Review: Cloverfield
In Cloverfield, a yuppie guy named Rob takes a job in Japan and thinks his biggest problem is saying goodbye to the girl he hooked up with once. Then a monster crawls out New York Harbor, goes gangsta on the Statue of Liberty, and totally ruins his going away party while stomping Manhattan into the ground.
Rob puts on his Horror Movie Thinking Cap® and decides the girl is worth risking his life for. So, he and a few of his friends set out to find this girl, now trapped in her upscale, uptown apartment. Rob’s buddy, who was stuck filming the party, captures everything on a handheld camera which apparently is the best built, most feature-rich camera ever made with the longest battery life ever. Lucky for us.
Somewhere around the 45 minute mark of this movie, I lost track of the levels of disbelief I was suspending. Last count was 167. However, in between the ‘Oh-you-don’t-want-to-do-thats’ and the ‘Like-that-would-ever-happens’, a pretty good movie played out. The characters were as likable as they were foolish, there was plenty of action, and the special effects were good. The handheld style in which the movie was filmed added tension, although I can understand how there were motion sickness complaints when this movie was in theaters. In my living room where the screen size ratio is feet-to-inches compared to the theater, the bouncing and quick panning around didn’t bother me at all.
If I had to file a serious complaint about anything, I’d say that Cloverfield tips it’s hand early, like in the first minute of the movie. If you’re paying attention, you get an idea of how it’s going to end, but I guess that’s open to interpretation.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
Open questions:
What brand is that camera?! I need it.
Why is the movie named Cloverfield? I don’t think the movie tells you.
Idea for original screenplay:
Title: The Cloud
Location: Manhattan, NYC, USA (would also work in SF or LA)
Plot: A couple 20- or 30-somethings are having a party in this tricked out loft that must rent for $9,500 month. Don’t ask yourself how they can afford such a place because it’s not important. What is important is that it’s cool. And that The Cloud is moving into the city. People caught in The Cloud are overcome with big, red sores… and powerful common sense. This means that even though there’s a disaster going on, everyone behaves rationally and takes only the most calculated of risks in their given situation. The Cloud, however, anticipates this, and is waiting to kill them when they do the smart thing. The only way to beat The Cloud is to act like a big dummy, but people can’t because they’ve been infected with common sense by The Cloud. The only guy who lives is the guy who actually had common sense to begin with. He’s not bewildered by his newfound rationality and can see how The Cloud operates.
OK, that idea probably needs a little work, but the plan is to do this Grindhouse style and make it a double feature with my other movie idea 30 Days of Mines. Call me if you’d like to finance this.