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Cloverfield Movie Review
Cloverfield Review

"Cloverfield" Overview

Rating: PG-13
2008
Cast and Crew
Director : Matt ReevesProducer : Sherryl Clark,Guy Riedel,J.J. Abrams
Screenwiter : Drew Goddard
Starring Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, Tj Miller, Michael Stahl-david, Mike Vogel
We should have seen this coming. Team Cloverfield dropped more than enough hints
suggesting they knew what they were doing, from the inspired viral marketing campaign
to the seeds of a deeper mythology planted on message boards. But with hype meters
peaking, cautiously optimistic fanboys willing to entertain the notion that a good movie
could be released in January sharpened swords for a potential backlash.
With apologies to Public Enemy, believe the hype. Cloverfield director Matt Reeves
has created an abnormality, a visceral monster movie that doesn't overly concern
itself with its actual monster. The filmmaker certainly doesn't go out of his way
to show his beast. Not because he doesn't want to, but because he can't. That's not the
movie he decided to tell.
Instead, the Cloverfield collective -- which includes Reeves, producer J.J. Abrams
(Lost), and writer Drew Goddard (Alias) -- focuses on a rescue mission to drive their
skeletal plot. It is conducted by four urban prepsters who begin the evening attending
a harmless surprise party for the affable Rob (Michael Stahl-David), who is leaving
New York the next morning to accept a promotion overseas. But the group eventually
risks life and limb to reach a friend (Odette Yustman) trapped in her apartment after
a reptilian creature emerges without warning from the Hudson River and wrecks havoc
on the Lower East Side.
The experiment is ingenious. The results, though, can be frustrating because Reeves
stays commendably focused on his goal. Where other filmmakers might have been tempted
to cut away from the leads and sneak full-fledged peeks at the creature, Reeves commi
ts to his premise and finds fresh ways to draw familiar conceits (hysterical crowds,
massive explosions, a requisite military presence) into his story.
Cloverfield isn't perfect, and nitpickers will find enough to, well, pick. The film's
narrow-minded approach leaves numerous questions regarding the monster unanswered.
Where did it come from? What happens if you get bit by the creature (or one of its
offspring)? Goddard also attaches too many false endings to the story. Cloverfield is one tight
ending shy of being a modern monster masterpiece.
It's hardly an exaggeration to claim Cloverfield marks a milestone in contemporary
filmmaking, a pinprick that systematically deflates the traditional, overblown, special-effects
extravaganzas we equate with our summer season. Reeves' film appeals directly to
the maturing YouTube generation without pandering. It wisely understands that its primary
audience, weaned on handheld paparazzi footage and reality television, will be far
more impressed by footage they believe they themselves could have captured using
a cell phone than any big-budget effect.
Killer smurfs!
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Review by Sean O'Connell
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if they do make a 2nd one then they should make it from another persons point of
veiw or make the monster attack another big citi
Well I just thought that this movie sucks!! they should've known better!! I felt
dizzy watching this movie! It's not what I expected! And you know what?? I felt I've
been cheated! Is this how movies are supposed to look like in the future?? Huh! C'mon!
this is completely unacceptable!!!!
Duhh!! It's not even close to real!! It lack many things! For those people who said
that this movie is "aweome", well ur very strange.. I love art, but this is just
not impressive!!! This movie is pathetic!!!
I wouldn't have watched tis movie if i only see it coming! Well I learned 1 perfect
lesson! I will be reading the reviews first before watching hollywood movies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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