Cloverfield [Blu-ray]

Cloverfield [Blu-ray]
by Matt Reeves

Cloverfield [Blu-ray]

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DVD Cover Information

Actor: Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan, Mike Vogel, Odette Yustman, T.J. Miller
Director: Matt Reeves
Brand: PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO
Blu-ray: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Original Language); Spanish (Original Language); French (Dubbed); Spanish (Dubbed)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 85 minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: 2008-06-03
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Paramount

Movie Reviews of Cloverfield [Blu-ray]

Movie Review: Wonderful Horror/Monster Movie
Summary: 5 Stars

I didn't get to catch this film in theaters, though I was really wanting to -- I missed a chance to see it with friends and another chance just never arose. Hearing other people's opinions on the film was very much one of those "either loved it or hated it" scenarios; one of my friends claimed it wasn't very good, another really enjoyed it. I myself was still excited to see it but, having missed the theatrical release, never found time to watch it when it was released on DVD. A couple of days ago, however, I found the film on sale at Wal-Mart for $15 on Blu-Ray and couldn't pass it up. I bought it and, just yesterday, watched it.

I found the movie, from start to finish, thoroughly enjoying. I came to Amazon, though, and found that it only had a 3/5 rating, not to mention a plethora of bad reviews mostly complaining of only one thing: gimmicky direction. And so, for the first time in years, I decided to sit down and write a review for the film myself, explaining everything that surprised me and everything I enjoyed.

First, a few specs. The film was produced by Mr. JJ Abrams, one of the hottest rising producer/director/writers in the business currently. The director is Matt Reeves who I am unfamiliar with. A quick IMDb query, however, tells me that Reeves' past experience is mostly television, where he used to write and direct for a show called Felicity (he was also the creator) -- again, though, I've never seen an episode. The writer of Cloverfield, however, I am much more familiar with. His name is Drew Goddard and he used to write for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and, more currently, Lost. To put it simply, the guy is good and in his short run of writing on Buffy's final season, he even managed to quickly earn a name for himself as a fan-favorite. In Cloverfield he does what he's best at: taking an already interesting idea/story and adds character depth to it that most other writers can only dream of doing. He then takes it a step further by providing a story that is not only innovative in it's storytelling but also has a fine sense of flow that allows the audience to glide along rather than force-feeding it. (Note: Buffy fans should also check out his "Wolves at the Gate" run in the comic book series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Season 8")

Onto the film.

It starts out simple enough, yet at the same time tricks us right from the beginning, insomuch as we THINK we're going to watch what starts out to be a day in the life of this boy (Rob) and this girl (Beth). We're fooled, though, when the camera cuts away and we're now following a completely different girl and guy who are borrowing their brother/friend Rob's video-camera to film his going away party later that night. This continues on until we reach the party itself. Then, lo and behold, drama ensues -- I won't discuss how. Then, lo and behold again, action ensues and pulls us into the monster movie we came to see.

That's as much as I'll give away about the plot. It's simple enough, I suppose, yet still very entertaining and dramatic. Unlike The Blair Witch Project which pioneered this type of direction, Cloverfield has it's own tricks up it's sleeves. Where Blair Witch wasn't really concerned with telling a story about its characters -- rightfully so since it was "set-up" to be a documentary -- in this film, Drew Goddard manages to sneak a story in right under our noses and whether we know it or not, it has a definite beginning, middle, and end. We actually grow to care about our characters and yearn for their survival; it's something that most other monster movies take for granted and assume the audience will do -- not this one, though. The film shows all of it's main characters and their numerous character flaws and because of this they actually mean something more to us and we relate to them.

The premise itself, at least as far as story structure, is also quite interesting and follows as such: there is only one videotape. It was previously recorded on by our main characters, Rob and Beth, and then recorded OVER by his friends which is where we follow the bulk of the narrative. However, one or two snippets of the previously recorded material seep through from time to time and show us just how in love Rob and Beth are, and as the main "monster story" concludes and cuts off, we are thus left to view the final few frames of the previous recording and if we pay close enough attention, even see a bit of foreshadowing (if you could call it that) of the events that are to follow... or just played out, rather. Again, the story moves so seamlessly that none of it ever feels forced -- or, to put it another way, that it never feels like we're witnessing an actual story as opposed to a series of events.

Haters be damned, Cloverfield is one fine monster movie that works on all levels. The direction is no gimmick, only a vessel, and anyone who complains should've known what they were getting into from the get go. One final note: the producers and directors could have easily taken a different route with the monster in this film. From the beginning the audience believes this'll be one of those "stylish" films that focuses more on the suspense and characters than it does on actually seeing the monster itself (see The Village, or even The Blair Witch Project) and quite frankly, if it had gone that route, it still would have been good film. In the end it is actually able to give us everything we want. For most of the film we only catch glimpses of the monster but as it continues to progress, we begin to see more and more until, finally, we catch it all in full glory and, once again, we are completely caught off-guard.

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Summary of Cloverfield [Blu-ray]

Synopsis:
Item Type: DVD Movie
Item Rating: PG13
Street Date: 06/03/08
Wide Screen: yes
Director Cut: no
Special Edition: no
LanguageENGLISH
Foreign Film: no
Subtitlesno
Dubbed: no
Full Frame: no
Re-Release: no
Packaging: Sleeve Please note: This supplier will be closed on 11/24, 11/25, 12/26, 1/2 for the holidays. The shipping cut off is 12/10 to try and have the products delivered by Christmas.
One of the first things a viewer notices about Cloverfield is that it doesn't play by ordinary storytelling rules, making this intriguing horror film as much a novelty as an event. Told from the vertiginous point-of-view of a camcorder-wielding group of friends, Cloverfield begins like a primetime television soap opera about young Manhattanites coping with changes in their personal lives. Rob (Michael Stahl-David) is leaving New York to take an executive job at a company in Japan. At his goodbye party in a crowded loft, Rob?s brother Jason (Mike Vogel) hands a camcorder to best friend Hud (T.J. Miller), who proceeds to tape the proceedings over old footage of Rob?s ex-girlfriend, Beth (Odette Yustman)--images shot during happy times in that now-defunct relationship. Naturally, Beth shows up at the party with a new beau, bumming Rob out completely. Just before one's eyes glaze over from all this heartbreaking stuff (captured by Hud, who's something of a doofus, in laughably shaky camerawork), the unexpected happens: New York is suddenly under attack from a Godzilla-like monster stomping through midtown and destroying everything and everybody in sight. Rob and company hit the streets, but rather than run with other evacuees, they head toward the center of the storm so that Rob can rescue an injured Beth. There are casualties along the way, but the journey into fear is fascinating and immediate if emotionally remote--a consequence of seeing these proceedings through the singular, subjective perspective of a camcorder and of a story that intentionally leaves major questions unanswered: Who or what is this monster? Where did it come from? The lack of a backstory, and spare views of the marauding creature, are clever ways by producer J.J. Abrams and director Matt Reeves to keep an audience focused exclusively on what?s on the screen. But it also makes Cloverfield curiously uninvolving. Ultimately, Cloverfield, with its spectacular effects brilliantly woven into a home-video look, is a celebration of infinite possibilities in this age of accessible, digital media. --Tom Keogh

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