1-18-08

[MontyServo]

Just got back from seeing this.  I thought it was pretty good.  I got used to the shaky cam after a while as I got caught up in the story.  It was a bit distracting at first.

The Star Trek teaser is barely even a teaser.  I was hoping for a trailer for Indy 4, but no luck.

[Insert Coin(s) to Continue]

Oh man. Cloverfield was awesome. Cloverfield is this generation's Alien. It brings to the table everything it promised. I really can't add much to it. It's a pretty simple premise, but it pulls it off beautifully. It felt like a cross between Godzilla, The Blair Witch Project, and Half-Life 2.

[GregMcduck]

Just got back from the theater. It did exactly what I hoped, it engaged the characters, made it a pretty gripping personal drama while still giving us enough answers to be happy (about what the monster looks like for example, which is pretty neat). I think it tried to sell some cliches, yeah, but the way they did it was pretty spectacular and exciting, especially with tons of people there with you.

My only gripes were the following:
First, Hud was hilarious, but a little overtly so. After a while it became all too much to ignore that he was kept around for comedic relief. But giving him the camera was a smart way to do that, too, so I mean I can't blame them. And seriously, the lines he gave were usually pretty golden. Second was the shot directly beneath the monster where he looks at the camera. The mystique was gone at that point, we knew what it looked like, it just seemed kind of unneeded. But then again, nobody had directly died from the monster yet, save for a tail swipe at Jason toward the beginning.

That's it, I can't think of any more. It was a really fun, intricate and grabbing movie, and it definitely lived up to my expectations.

Still don't get why it's called Cloverfield though.

[esoobaC .T bocaJ]

Still don't get why it's called Cloverfield though.

another quote

The title "Cloverfield"; initially just a codename for the movie, is named for the boulevard in Santa Monica where the Bad Robot offices were located during the making of the film

so now that you guys have seen it... do you think there will be a sequel?

[GregMcduck]

My guess is there won't be a direct sequal, but more of a "in the same universe" film.

[esoobaC .T bocaJ]

My guess is there won't be a direct sequal, but more of a "in the same universe" film.

it's just that I've heard that after the credits "It's still alive" can be heard, only it's backwards.

[OTC316]

I don't usually catch movies on opening night, but I made an exception for Cloverfield. The camera work did make me nauseous, I thought I was gonna ralf on the guy in front of me. In spite of that, I thought it was damn compelling. I actually found myself caring whether or not these people lived or died, something I can't say about many horror flicks. If I go to see it again, I'm bringing some dramamine.

[Cthulhu Bob]

Just came back from the theater and I am very very impressed. I was rather worried there would be lots of running around and screaming and no good shots of the monster(s), but I needn't have worried. And I read many reviews that said the characters were shallow but that was wrong as well, it was simply that we didn't know much about them since we meet them in media res. The only thing that bugged me is that the camera ran for 7 hours on a single battery but that was a minor complaint for a fantastic rollercoaster ride like this.

Thank god I don't suffer from motion sickness so I could enjoy it fully. And this is the very first PG-13 movie that succeeded in keeping me on the edge of my seat.

TAKE THAT Godzilla '98!!!! Nyah Na Nyah Na Nyah Nyah!

[GregMcduck]

I get motion sickness... when I'm actually in motion. I don't get how film can upset people like that.

[Sideswipe]

I havent seen it yet, but do you get a good look at the monster?

[Cthulhu Bob]

I havent seen it yet, but do you get a good look at the monster?

Yup, near the end you get a couple really good looks at it. I have to say it is a very unusual design but reminiscent of The Host.

[OTC316]

I get motion sickness... when I'm actually in motion. I don't get how film can upset people like that.

I know, it's weird. I used to get the same way when I played Doom back in the day.

[Cthulhu Bob]

Question: Did anyone else find the theme music over the end credits very similar to the original Godzilla theme (minus the annoying opera/choral howling that seems in vogue for all SF the last few years)?

[GregMcduck]

There was music during the end credits? I must have walked out before it started.

[SaucyRossy]

Just got back and I was pleasantly surprised. I was expecting a crappy movie to be honest. Very good film that pretty much  has to be seen in theaters.