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| Cloverfield | 
 enlarge | Director: Matt Reeves
Actors: Odette Yustman, Lizzy Caplan, Mike Vogel, Jessica Lucas, Michael Stahl-david
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.99
Buy New: $1.98
You Save: $28.01 (93%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $1.98
Avg. Customer Rating:  (629 reviews)
Sales Rank: 1092
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 84 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: PARD352064D
UPC: 097363520641
EAN: 0097363520641
ASIN: B0014Z4OQG
Release Date: April 22, 2008
Theatrical Release Date: January 16, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Some people just don't get it... January 18, 2008
4 out of 8 found this review helpful
Cloverfield is a movie in the setting of first person footage of a monster attack on NYC. I won't go into any more detail about the plot events. For some, it hits really close home with the September 11th attacks, and I totally understand this reason for dislike for the movie.
The way it's made, it doesn't treat you like a viewer and as if you are some stupid stand by. It's filmed in a way that's so close and intense and moving all over the place, you're convinced this is how it would really be if you were involved in a monster disaster, as well. And there is more going on other than monster attacks, things that are personal to the main characters and what drives them to delay their leave. And everything is explained through time and paying enough attention and being patient, that it will all be worthwhile.
Cloverfield is definitely not the movie that will go into explicit details. I am squeamish, and for me there was a few things I found disturbing. But it wasn't a huge gore fest, and it left it up to the viewer to delve into the bloody details more or leave it. It wasn't in your face unpleasant, and it was a breath of fresh air.
A lot of people were disappointed because it wasn't so happy ended as they might have hoped, and there wasn't some epic finale we have grown so accustomed to with movies like Grindhouse and Mission Impossible 3. It was very realistic, very sad, and quite touching and romantic on many levels. There are surprisingly enough laughs to keep those light of heart entertained and hopeless romantics drooling and action fanatics squirming in their seat.
The thing I loved most about the movie is that it actually made me care. I love movies and it's difficult sometimes when you have to go see ten bad movies before you see two or three good ones. And the fact that there was no pretensions and self superiority about it makes it such a pleasure to watch. Throughout the entire movie my stomach was doing somersaults and I couldn't stop thinking about how freaking awesome the movie was.
When the credits first started rolling, I was genuinely surprised at how many people seemed disappointed. Of course there were people who were all fired up about how cool it was. The biggest thing I notice of their disapproval is that they spent weeks on the computer talking about this movie with other people, read information on it, formed all these expectations and then got something in the theater that didn't match up to what was in their mind.
My point: do yourself a favor and try knowing only the basic plot before seeing ANY movie. Don't listen to what other people have to say about it, don't try to figure out everything about the sequence of events, etc.
DEFINITELY LIVES UP TO THE HYPE! (One Spoiler) January 18, 2008
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
After months of media hype, the J.J. Abrams-produced "Cloverfield" finally hit theaters, and the movie definitely delivers. "Cloverfield" is, without a doubt, the best monster flick yet made! I won't go into details about the plot, but it is very intense, exciting, and quite scary at times, with good performances from a terrific cast. The use of a P.O.V. style of film-making makes this film all the more believable.
I won't go into detail about the main monster, except to say that it is fantastic! The only spoiler I have is this: along with the main monster, there are also hundreds of little creatures, and they are terrifying to behold as well! This film definitely puts "Godzilla" to shame. This is a terrific film that fans of sci-fi, horror, and monster films will want to see! One of the best ever made!
Grade: A+
The Monster Takes Manhattan January 18, 2008
9 out of 17 found this review helpful
There are monster movies and then there's "Cloverfield," a film that many have correctly described as a cross between the "Godzilla" films and "The Blair Witch Project." Rather than conventional movie cameras and conventional movie camera tricks, a handheld camcorder is utilized for this film, meaning that the visuals are effectively reduced to shaky close ups, choppy cuts, and problems with lighting and focusing. But camera tricks are only part of what makes "Cloverfield" so incredible: here's a film that reinvents the grade-B atomic films of the 1950s, first be eliminating the cheesy science fiction of outer space aliens, undersea creatures, and genetic mishaps, second by including a plausible and tense character story. This movie is not about camp--it's all about panic, fear, and the terror of a monstrous giant destroying New York City.
The film's real genius is in its mystery. Much like the characters, we too are completely in the dark about the situation, and we remain so even after the film ends. What exactly is this creature? Where did it come from? Why is it attacking? Since these questions are never answered, your guess is as good as mine. And that's exactly the way it should be, since the science-related explanations of films like "Godzilla," "Them!" "Mothra," and "It Came from Beneath the Sea" are so worn out and ridiculous. We don't even get a real sense of what this creature looks like, although we are treated to some brief glimpses and a silhouetted long shot near the end of the film. I'll spare you a description, simply because I want this review to be just as elusive and enticing as the film's ad campaign.
The human story is appropriately simple and insignificant, given the fact that we only care about the action. Rob Hawkins (Michael Stahl-David) has received and accepted a job opportunity from Japan; his friend, Lily (Jessica Lucas), and his brother, Jason (Mike Vogel), see him off with a surprise party, one that would have been a blast were it not for Rob's would-be girlfriend, Beth (Odette Yustman) showing up with another man. Assigned the task of capturing testimonials with a camcorder is his friend, Hud (T.J. Miller)--he quickly forgets his assignment and begins filming everything, including the inevitable fight between Rob and Beth. Hud also begins following a girl named Marlena (Lizzy Caplan), who doesn't know anyone at the party that well and doesn't seem too comfortable with Hud or the camera.
Everything comes to a grinding halt when the ground momentarily shakes, causing the power to fluctuate and an oilrig near the Statue of Liberty to collapse. The news reluctantly speculates that an earthquake has struck New York City. But the truth is quickly revealed, and at that point, all hell breaks loose; an explosion across the river sends up a massive fireball, forcing everyone at the party to run out of the building. Soon after, the head of the Statue of Liberty comes skidding down the street, and that's immediately followed by the collapse of a massive skyscraper. The resulting cloud of dust and debris engulfs everything, forcing Hud, Rob, Jason, Lily, and Marlena to take refuge in a convenience store. While there, Marlena says something to the effect of, "I saw it! It's alive!" No one has a moment to question her because ground-splitting footsteps are shattering the windows.
This is only the first in a series of terrifying events documented by Hud, who never once switches the camera off. The Brooklyn Bridge is destroyed as thousands attempt to cross it. Smaller, scorpion-like creatures fall off the giant monster and begin attacking; we eventually learn that being bitten by one of them isn't a good thing. Military units are swamped, not only because of their depleting manpower, but also because of the number of injured civilians. As the city crumbles, Rob gets a frantic cell phone call from Beth, and he realizes that she's trapped within the city. Feeling guilty over the fight they had earlier, he vows to find and save her, no matter what. Hud and the others follow more out of fear than anything else, which is understandable since the thought of being separated in the middle of a disaster is horrifying.
Some of the most frightening moments take place underground, with the main characters traveling through New York's subway system. Who knows what could be lurking in the dark corners of the tunnels, away from the noise and chaos on the surface? And even if they do make it, what will they find when they emerge? Will there be anything left to find? Will something be waiting to find them? It's this maddening sense of uncertainty that makes "Cloverfield" more than just a monster movie rehash: there's genuine suspense coursing all throughout, and for once, it's BECAUSE of the gigantic monster, not IN SPITE of it. You know this is true when Beth's apartment building is finally revealed--it's leaning against a neighboring building like a domino ready to fall.
We occasionally see bursts of old camera footage showing Rob and Beth at Coney Island, which was effective given their current emotional drama. It was also effective for the movie as a whole; I instantly recognized the escapist potential of this film when I saw its first teaser trailer back in July, but even after months of insider rumors and speculation, I never once thought that I'd be using words like "brilliant" to describe it. But the reality is that it is brilliant: brilliant as a horror film, brilliant as a thriller, and brilliant as a reinvention of the monster movie. "Cloverfield" may actually be one of the greatest monster movies ever made, a taut, unnerving, and completely original fright fest that doesn't lose itself to campy science fiction. It's set a new standard: The monster movie that subsequent monster movies will be compared to.
Stop the criticism January 18, 2008
7 out of 18 found this review helpful
People will always find a reason to bash a movie no matter what. But the truth is that this movie was original and done well. Hand-held cameras arent supposed to be hd theyre supposed to look rough and realistic so of course the screen will be blurry at times. But the story and the action was put together very good to where you would have been scared even if it was Bambi attacking you. And as far as the unanswered questions like where it came from thats retarded too. This is just supposed to be recovered video footage. Not a whole plotline planned out. So of course all the blanks wont be filled in and if they were that would make the movie completley cheesy and just a joke. Dont expect the best movie of all time but dont expect it to be as bad as people in this post say it is either. I keep seeing all this nonsense about godzilla, this is not a godzilla movie. Godzilla was cheesy and emotional to where he was almost your friend. Not to mention this monster looks very original and nothing like godzilla at all. This monster is scary as hell and ruthless and doesnt get exposed enough to where you get attached to it. And why are people bashing the hand-held camera thing? The preview clearly shows thats how it was filmed so if you hate that then dont go see it, and shut ur mouth. But if ur open to creativity and new movie ideas then youll probly enjoy it. And for those absolutley needing all the questions answered I just read that Abrams is already talking serious about a sequel. Although I fear that his mentioned ideas for it will be heavily criticized but we'll just have to wait and see.
 Run for your lives! January 18, 2008
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Cloverfield focuses on a group of friends just prior to and after an attack on Manhattan by a giant monster. The entire film is presented as seen from a handheld video camera. As a viewer, you only see and hear what the friends and their camera does, so confusion and ignorance are the order of the day, just as the producers intended.
Many of the basic concepts of Cloverfield were well conceived. Keeping the focus on a small group and seeing things from their perspective helps build suspense and mystery. When you do see it, the monster looks great and is as powerful as you could ask for. There's never any doubt that this thing is incredibly dangerous and scary, and it is not a clone of any previous monsters.
Unfortunately, the rest of the movie left a lot to be desired. The video camera is always in motion, often spinning wildly around and around, bobbing, pointing at the ground, pointing at someone's shoes, out of focus, bouncing, and generally doing anything but just letting you lose yourself in the movie for more than a few seconds at a time. The cast is equally annoying as they are both stupid and unlikable even before the attack. The party scene at the beginning drags on for far too long and does little to make viewers care about the group. Once danger starts, they consistently put themselves in harm's way and do things that only a moron would consider.
I wanted to like Cloverfield. I grew up on old monster and always loved them even though I was frustrated by the obvious low quality. I was hoping that Cloverfield would be a breakthrough as Jurassic Park (Widescreen Collector's Edition) was for dinosaurs but no such luck. When the movie ended, most of the audience laughed and many were commenting negatively on the way out.
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