What's MY Inspiration?

This Review Reveals few, if Any, Plot Details not Apparent from the Trailer

"Say--I've got a GREAT idea! Let's make a potentially GREAT Godzilla-type movie, but based in America, spend GOBS on special effects, and film it from the perspective of a mentally-challenged individual!" "OK, doctor--we're going to 'play along,' this time--but you've still got to take your meds later..! And no posting on Youtube this time..!"

So What do you Get for Ten Dollars?

If you hurry, you can still get this title for $9.99, from Bestbuy.com. If you were even more fortunate, then you got a free movie ticket to see Riteous Kill or Traitor (I didn't--the supplies "didn't last")--those factoids, and the hype surrounding the movie, were the reasons leading up to my purchase. The only other reason to watch this movie, is to watch how one can waste $100 million on every aspect of a movie, except the cameraman, or for the poignant point-of-view. Strangely, though, I feel myself drawn back for another look--or maybe just to watch other peoples' reactions as they take a gander. No wonder, then, that it's been nominated for this year's Golden Trailer award for "most original" and "best thriller;" as well as capturing the Saturn award (and Teen Choice nomination) for the "Best Sci-Fi" film. Onward...

Plot Summary

The main character, Rob Hawkins, has just received his "dream job"-in Japan-and is spending his last day with his girlfriend. The movie opens with him filming her awakening in his bed, and him asking her "if she'd miss him." They mill about New York, visit Coney Island, and basically expend their time as one would "on their last day in their country-of-origin, with the one you love." Meanwhile, Rob's brother, Jason (Mike Vogel), arranges a surprise going-away party at his apartment, and appoints Rob's dubious best friend, Hud (T.J. Miller), to go around and capture each guest's last sentiments. Some tension arises when Rob's friend, Odette (Beth McIntyre) arrives, with a date ("Who is HE?), and it arises that they had had a one-night-stand some weeks prior. It gets very obvious that it meant a LOT MORE than either of them has admitted to, and this leads to a heated discussion, culminating in Odette and her date leaving. Shortly thereafter, a huge explosion occurs, and everyone heads to the rooftop to figure out what's going on. They discover that a tanker has capsized, and the t.v. news speculates that it's an earthquake. As power outages and additional mayhem unfold, it becomes abundantly clear that this is no "mere" earthquake, and the party guests begin to evacuate the building, and Manhattan. A small contingency including Rob, Jason, Jason's girlfriend, Lily (the beautiful, confident Canadian, Jessica Lucas), filmographer, Hud (comedian T.J. Miller), and Marlena, a girl hardly anyone seems to know, and appears to be recovering from multiple "non-prescription medications," very solidly played by Lizzy Caplan, start to make their way out of Manhattan, when Rob phones Odette, and discovers that she was badly hurt in her apartment. He decides to go save her, against the advice of all authority figures, and the entire contingency decides to accompany him.

Acting Talent

The acting is very solid--airtight. Michael Stahl David shows genuine concern and love for Odette, but is stalwart in the blocking of his feelings for practical reasons ("it's complicated"), and one senses that his "dream job" might be missing the "dream" part--his brother, Jason, starkly points that out ("She's way better than you-you're a douchebag! And she's crazy about you!"). The way he puts this into perspective makes me wish I'd had the honest, gritty direction of an older brother to help guide my life--heck, I wish Mike Vogel was my older brother! Jessica Lucas plays the watchful "den mother" here, as Lily, being particularly protective of Marlena, who the audience is made to believe was picked off the street, in a drug haze, and never seems to quite know what's going on. It's a bit comical, because she is the first to have seen the monster, and says "I think it ate someone." T.J.Miller is almost annoying, as the socially-inappropriate Hud, who's up for anything--his character could've been substituted for the lead in Knocked Up. Last, but not least, Beth McIntyre turns in a great performance in the complex character of Odette, who shows a really tangible, tender vulnerability in her chemistry with the somewhat insecure Michael Stahl-David, who is a Teen Choice nominee for best movie actor in the horror/thriller genre. We, the audience, want them to be together, feel their genuine love for each other, and it is this "love story" (though not with the "monster," this time!) which drives the story.  This dual storyline is unique, yet tied together in the context of the unexpected drama of the suprise cocktail party, with the surprise mother-of-all-monsters ("MOAM")!

Special Effects

The glimpses of the Cloverfield monster are sure to raise some hairs-particularly from the cam view--it doesn't look fake in the slightest. Most horror films don't scare me, but I got a bit of a "rise" from the suspense and point-of-view, which seems to work a lot better than the usual "monster cam." The monster looks realistic, and the military vehicles and weapons look and sound authentic. You feel "you are there"--particularly at the end.

Writing

Drew Goddard delivered the goods in this category, crossing every "t," and dotting every "i," as the cliche goes. The pace and flow are fluid, due to integration with Matt Reeve's direction. A classic and masterpiece in the genre.

What Would Shakespeare Do?

Shakespeare would immediately file a fraudulent copyright infringement lawsuit, after a night of heavy drinking and contemplating the film. Afterward, he would go online and check out Ebay item # 130190870984 (you will have to Google it).

Technical Details and Impressions

This is a top-notch DVD, shot in high-quality HD, 1.85:1 ratio, which fills my 37" LG 37LC7D HDTV screen smartly, and the Dolby Digital/SDDS/DTS sound is audiophile heaven. The colors are punchy/contrasty-not overly-so, but "just right"- and this 85-minute PG-13 rated flick (mostly for "terror"), looks GREAT up-converted on my Toshiba HD-A35 HD-DVD player (refer to my HD-A3 review). The languages are English, French, and Spanish, subtitled in the same. There are at least five versions of the film, one with a Russian alternate language. Several of the DVD versions are said to have easter eggs--easily found at http://www.dvdtown.com/eastereggs/.

What Else?

There is so much to this film! There are 3 alternate endings, which have to be closely analyzed, deleted scenes, a "making of," featurettes, director Matt Reeves' commentary, and "hidden research into case designate: Cloverfield"--I've only seen the deleted scenes and alternate endings so far. It was filmed, not only on-location in New York, but in several Southern California locations (which I'd like to visit), including Downey Studios, which is the old Boeing site where Spiderman 3 was filmed, and Westfield Santa Anita Shopping Center. Much has been said about whether a camcorder could've maintained battery life as long as it did in the film, and it turns out that it recorded 74 minutes, was turned off-and-on, so yes--consumer camcorders could manage this, though not at the video and sound quality. And yeah--it's too scary for most kids (over 9 years old and "fearless" may pass).

Closing Thoughts

This movie has generated so much discussion and buzz, and is so original in its approach, that you, too-whether you agreed with the cam point-of-view or not-will be drawn into any discussion about it. I originally was not enthralled by the cam POV, but the fact that it got the story across so well alights one to the notion that it allows the audience to use their imagination to fill in the blanks, and, as a soldier in the film alluded to about the monster's destructive rampage, versus their efforts to stop it,"And so far, it's winning." It is somewhat reminiscent of the old Infocom computer text adventures series "Zork," in that regard, part III of which I heavily enjoyed. Much more buzz and factoids can be found at the FAQ page here--http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1060277/faq#.2.1.61.


I would HIDE HERE AND DO THIS if Cloverfield came to my neighborhood..!


Here are a few of my other movie reviews...

"Wanted" is What U Want Nothing More. No Spoilers
The Joker is "One Sick Puppy!!!"The Dark Knight
This Movie is PERFECT for Our Times!(Iron Man)
Black Snake Moan---VERY PROVOCATIVE!
Quite a Thrill Ride, Even for Non-fans! (Transformers)
Shrek is BAAAACK!!! (Shrek the 3rd)
Part-Comedy, and Part Thriller (Hot Fuzz)
Really Fires the Imagination-National Treasure 2
The Bourne "Realization"-- WHAT A RIDE!!!
The Core--A Witty and Inventive End-of-the-World Adventure!
Did You Know that P.S. Also Means Post-Supernatural?
Jet Li is the Dragon Emperor in latest Mummy Installment









Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older