Cloverfield.

[skizzerflake]

Alright, after reading everyone's opinions on the flick, I had to go out and rent this one last night. I have to say it was actually pretty well done for a monster flick. I didn't mind the first-person shaky cam thing either, it actually made it seem like you were really there and a part of the action, rather than just watching it from a safe distance. It had plenty of frightening moments too that gripped you in a real way (walking down a NYC subway tunnel in the pitch black dark while all hell is breaking loose above you on the street, or stuck inside an out of control helicopter as it spirals down to the ground from 1000 feet in the air?)

Anyway - the one thing I did enjoy immensely was the LFE track. This movie made me awfully happy about my big ole' sub sitting over to the side of my system. The sound was incredible, with plenty of low end, room shaking effects.

Overall, I would give this one a 7 out of 10.

I really liked Cloverfield. I finally got around to seeing it at home and it had me on the edge of my seat, even though I had heard enough to know pretty much everything that was going to happen. In scary movies, generally hints of the evil are more effective than full exposure so the quick glances of the monster were very believable, especially considering that as the camera holder, I would be much more concerned with running and screaming than good cinematography.

The LFE track was indeed impressive. I was watching in the basement, with a Hsu sub and my son remarked that the drywall was rattling in his second floor bedroom.

Since I understand that there are sequels in the works, and that there are considerable back stories already written, you can catch some hints of what's coming on the DVD extra with the guy who invented the monster.

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

I finally saw Cloverfield and I was surprised at just how good it was. All the comparisons that it's like a cross between Blair Witch and Godzilla made me think I'd not like it much. It had decent visual effects and the sound, especially some of the LFE, were pretty good too.

 

[mouettus]

I finally saw Cloverfield and I was surprised at just how good it was. All the comparisons that it's like a cross between Blair Witch and Godzilla made me think I'd not like it much. It had decent visual effects and the sound, especially some of the LFE, were pretty good too.

Yep. That movie is much like Walk Hard: Dewey Cox story. If you don't anticipate anything from it it really suprises you.

 

[skizzerflake]

Yep. That movie is much like Walk Hard: Dewey Cox story. If you don't anticipate anything from it it really suprises you.

I think you're right about Walk Hard. I didn't like the trailers very much and only slightly enjoyed it in the movies, but when I saw it on video, and had low expectations, it really broke me up. I also appreciated the great send ups of rock icons, especially the Beatles in India and the Brian Wilson/Smile disaster.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

One of the Most Retarded Movies Ever

Okay, I just watched Cloverfield.

I thought it was one of the worst movies I have ever seen.

100% Retarded.

I cannot believe I watched it.

 

[Tomorrow]

We just saw this flick on the HT. My advice .... close your eyes through the entire movie and you'll enjoy the best part of it .... the audio. For sure it's typical J.J., so ignore the lame story and dig the surround FX and LFE.

 

[mike c]

We just saw this flick on the HT. My advice .... close your eyes through the entire movie and you'll enjoy the best part of it .... the audio. For sure it's typical J.J., so ignore the lame story and dig the surround FX and LFE.

ill pick this up in SD DVD when it reaches the 5 dollar bin

 

[rmk]

With all the truly bad films produced ever month I’m surprised this one gets so much hate. I had no expectations going in other than the unsteady camera work so we watched it on my plasma rather than the PJ to minimize the motion sickness effect.
I liked the film quite a bit. After a slow start, it picked up nicely and moved along to an exciting conclusion. The idea of a big budget monster movie shot entirely from a camcorder perspective is interesting. I didn’t care for Blare Witch nor any of the Godzilla movies, but this one looped me in. I wasn’t bothered by the shaky camera (it isn’t that shaky) and the special effects (CG) and sound are very good. Maybe it’s just my new subs that have me liking anything with good LFE, but I will be buying the BR version when it comes out. I may even try watching it on the big screen.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

With all the truly bad films produced ever month I’m surprised this one gets so much hate. I had no expectations going in other than the unsteady camera work so we watched it on my plasma rather than the PJ to minimize the motion sickness effect.
I liked the film quite a bit. After a slow start, it picked up nicely and moved along to an exciting conclusion. The idea of a big budget monster movie shot entirely from a camcorder perspective is interesting. I didn’t care for Blare Witch nor any of the Godzilla movies, but this one looped me in. I wasn’t bothered by the shaky camera (it isn’t that shaky) and the special effects (CG) and sound are very good. Maybe it’s just my new subs that have me liking anything with good LFE, but I will be buying the BR version when it comes out. I may even try watching it on the big screen.

If you were running for your LIFE, would you care that much about holding a camcorder?

Would you risk your life for a stupid camcorder?

If you knew that you were going to die, would you be telling your girl how much you love her, or would you care more about talking into the camera?

Would you risk your life for some people you hardly know?

Heck, would you even risk your life for your friends if they did not listen to you and did something that stupid?

The story is retarded.

I would not even buy the blu-ray if they sold it for $1.

 

[DTS]

I'm watching it again for the second time tonight and having a couple over who have never seen it. I rather liked it, enough I purchased a SD DVD for $14 on Amazon. Thought it looked pretty good on the PS3 and didnt really need to be HD.

 

[rmk]

Fields of Clover

If you were running for your LIFE, would you care that much about holding a camcorder?

-Yes, they're not cheap you know.

Would you risk your life for a stupid camcorder?

-See above

If you knew that you were going to die, would you be telling your girl how much you love her, or would you care more about talking into the camera?

-It would be a very close call with talking into camera winning by a nose

Would you risk your life for some people you hardly know?

-People do it evey day, it's called instinct and courage but to answer your question ... no

Heck, would you even risk your life for your friends if they did not listen to you and did something that stupid?

-I imagine you have issues with people not listening to you.

The story is retarded.

 

[Halon451]

Sorry, just had to jump in on this one.

If you were running for your LIFE, would you care that much about holding a camcorder?

I personally wouldn't, but the story had to continue from the 1st person perspective. I think the producers intended the story to unfold more like you as in the actual viewer were there taking part in the action, so they had to come up with a way to achieve this effect, even if the reality of it is pretty far-fetched. It's a movie, what do you want.

Would you risk your life for a stupid camcorder?

Depends on what it contains... hehe.

If you knew that you were going to die, would you be telling your girl how much you love her..

If she was THAT hot, hell yes.

Would you risk your life for some people you hardly know?

Hell no, but it wouldn't have made for much of a movie if only the boyfriend had gone after the girl.

Heck, would you even risk your life for your friends if they did not listen to you and did something that stupid?

Don't know - never been placed in that situation. It would have to be a really good friend.

Point is, it's a movie, meant to entertain and it entertained the crap out of me. I got what I wanted, which was some edge of my seat thrills for about an hour and a half, and then it's back to reality.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If she was THAT hot, hell yes.

Exactly. I'd be doing more than just talk, and it would not be in front of a damn camera.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

-Yes, there not cheap you know.

That's true. That camcorder was probably $1,000,000.

 

[Halon451]

Hell no, but it wouldn't have made for much of a movie if only the boyfriend had gone after the girl.

Oh, and in addition to this, we wouldn't have got to see the angry girl explode!

 

[Tomorrow]

To add to my former post....

My problem with this movie is:

*I hate the shaky camera presentation. I appreciate what it is supposed to accomplish, but is irritating to watch, nonetheless.
*It had no plot...just action. So if you're into action for action sake, this is your movie. It had no story other than people running from a monster you can't see well and have no clue about. The director's explanation of it being a lost baby reacting to a violent/strange environment was baloney and was not expressed by the movie. A plotless flick does not rank high on my interest guage.
*It did not develop the characters at all. I had no interest in any of them because they were nothing but props for the action.

So ... there really is no story behind Cloverfield. It is fun action, but how can you grade a movie very high when it lacks so much that others (LOTR, SW, etc.) have as well as great action, CG, and audio?!

 

[mouettus]

Gosh... does it always have to be Syriana-complicated for you guys to enjoy? Can't you just turn off your brains for an hour or so and be entertained by big picture and big sound?! Nothing wrong with that once in a while. And for a no-story movie, it was well made. Like others said, it gets you on the edge of the sofa if you can learn to immerse yourself.

That or you may not have the sound system you claim to have lolll

 

[Tomorrow]

Gosh... does it always have to be Syriana-complicated for you guys to enjoy? Can't you just turn off your brains for an hour or so and be entertained by big picture and big sound?! Nothing wrong with that once in a while. And for a no-story movie, it was well made. Like others said, it gets you on the edge of the sofa if you can learn to immerse yourself.

That or you may not have the sound system you claim to have lolll

I guess some people just find it easier than others to turn off their brains.

It was an entertaining movie...just nothing special. One thumb up.

 

[mouettus]

I guess some people just find it easier than others to turn off their brains.

It was an entertaining movie...just nothing special. One thumb up.

Oh I hear ya! Couple of years ago I couldn't listen to a movie without saying comments every 5 minutes when I saw something that appreared unrealistic from the everyday life. Turned out I liked 2 movies out of 5 maybe. It really ruined the experience. Now the rant is over and I enjoy a movie for what it is... 2 hours of entertainment.

But I can tell if a movie really got me if I let the credits roll at the end. That means the story made me think a lot and it lets me kind of a "cool down" period of emotions. Sounds gay but I got a couple of hard emotions on NCFOM, Reign Over Me, Crash and the like.

p.s. cloverfield is still far from a novel, but far from all the bad comments I read on this thread IMO.

 

[DTS]

Well thankfully [i think] I can turn off my brain for movies. Watched again last night, think I enjoyed it more the second time. Especially the first part, where its a little slow, but has some pretty funny bits.