I am a huge fan of J.J. Abrams, so I went into the viewing of Cloverfield with an open mind. I had read a few reviews that were not kind to this movie, for example, this review from Rolling Stone.com which called out the “trite screenwriting” and “amateurish acting”, and compared the characters to “walking MySpace profiles that don’t get any hits”-ha!
But, I needed to see it for myself. And as much as I wanted it to be one of those movies that really isn’t as bad as the critics say, it totally is. The movie starts with a going-away party for Rob, a vapid yuppie who is moving to Japan (nice try, making that little “Godzilla” reference, but it was unnecessary). Rob’s brother Jason asks his friend Hud (really? HUD?) to document the party by filming everything with his camcorder. We get to see such exciting moments as the arrival of Beth, Rob’s former girlfriend, who has brought her new boyfriend to the party (real classy), and Lily, who is honestly just there to look pretty I guess.
This part goes on and on, conversations are had that do nothing to propel the story forward in a meaningful way, until there is a load crash/boom/bang and the “real” movie starts. Realizing that some sort of disaster is happening, what do our pretty Manhattan young people do? Go outside and start RUNNING THE HELL AROUND. They run across the Brooklyn Bridge, they run towards Central Park, they just run and run and RUN. Oh, and who else is on the street late at night in midtown Manhattan besides people who look like extras from “The Hills”? NO ONE. Apparently, there are NO GROWNUPS in Manhattan at night.
The title of the movie comes from the code name the Army gives this project, to bring down this monster that is attacking. The implication that what we are actually dealing with is our feelings about September 11th is, frankly, insulting. Oh yes, and the supposed irony of the footage that Hud is filming with his camcorder is that he is recording over footage he had shot earlier of Rob and Beth in their happier days. Occasionally Hud will set the camera down and the footage will switch to Rob and Beth. For me, because all the actors sort of looked completely alike, it took me a few times to figure out who they were and why we were suddenly seeing something that obviously took place at a different time.
This movie had no diversity in it’s actors, no real depth of feeling beyond “I’m so scared! What are we going to do!”, and an ending that just sort of…ended. I hate doing negative reviews, but the truth is, I did not like this movie at all, and my copy of the DVD will likely end up in a garage sale at some point. I appreciate CLICK sending it to me, but it is not a keeper. Or any good, for that matter.
If, however, you just have to check it out for yourself, use my Amazon Associates link here and buy a copy of Cloverfield for yourself. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.
My boyfriend LOVED this movie. I hated it, but it was nice to see him so excited and happy over a movie after watching it. I haven’t told him it’s out on DVD yet, perhaps I’ll get it for him and surprise him with it–Under the condition that I don’t have to watch it with him, of course.
Holly’s last blog post..Reclaim Your Voice While Helping Others
Twitter: Table4Five
says:
Holly-Maybe that’s the problem, you have to be a GUY to like this movie. We women are too interested in there being, like, a PLOT and everything
Thanks for saving us from a boring movie. I love that little gold fish button over there! —->
Karen’s last blog post..Seven Things About Me
Twitter: bcmom
says:
My son and his friend saw this in the theater, and they both loved it. Of course, they are both teenage boys.
I hate movies where you can’t tell the difference between the characters.
Dude, that review was a bit too mean, Cloverfield is not all that bad.
I just loved the movie. and yes I am a guy
another movie I watched recently and loved was “Full of it” you should check it out, its very nice
the review was spot on at time, only good thing about cloverfield is that its short!!
Thanks for saving me from this really boring movie.
Twitter: Table4Five
says:
Faraz-Well, I don’t agree. And I wasn’t being mean, I was giving my honest opinion, which is what the sponsor wants! But thank you for leaving a comment on this post
elizabeth
Watched this a few nights ago and turned it off before the end…
Amanda’s last blog post..Our New (Kinda) Home
I haven’t yet watch the movie but I think I will like it. I think every movie has a different appeal to the viewers. But each movie was created with deep sense of revealing of what could happen without even expecting it.
Every one likes too see movie but not movie like cloverfield .
I wasted my time watching it. Seriously a very boring movie.
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I’m with you! What is up with casting a bunch of people that look alike. when the brother died on the bridge, I didn’t know which one he was, or really who he was. Even when I watched it a second time I still had trouble figuring out who the people were.
Jagdus last blog post..What is the Cloverfield Monster?