The Official Review Thread of 2008

User avatar
OscarGuy
Site Admin
Posts: 13668
Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2003 12:22 am
Location: Springfield, MO
Contact:

Post by OscarGuy »

I enjoyed it. I think Blair Witch Project was significantly more successful blending story and performance along with the gimmick. Cloverfield's a bit less successful mostly because none of the actors are more than passable and there's no sense to the decision to head back into hell. It doesn't make much sense. Some characters have no resolution, which is part of the problem focusing only on one video tape recording.

The editing was too convenient. Come on? Would the military really have left everything intact? They probably would have stripped out as much of the "love story" as possible simply because it didn't have a bearing on the purpose of showing the tape. And if they were going for a full disclosure approach, then they wouldn't have "cut" so many long pauses or breaks of inactivity from the film.

I love horror films, but not creature/monster films. I thought for the most part that it worked (minus the exceptions above). I was entertained, though not nearly as engrossed as I was with Blair Witch Project. Cloverfield's a triumph of marketing over substance.
Wesley Lovell
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." - Benjamin Franklin
Hustler
Tenured
Posts: 2914
Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2003 1:35 pm
Location: Buenos Aires-Argentina

Post by Hustler »

--OscarGuy wrote:Let me preface by saying that I have significant issues with motion sickness. On long trips, I have to drive or it will make me ill. I can't use the microfiche reader at the library without getting quite ill and there are several video games that I have to take dramamine just to sit down and play.

Having said all that, neither Blair Witch Project nor Cloverfield made me even remotely sick. I felt completely fine through the entirety. It's an interesting dichotemy when you think about. People who don't normally get motion sick were getting sick whereas people who do get motion sick weren't having a problem.

And what´s your impression about the movie? Did you like it?




Edited By Big Magilla on 1241382539
User avatar
OscarGuy
Site Admin
Posts: 13668
Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2003 12:22 am
Location: Springfield, MO
Contact:

Post by OscarGuy »

Let me preface by saying that I have significant issues with motion sickness. On long trips, I have to drive or it will make me ill. I can't use the microfiche reader at the library without getting quite ill and there are several video games that I have to take dramamine just to sit down and play.

Having said all that, neither Blair Witch Project nor Cloverfield made me even remotely sick. I felt completely fine through the entirety. It's an interesting dichotemy when you think about. People who don't normally get motion sick were getting sick whereas people who do get motion sick weren't having a problem.
Wesley Lovell
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." - Benjamin Franklin
Hustler
Tenured
Posts: 2914
Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2003 1:35 pm
Location: Buenos Aires-Argentina

Post by Hustler »

I felt the impulse (and it never happened to me) of running away from the theater in the middle of the film.
Zahveed
Associate
Posts: 1838
Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2007 1:47 pm
Location: In Your Head
Contact:

Post by Zahveed »

I almost threw-up during Cloverfield and I never get motion-sick. I actually stared at the floor for a few minutes just to regain my composure. Other than that it was a good concept and good effects, but it could have used a little work. Nobody shit their pants, a must-have in any giant monster situation.
"It's the least most of us can do, but less of us will do more."
Hustler
Tenured
Posts: 2914
Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2003 1:35 pm
Location: Buenos Aires-Argentina

Post by Hustler »

Wow! I´d enjoyed this movie so much. It introduces an innovative concept in terms of horror films. I know the existence of Blair Witch Project but this movie goes even further.



Edited By Hustler on 1202156527
Franz Ferdinand
Adjunct
Posts: 1457
Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2004 3:22 pm
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Contact:

Post by Franz Ferdinand »

CLOVERFIELD
The concept was good enough, but I could not care less about the characters, nor the pervading scent of vomit when I watched the movie. It was a good enough "event" movie, and finally beat Star Wars' decade-long rule of the January opening weekend record. Let us move on.
C+
anonymous1980
Laureate
Posts: 6377
Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2003 10:03 pm
Location: Manila
Contact:

Post by anonymous1980 »

CLOVERFIELD
Cast: Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, T.J. Miller, Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Odette Yustman
Dir: Matt Reeves

Described as Blair Witch meets Godzilla which is quite accurate. It's a very novel and inventive way of making an old-fashioned disaster/monster movie. Although the characters and performances make it feel like the monster element just walked in an episode of Felicity which is not necessarily a bad thing. Harmless time killer.

Oscar Prospects: Sound Editing and Visual Effects.

Grade: B-




Edited By anonymous on 1202041722
Post Reply

Return to “2008”