I just got back from the much anticipated screening of Cloverfield. It was not an alien invasion flick, the title is a codename used by the Department of Defence for the monster in the movie.There are some spoilers below, so please read at your own risk.
This movie reminded me of The Blair Witch Project (BWP) from many years back. It is filmed from a single hand-held camera, so for those with motion sickness problems, if you got sick watching BWP, then you can forget about this movie. But the difference with this is, in BWP, you never got to see the witch, in fact, in that movie, you barely got to see anything at all, other than the actors running around, panting and the works. In Cloverfield, there is at least some character development, many glimpses of the monster and rather realistic responses to a disaster-type situation.
There was a hinted reference to the origin of the monster. In fact, it was the actor holding the camera and filming it who provided all the bright ideas and theories. He talked about a fish that was thought to be extinct, but was recently found off the coast of Madagascar. The reason being, it could have gone further underwater into trenches and unknown locations to breed or to get away from humans. Similarly too, the evolution of the monster in Cloverfield.
Movie-goers nowadays have high expectations when watching movies, especially the younger generation. They probably grew up with watching tons of action movies with lots of explosions. Several instant verbal reviews of the movie immediately when the end credits started rolling was, "That's it?"; "What the hell?"; "This was such a terrible movie!".
Well, they didn't understand it obviously. Typical spoon-feeding attitude. In other words, they didn't want to think, they wanted all the information spoon-fed to them in the movie. Otherwise, it's just another waste of time. Ah, and one of them actually said that Aliens Vs Predator 2 would have been much better (that was a terrible movie!). I rest my case with them being brainless and needing to be spoon-fed.
However, I personally enjoyed the movie and found that it was done very realistically. In realistically, I mean like a home-made movie from a camcorder, and how one (and their friends) would response to a disaster situation. It started off being filmed as a friend's farewell party for his departure to Japan. After which, mid-way, the disaster occurred, the survival of friends, the perseverance of one to go back into danger to look for another friend - a very human trait; glimpses of the monster and its parasitic little creatures that came along with it.
I would have loved if they touched on a lot more in a shorter time-span, but that would have spoilt the movie in so many ways. At the same time, although not a lot of acting was really required, the actors and actresses performed admirably in portraying a disaster situation. You get to see the monster in its entirety and up close towards the end of the movie.
And I'm sure, if you think about it, that the characters were not the only ones filming the whole thing. Come on, it's America, they always want to destroy Manhattan, New York (Think Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow etc.). Plus everyone wants to do their own home-movies, including celebrities, who's to say that a sequel to this movie won't feature another point of view from another group of friends? Again, something to ponder over.
I applaud director/producer J.J. Abrams, who, once again, changes the way movies are made, and wanted to create an American monster of his own. Another original version of Godzilla, instead of trying to copy the Japanese version over and over again.
I was also fascinated with the camcorder and how long the battery lasted, how much tape was inside and how resilient it was to dropping and damage etc. Especially surviving the blast at the end and providing the Department of Defence, the Cloverfield tape.
If anyone happens to catch a glimpse of the brand on the camcorder, or even know of one they use personally that is good, long-lasting and resilient, do drop me a note in my comments to let me know, I'm interested to invest in a camcorder for my vacations.
I would highly recommend anyone to watch this movie, especially if they're interested in a new way of story-telling, instead of the stale old ones. This movie has its fill of explosions and action, but in a different and more human sense. Go to watch it with an open mind.
7.5 out of 10 stars
2 comments:
What do you mean by "spoon-feeding" in this movie? Whilst open for interpretation, different people go for a movie for different reasons. Due to lack of plot exposure prior to the release, many people including myself, went to the movie thinking that it would be another Alien or Independence Day movie.
Realistic or not is really subjective. The storyline, or lack thereof, is as shaky as the camera. Futher, it is misleading to promote a home-made-themed movie as a blockbuster or feel-good movie.
I wouldn't recommend anyone to watch this, after my nauseating episode. In my belief system, it's just plain crazy that the ex-gf, after being pierced by a large steel rod through her chest, was still able to escape the 60-something-floored apartment building and run and jump and even support her ex-bf.
There could have been a few more plausible and believable plots that would "spoon-feed" the audience, this is not one that I am satisfied with.
Fortunately, not everyone is as nauseated as you are. I did provide a clause saying that the shaky camera work might cause nausea.
Spoon-feeding means you give the audience what they want, which can come in the form of a well-laid out story or just eye-candy. Transformers was a spoon-fed story, it was not like a mystery storyline where you have to think and guess who the murderer is, and then they add the twist where it was someone else. Watch the movie Identity starring John Cusack and you will understand.
Going to the movies with high expectations won't do well with this movie. Like I mentioned, go with an open mind and you'll find it more appealing and enjoyable to watch. I was taking your advice actually! :P
Yes, the plot could have been better, thus the good, but low score, but it was a home movie concept and there are only so many plots one can come up with. Realistic because the camera was shaky, I doubt even you or I could have kept the camera still while running, jumping, dodging or ducking from the monster or the action!
She was pierced through the shoulder, not through the heart, and yes, you can still move around with an injured shoulder, I should know! :P
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