear out of the scary jump scenes.

Worst Film Ever!

Probably the worst film I've ever seen.

Totally unrealistic, completely predictable and generally awful.

Some good CGI, but as a whole the film was appalling. I saw at least 6 people leave the cinema, I was very tempted to follow, but thought 'it must get better', it really didn't!

Don't waste your time or money on this film!!!

[Highly rated reviewer]

Oh boy!!!

After J.J Abrams ran out of ideas after the 10th episode of lost he realised he didn't need any to make a career in Hollywood. So he woke up one morning , put a smile on his face, went to Paramount and told them: ' How about I 'd make a new godzilla?'..And like in a dream, the big bosses smiled back at him and gave him a blank check.

The screenplay was easy to write, even for J.J. Abrams, as it had several guidelines: Every 3 lines, you need to hear 'Dude', 'Oh, my god, oh, my god..' , 'S***' and all the derivated'this is crazy s***', Holy s***' ,yyou can't count the S***s, it's unbelievable!!!) 'Run, run, run'etc, etc...That way , the pages filled up pretty quickly. How clever!!!

The fun part is all the 'WE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE!'...You wonder why , because everytime they go somewhere they end up in a total mess. You start to think they shouldn't have moved in the first place .

The stories is so stupid that it makes you wanna cry and I can understand people who felt sick watching it in cinemas.

You just wanna slap the characters throughout all the movie...You hate them...

It's predictable , stupid , cheap and the CGI aren't very good considering all the saving he did hiring bad actors...I can't really believe somebody over 13 could like this movie...

An utter rubbish.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Are you guys crazy???

What a waste of a cinema ticket. Poor and incredibly short film. I liked lost but fear that the writer is suffering the same fate as the writer of the six sense, fame and accolades for your first movie and series..How do you follow that? Well remember how disappointing SIGNS and the VILLAGE were and you get the impression that Cloverfield fairs the same. It felt like a university students first movie...shocking...avoid at all costs and the camera work does make you feel sick, would have been ten times better as a sci fi shoot em up... going for a lie down now, head still spinning, with disappointment : (

Oh, God, where's the bucket!

How long and dull does an intro need to be? 30 mins should do it! After half an hour (a third of the film) is spend getting to know the characters, I still couldn't care less whether they lived or died! I must be horrible. Shortly after the action starts I realise I want to paint the back of the guy's head, infront of me, with vomit. I actually felt sick from the damn wobbly cam. Unfortunately I had to shut my eyes. The review ends there. I had a nice kip, thanks for asking. I can say I saw a few moments before the end, but like I said, I had already lost interest in the characters. Possibly the worst film I have seen since Mulholland Drive. And that one didn't even make me ill.

At least the popcorn was nice.

Well, where to begin?

Basically it's a film about a bunch of well off beautiful people who have a lovely leaving party ruined by a monster rampaging through the city... and thats it.

Firstly the characters are about as exciting as removing the hard skin from my feet and are so unlikable that I was on the monsters side about 5 minutes into the film. Some may of found them pretty to look at but I'd rather have actors who can do something else other than just look 'attractive'. (and NO woman would be able to run for THAT long in heels THAT high.. I don't care who you are but running around in high heeled sandals with glass all over the place she would of snapped an ankle and be picking shards from her soles) It was bits like that that annoyed me the most, the total lack of realism of the film.

Also if I was impaled by a huge iron girder I wouldn't suddenly be fine enough to run around and be pulled along by the arm near my injury... again, no realism at all.

The only bit I liked was when they were in the underground tunnel and being chased by the parasites and thats it. Thats the only time I thought 'god.. it could be getting good now!' and then it went back to being dull.

The monster was disappointing and barely seen and the camera action a poor mans Blair Witch.

What I would like to know is what camcorder they used cos the battery life was AMAZING AND it survived a fall from a helicopter AND a ground zero blast... want one of them!!.

It just didn't live up to the hype and it seems now that the hype is more important than the film itself. What a shame, it could of been so good and failed on so many fronts.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Chaotic & Hard Hitting

First Off - I cannot understand how so many people can rate this film poorly. You can't know the concept of the film beforehand and then criticise it for not conforming to typical movie conventions. What's been done with Cloverfield, is to take a fairly simple disaster concept, but to turn it on its head and show it all through the various characters perspecitves. So you don't see the bigger picture and you don't get all the answers - but the result of filming it in this manner means that all of the action and all of the human emotion is that much more real, and more shocking.

And I think they've captured it all perfectly. Not only do you feel like it could actually happen, it also manages to instill in you the sort of panic that the characters are feeling. And the story is setup well enough to ensure that you're invested with the characters before the action kicks off. Shakey camera is not an excuse. If you criticise this film based on shakey camera then you're missing the point entirely - believe me, I was engrossed enough throughout to not notice it in the slightest.

So where does it fall down? Well, you could bring up the point that nearly all of the cast are gorgeous and successful, but you can probably let that slide. My main problem was with one of the main characters who we spend the most time 'behind the camera' with. He's likeable enough at first, but after a while his constant 'Dude... what's going on... oh man... dude, what's happening??' antics can grate a bit. Despite that though, this is a daring, exciting, edge of the seat thriller, and you should definitely experience it!