J.J. Abrams Trailer - "Cloverfield"

[soltrain]

Re: J.J. Abrams Trailer - "Cloverfield"

Pretty awesome movie. About what I expected. It's ALL shot with a handicam, but they got pretty creative in how to show "still" shots.

[triplej96]

Re: J.J. Abrams Trailer - "Cloverfield"

Just saw it and liked it a lot.

[Blzer]

Re: J.J. Abrams Trailer - "Cloverfield"

Just got back from seeing it. I'll be very spoiler-free.


Okay, first of all... this isn't a movie. This is an experience. This is an experience that very much deserves to be in theaters. If it is shown on IMAX screens, I urge you to try seeing it there. The bigger, the louder, the more fantastic. Nothing ever really made you sit there and feel like you could say, "Oh, that's CGI." No, it wasn't like that at all. Every minute from explosion one was heart-pounding. There are some scenes that will just blow you away. Like... they were SO realistic looking, you'd think it really couldn't look any better.

Is that to say the entire movie was fast-paced? No, of course not. We can't expect that, and if that is what you're expecting, go watch Crank. At the same time, this is no War of the Worlds. They don't do cop-outs when abduction time comes. They do the best they can to stay close but to be safe. Remember that we are watching it from the character's camera. That said, you always really get that feel that you are the cameraman, which is an awesome feeling. "Shaky cam" is not overdone for steady shots (by that, I mean stand-still shots). Sure, if they're running, it shakes. It has a very realistic feel to it. The only thing I noticed when I walked out of the theater was that movies really are missing out on that third dimension that the world gives, which is its depth. I walked out the side exit, and there were tall buildings all around me. Instantly I was imagining explosions all around me, etc., and it felt much more real. I can't blame the movie for this, but I really just noticed that movies tend to lack that kind of visual "depth" that would just make them so much better.

This experience was great in so many ways. It was dark, it was scary, it had minor humor (though appropriate), it became emotional... and for a PG-13 movie, aside from language, at times it certainly gave an R experience. And for a dozen no-named actors, you really never second-guessed their sense of believability when watching this.

I really don't want to say anything about the monster. If you have questions, I'll answer them with spoiler tags.

Now, for the reception. I really know that people loved it at heart, but at the same time, they couldn't help but not clap at the end. I'm not going to explain why, but let me tell you this: If you're going to see this movie, remember that you're only seeing it from one lens, not the entire scope of Manhattan. That is one big reason you have to remember that this is not a "movie" and that it is an "experience". This isn't intended to have the climax, the plot twist, set up the protagonist/antagonist stuff. This is really an experience... and if you feel like you missed out on something that the characters didn't pick up along the way, realize that this was intended for the sake of it being a true experience. But to be honest, most people didn't clap at the end because they didn't get the end. It's quite simple, actually.

Definitely a fresh tomato. If you were ever thinking of seeing it before its release, I urge you to see it now. If I were to name one disappointment about this movie, its that the nature of it doesn't allow for much replay value, especially on DVD. That said, as much as I loved it, I can't honestly say that it is an instant DVD purchase. Of course, knowing me, I will give in and buy it on release day... but if I buy it to show to people for the first time, how am I going to explain to them that this really should have been something for them to see in theaters? Really, it's that important that you see it now, and not later.



P.S. There are some shots in the trailer that are used for the trailer only, and that are left out of the movie. Just wanted to add that.

[Whaaaazuuuuup]

Re: J.J. Abrams Trailer - "Cloverfield"

If you were ever thinking of seeing it before its release, I urge you to see it now. If I were to name one disappointment about this movie, its that the nature of it doesn't allow for much replay value, especially on DVD. That said, as much as I loved it, I can't honestly say that it is an instant DVD purchase. Of course, knowing me, I will give in and buy it on release day... but if I buy it to show to people for the first time, how am I going to explain to them that this really should have been something for them to see in theaters? Really, it's that important that you see it now, and not later.



P.S. There are some shots in the trailer that are used for the trailer only, and that are left out of the movie. Just wanted to add that.

i'm seeing it this afternoon. i'm glad to hear the trailer shots were just that. i hate going to see a movie when i've already seen half the stuff for free on tv.


On it dvd release, if JJ Abrahm is smart, he won't release this til atleast Xmas. if not, this time next year with lite copies. ppl will be going nuts to buy it with a delayed release.

btw, excellent review, w/o spoiling anything...

[Candyman5]

Re: J.J. Abrams Trailer - "Cloverfield"

Must leave Thread, Must not click Spoiler tags. Ahhhhhhhhh......................................

[ac11367]

Re: J.J. Abrams Trailer - "Cloverfield"

This concept of the movie being an "experience" from the lens of a camcorder can possibly translate to war movies. I can imagine an "experience" seen out of a lens of a war photographer for the special forces mission (during battle and interactions during downtime) in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.

[jmood88]

Re: J.J. Abrams Trailer - "Cloverfield"

I really wasn't all too excited about this movie but I want to see it now.

[Blzer]

Re: J.J. Abrams Trailer - "Cloverfield"

i'm seeing it this afternoon. i'm glad to hear the trailer shots were just that. i hate going to see a movie when i've already seen half the stuff for free on tv.

LOL well most of the shots in the trailer are in the movie. Just some aren't.

[soltrain]

Re: J.J. Abrams Trailer - "Cloverfield"

There is already controversy about the end of the movie!

Spoiler

Apparently during the Coney Island scene, you can see something in the background fall into the ocean from the sky. Also - after the credits the camera starts to fuzz again and you hear feedback and then someone whisper, "It's still alive."

[Blzer]

Re: J.J. Abrams Trailer - "Cloverfield"

There is already controversy about the end of the movie!

Spoiler

Apparently during the Coney Island scene, you can see something in the background fall into the ocean from the sky. Also - after the credits the camera starts to fuzz again and you hear feedback and then someone whisper, "It's still alive."

Spoiler

That is one part that people didn't get. I saw the same thing, and... okay, first of all, my theater thinks that the end of the movie is actually a shot that occurs after all of the events. What nimrods! Secondly, I am only to assume that is the monster dropping from the sky. That's all I could come up with. I never heard that last part, because stupid me decided to leave before the credits ended. But if you mean they're planning a sequel, I say "forget about it" to that idea. Not that it wouldn't work, but I doubt that's what they're doing.

[soltrain]

Re: J.J. Abrams Trailer - "Cloverfield"

Spoiler

That is one part that people didn't get. I saw the same thing, and... okay, first of all, my theater thinks that the end of the movie is actually a shot that occurs after all of the events. What nimrods! Secondly, I am only to assume that is the monster dropping from the sky. That's all I could come up with. I never heard that last part, because stupid me decided to leave before the credits ended. But if you mean they're planning a sequel, I say "forget about it" to that idea. Not that it wouldn't work, but I doubt that's what they're doing.

Spoiler

I don't think they will do a sequel - I just don't see how it would work. You can't do another "shaky" cam film. The only thing that could possibly work is if you did a documentary about the monster and the events that take place after Cloverfield. How people thought that took place after the events is beyond me. It was obvious enough that it was old footage, you would have thought the dates in the corner would seal the deal.

The monster dropping from the sky would be a little weird. I mean, either the monster was SUPER small at the time, or it dropped really far away from the beach. It being some alien parasite would make much more sense, though, having all of the little things come off of him and whatnot.

And yeah, the people in my theater were dumb, too. Bitching about how the monster isn't explained.

[Blzer]

Re: J.J. Abrams Trailer - "Cloverfield"

Spoiler

I don't think they will do a sequel - I just don't see how it would work. You can't do another "shaky" cam film. The only thing that could possibly work is if you did a documentary about the monster and the events that take place after Cloverfield. How people thought that took place after the events is beyond me. It was obvious enough that it was old footage, you would have thought the dates in the corner would seal the deal.

The monster dropping from the sky would be a little weird. I mean, either the monster was SUPER small at the time, or it dropped really far away from the beach. It being some alien parasite would make much more sense, though, having all of the little things come off of him and whatnot.

And yeah, the people in my theater were dumb, too. Bitching about how the monster isn't explained.

Spoiler

No doubt, super-small is the only way I could think of it too. Must've taken it like a month to grow. I mean, I didn't have to see the dates on the bottom to know that the end took place before the rest. First of all, they were on Coney Island, so I already knew by that.

Secondly, remember that the whole thing is a tape. Like, think of this experience as an actual tape that you just dug up from the ground and recovered from the scene, rewound to the beginning, and pressed play. What you end up seeing is James and Hud actually overwriting Rob's old footage. That's why, when he goes and rewinds old footage to see the monster again, he probably just fast-forwards a little bit too far and then starts recording from them again. So sometimes we just get bits and pieces of the taped over footage for no good reason whatsoever.

However, I would like to see some of the old footage again and see if there are any more signs of the monster.

[Russell_SCEA]

Re: J.J. Abrams Trailer - "Cloverfield"

I totally co-sign with anyone who said the movie is a classic and very intense. The special effects are outstanding and if you are worrying about not seeing the monster enough trust me its not an issue. It won't suprise me if this movie makes over 275 million.

[DickDalewood]

Re: J.J. Abrams Trailer - "Cloverfield"

Just reserved my tickets online... the girlfriend and I will be seeing this at 9:35... can't WAIT

[Psyblast]

Re: J.J. Abrams Trailer - "Cloverfield"

Well that was...intriguing.