Carl's Movie Mini-Review: Cloverfield
Cloverfield
I've heard a few complaints about the movie. Well, actually I didn't hear specifics, since I think some people were consciencous about not spoiling anything. However, I think if there's anything someone should know before seeing the movie is that it's a disaster movie, not a monster movie. And good disaster movies are not about the specific event but about the people involved and how they cope with it.
Technically, it looks sharp, which, when combined with the crazy shaky-cam footage and dropped cameras, would lead one to believe it was shot on digital video. Portions might have, but apparently some or all of it was performed on film. If any digi-cam was used during shooting, it has fantastic low-light sensing.
Oddities: Why does the girl wear her heels so long while running all around Manhattan?
Faults: Some of the decisions in sound design don't make logical sense. When you catch the movie, you'll see...or hear... Or...won't.
Recommendation? It's a character piece. Not the best, but combined with the world crumbling around them, it was a compelling watch. If you want action, frights, or monsters, that's not what this movie is about, though it still has some of that. If you come into this movie with the wrong frame of mind, you'll have plenty of questions about the monster and events that take place. The record of events is told from a first person perspective, and you won't know anything the characters don't know. They're just trying to survive, not find answers, so you don't get any. It's no fault of the story that things are left unanswered.
Practical recommendation: It's a shaky-cam movie, so get a good seat far enough away from the screen. If you come in late and have to sit in the front, you should trade in your ticket for the next show.
I've heard a few complaints about the movie. Well, actually I didn't hear specifics, since I think some people were consciencous about not spoiling anything. However, I think if there's anything someone should know before seeing the movie is that it's a disaster movie, not a monster movie. And good disaster movies are not about the specific event but about the people involved and how they cope with it.
Technically, it looks sharp, which, when combined with the crazy shaky-cam footage and dropped cameras, would lead one to believe it was shot on digital video. Portions might have, but apparently some or all of it was performed on film. If any digi-cam was used during shooting, it has fantastic low-light sensing.
Oddities: Why does the girl wear her heels so long while running all around Manhattan?
Faults: Some of the decisions in sound design don't make logical sense. When you catch the movie, you'll see...or hear... Or...won't.
Recommendation? It's a character piece. Not the best, but combined with the world crumbling around them, it was a compelling watch. If you want action, frights, or monsters, that's not what this movie is about, though it still has some of that. If you come into this movie with the wrong frame of mind, you'll have plenty of questions about the monster and events that take place. The record of events is told from a first person perspective, and you won't know anything the characters don't know. They're just trying to survive, not find answers, so you don't get any. It's no fault of the story that things are left unanswered.
Practical recommendation: It's a shaky-cam movie, so get a good seat far enough away from the screen. If you come in late and have to sit in the front, you should trade in your ticket for the next show.