I don't know where else to post this, but here goes my mini review of
Cloverfield. I realize that I didn't see it with a large audience in the theatre. I also did not see
The Blair Witch Project (
) or the original
Gojira (Godzilla) (
) in a packed theatre. So this review is strictly based on watching it twice at home with a large TV and the stereo cranked up.
The film began quite lowkey for me, and I know it was all supposed to be a setup for what came later, but I have to admit that although I did find it well-acted, I didn't really care that much about what was happening or the characters' personal relatiionships. I will also admit though that it all seemed real and that the characters themselves honestly seemed to care about each other. When the attacks began, they certainly got my attention, but even though the presentation of the film is somewhat original (although I'd call it a cross between the lousy
Blair Witch and the bravura
United 93), the story of the film just doesn't hold enough interest for me, even at about 74 minutes, not counting the end credits. I'm happy that somebody attempted to update the monster-run-amok genre and made a decent one, but even though there are a few good, quiet moments sprinkled about, there just wasn't really enough of any of the individual elements to make me feel I was actually watching a completed film, even if it was just supposed to be a "document".
I believe the main reason I can't wholeheartedly jump on the
Cloverfield band wagon is that it is pretty good, but not truly very good in most of its elements. For example, the special effects, when presented from the point of view of people on the street, are pretty impressive, but when you see them from a larger perspective (say, a helicopter or the top of a building), they don't seem to be as realistic. The simple, honest reactions of the characters seem to give way to reacting to a monster, and I realize this is a problem with monster movies in general, but I didn't find the characters really reacting to an incomprehensible situation. This doesn't mean that I thought the acting got weaker; it's just that the acting didn't really seem to matter after awhile because all the characters were just pawns to be attacked or killed by the monster. I actually care about these characters more than I do most of these sci-fi monster movies, but it just goes with the genre. Another thing which goes with the genre is that when the military shows up in a sci-fi monster flick, my interest level wanes. The military always seems to do the same thing in these kinds of films, so it always makes me squirm a little when they don't do something original. (I will give the one soldier points though for letting them go out to attempt to save a loved one.)
Still, there were a good half-dozen scenes of intensity which would lead me to give the film a qualified recommendation. It does go by quickly enough, especially since it's so short, and I found it to be well-crafted. Yes, it's better than most all the '50s and '60s films of a similar nature, but those were all low-budget, mostly-cornball, and knew it. I find this film better in most every way, but it still seems more like a gimmicky blueprint than a full-blooded sci-fi/horror/monster flick. I'm happy if you enjoyed it and continue to enjoy it when watching it at home. I'm not really trying to disagree with other people's opinions. I'm just sharing my belated thoughts on the film. I get the feeling I'm rambling here. Sorry.
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