I watched Cloverfield a few days ago and I was pleasantly surprised by it. I can definitely understand why some would find it unappealing, but I was enthralled once the movie really got going.
The movie starts with a going-away party for one of the main characters. This was the worst part of the movie. It was slow and superfluous. The 15 minutes or so of exposition could, and should, have been cut in half. The only good part of it is getting to know the person whose point of view we see the movie from. He is tasked with "documenting" the party and ends up documenting the entire ordeal. This character, Hud, was definitely good for comic relief. At the most tension-filled moments he was good for a laugh. This may be annoying to some but I found it to be rather realistic. Some people talk and make jokes when feeling stressed. No big deal.
One thing I didn't like was how Hud just kept carrying the camera around. He even managed to hold onto it while being attacked by these weird parasite things. I would have dropped the damn thing and not looked back. Anyway, constant vigilance with the camera=not too realistic. Then again the movie is about a giant monster demolishing Manhattan.
In some reviews I read about the camera style turning people away (and making them sick in the process). Typically I hate herky-jerky filming (see: Traffic, The Bourne Supremacy (Matt Damon)) but it worked for me this time. Not seeing the monster made it much scarier. All the viewer can see is the destruction it's leaving in its wake. And, boy, is there destruction. The only time you truly see the monster is when it's being annihilated near the end and, even then, it's not completely clear.
There is no clear explanation of what "it" is. This would normally have frustrated the bejeezus out of me but, again, it worked. This time I love not knowing more than the characters. Most monster movies have horribly cheesy explanations for the monsters existence and reason for its rampage. This movie didn't bother with that. Thank God.
The more I reflect on this movie, the more I like it. I wouldn't recommend it for everyone, but some may enjoy it.
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2 comments:
i still have yet to watch it, and was surprised that you actually liked it. i can understand a style like that would make one sick. i used to even get sick playing goldeneye on n64 sometimes. but, like from what i have seen it is filmed much like the blair witch project was. i am still half convinced it was true. but cheers sir.
Cloverfield was not even that sweet. I was thoroughly annoyed by it. But often I disagree about movies with people. Maybe I'm wrong, but I doubt it.
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