Nope, ciao. Even with your instruction and with Javascript enabled, no way of finding who has rated ...
Nope, ciao. Even with your instruction and with Javascript enabled, no way of finding who has rated me. I can do it with other people's reviews, but not mine. Once again, computer says 'No!'
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Last Summer, the airing of Transformers in cinema across the country was one of the most exciting moments for many who had grown up with the show. However, what was on most people's lips upon leaving was the suggestive trailer they had just watched: the short trailer of a new and untitled J J Abrams (Lost) film to be released the following year. The trailer gave nothing away apart from showing a camera filming panic on a street, then an explosion and the head of the Statue of Liberty tumbling down a road. Trailer ends! This turned out to be the trailer for Cloverfield, a monster film with a different style of filming that lends itself to a more high quality Blair Witch Project. Curious though I was, I never it a go. Then it came out on DVD, and I thought, 'Why not?'
The Plot
The first half an hour of the film is spent in characterisation mode. A whole bunch of people are gathered in an appartment in New York for a surprise party for Rob, who is leaving to take up a job in Japan. The party is organised by Rob's brother Jason, his best friend Hud, and Jason's girlfriend Lily. The film is shown from the viewpoint of a video camera, with Jason asking Hud to film the evening's proceedings for Rob to take away with him to remind him of home.
Halfway through the evening, there is an explosion and some thumping from outside, causing panic, and everyone rushes outside, where it is clear
that someone or something is attacking the city. Further panic ensues, and as Hud keeps filming, we follow the small band of friends as the military attempt to control the attack at the same time as protecting the civilians, and the group of friends delve back into the city to rescue Beth, Rob's eternal platonic friend for whom he has stronger feelings.
It is revealed early on that a monster of some inexplicable sort has attacked the city, and evacuation is necessary. The camera follows the friends as they go to find Beth and attempt to get to safety.
The Cast and Performances
Abrams has used unknowns for the film. I am not sure whether this gave to the film or not, but it worked in relative terms with Lost and several of his other productions. Rob is played by Michael Stahl-David. The actor has only been in three or four things before this film, but he does not act like iot. He gives a very convincing performance. Rob's brother Jason is played by Mike Vogel, a former fashion model who has recently been in Poseidon, Grind and the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants. Vogel does very well.
Jason's girlfriend Lily is played by Jessica Lucas, a stage actress who has only recently risen on the screen scene in CSI. In Cloverfield, the actress does very well indeed. Lizzie Caplan plays Marlena Diamond. The actress has a few films and TV appearances under her belt, probably most notably her role as Janis Ian in Mean Girls, a role I believe she excelled at. Here, in Cloverfield, she is part of the main group of friends, but does not really feature as much as the others, as she is only invited to the party as a friend of Rob and Lily's and I suspect part of her being in the film is to provide something for Hud to lust after to make his character a little more diverse while behind the camera. HUd is played by T J Miller, and the actor does very well. He adds a little light humour by being rather simple, but also lends reality to the film as the man behind the camera. Beth is played by Odette Yustman, again, a little known actress, but funnily enough appeared in Transformers!
For casting, Abrams decided to use scripts from Lost to avoid leaks. As a result, the casting seems very genuine and not contrived, and I believe this shows on film. The use of lesser known performers may have been a good idea, it may not have been, but it certainly reinforces the image Abrams gives of himself to the general public - the producer i well known for constantly keeping an audience guessing and hungry for more.
My Opinion
I sat transfixed for the entire hour and a half that the film runs for. At the end, I gazed in confusion at the screen, and my wife looked at me eagerly, anticipating a reply. Instead, I said nothing. What could I say? The film is unlike any other. The only one that comes close is the Blair Witch Project, in the way that it is shown entirely from a video camera perspective. However, Blair Witch was a cheaply made gimmick and this is a cleverly constructed film loaded with special effects. The FX are amazing in the film, by the way. The creation of a monster rampaging Manhattan Island and the effects of the city under destruction for an hour and a half is very well contrived, especially the injuries involved and the monster itself. As to whether you see the monster, or parts of it, or all of it, I understand that this is part of the mystery of the film, and I won't spoil it for anyone by telling you what you do or do not see. You'll have to watch it for yourself.
I guess I am in two minds with the film. In essence, all it does is chronicle a few panic filled hours filmed from one camera, and in that sense, I can't completely say I enjoyed it. In another, it is a welcome transition from the Japanese style King Kong and Godzilla monster ideas, and Abrams does well in giving the US its own monster. Rumours are of an untitled sequel of sorts on the way. Will I watch it? Probably. Am I likely to go to go to the cinema to do so? Probably not.
The film is a horror, and this is important as there are moments where if you are of a nervous disposition you need to be aware of this. However, the horror is relatively mild and as such the film has a 15 rating.
Cloverfield is an entertaining hour and a half that is worth watching, but don't expect too much. The FX are outstanding, the acting is very good, but there are limitations on the film through the way it is filmed. Expect a sway all the way through the film, as you would if someone was holding a video camera anyway, but definitely give it a go. After all, if you don't, you'll spend a lifetime wondering what the hype was about and if you get to see what the monster looks like...........
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Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Advantages: The CGI/special effects are fairly good, its quite atmospheric I guess Disadvantages: Characters, a mix of too many genres, just doesnt really 'work' (see review)
IzzyS 19.10.2008 (19.10.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Cloverfield (DVD)
Advantages: Thrills, Big Monsters, Through hand held camera, looks more practical though a fiction Disadvantages: Disturbing images , not suitable for children
pallavi_171 27.01.2008 (27.01.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of CloverfieldDVD
Advantages: I couldn't be too horrible and give it one star, it was entertaining Disadvantages: You want to love it but you just can't, and of course the humour
nathaninnit 02.02.2008 (02.02.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of CloverfieldDVD
![Cloverfield [DVD] [2007]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/79057871.jpg "Cloverfield [DVD] [2007]")
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