Folks are asking for my take on the movie, so here we go. It will be brief and hopefully spoiler-free. If you are worried about spoilers, as I have been for months, just go see it and experience it before reading more.
I went early last night not knowing how many folks would be there. I went alone because my best friend, Joe Thorn, didn't care to watch it with me. I found a way to stay strong and go anyway. By the time they opened the theater and let us in, the theater filled up to about half. When the previews began it was almost completely full. I might have been the oldest guy there. Seriously. I didn't see anyone who looked older than me or even my age.
The Star Trek teaser was fun. It's the originial Enterprise under construction with a brief Leonard Nemoy voice-over. Looking forward to this one at the end of the year.
After watching Cloverfield I have to admit that the teasers and trailers gave me a very good taste for what the movie experience would be like. It's all hand-held personal video documenting a few good friends experiencing the attack of some sort of monster on Manhattan. They are working to escape, save friends, and so on. There are moments of both terror and humor, but they also did a good job of keeping the atmosphere real.
I thought the filming and the CGI work was outstanding. I'm no expert, but I bought it and was able to stay focused on story. They also did a fine job of teasing you with a progressive revelation of what the monster looked like. I was afraid they wouldn't show enough or satisfy my desire to see what it looked like. But I was also afraid they would focus so much on seeing the monster that it would hurt the movie. I thought it was pretty well balanced.
The also do a very good job of not saying too much about the monster. They work hard to avoid giving monster origins and such. Leaving us in the dark on that stuff was a good move.
I could say a lot more, but since I've already crossed the line of brevity I'll just add one last word. Two days before seeing Cloverfield I checked Rotten Tomatoes and found it was getting mixed reviews. That was disappointing since I already own the T-shirt. But after seeing the movie I was very, very satisfied. I've also noticed the reviews are getting much better. I give it a big thumbs-up and encourage you to see it! Seriously. Go now.
Nice review brother. I only wish we could have seen it together. Well, I guess we could have, but the fact that you order nachos at the movies is just too much man. It is an oddity that takes me right out of a film. We'll be watching a great flick (No Country for Old Men) and I'm thinking, "Man, the character Sigur almost represents... I can't believe Steve actually ordered nachos. I mean, who does that - at the movies? Maybe from 7/11 on your lunch break, but at the movies?" And boom - I am taken out of the story. Its your fault really. What was I saying? ...
Oh, nice review man. Really. But did you get Nachos?
Posted by: Joe Thorn | 01/18/2008 at 12:25 PM
I just got back from seeing it. Wow. I was trying to describe it to my wife, and it's not easy. It's a monster movie, but not about the monster - it's about the characters. I loved it.
Stay all the way through the credits. ;)
Posted by: Bill Streger | 01/18/2008 at 12:27 PM
Ok Joe. Here's the deal. Next time a movie comes out we both want to see, maybe you can see it with me and then you can see what I choose for a snack. If you watch with other people, who I assume you like more than me (why else would you watch with them and not me?), you get the privilege of seeing what they snack on. You've lost that privilege with me. Your actions are making this seem so painfully distant.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 01/18/2008 at 12:36 PM
That's pretty bad when YOU'RE the OLD GUY there!
Posted by: Chuck | 01/18/2008 at 01:16 PM
I saw Cloverfield on Friday night, and I did not like it. I was expecting a little more out of it after all of the hype. Cloverfield..what kind of title is that anyways? I thought it was very creative though. It gave its genre a fresh face, but it just didn't hold up to my standards.
Posted by: Jacob House | 01/20/2008 at 12:28 AM
Jake, I hear you. But when you look back at the "hype," take note that all of it pointed to just the sort of movie you got. It was just marketing, and it made the build-up fun. It wasn't as if anyone was saying this was going to be a piece of epic cinema. It was what it always said it would be, and I think even a bit more.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 01/20/2008 at 09:12 AM
Hey Steve I thought I would let you know that I received an forwarded e-mail from a family member that contained the list of Olan Mills pictures that you and Joe appear in. I think you posted on it a few months ago.
But know that you will probably be laughed at for a least 4 or 5 years because grandmas will forward you picture along to their kids and grandkids.
Posted by: Micah | 01/20/2008 at 01:59 PM
Wow. I cant believe your review. Were you privy to some sort of info before you saw it that helped you be satisfied after seeing it?? I dont know, during the movie the documentary look was great but over the top as it lasts the entire movie with no explanations and possibly a very bad ending. Where does the ending of the story take place? I guess I have to leave this movie in the "made for the art of it all" category. I left the theatre feeling like the movie needed to be bigger at some point. Sorry, is this too much??
Posted by: Eric | 01/21/2008 at 10:50 AM
I don't understand what seems artsy about a straight-up monster movie, E. It's a camcorder tape found with footage of people trying to survive and help friends survive a monster that's terrorizing NYC. Monsters, Inc is more complicated than this monster movie.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 01/21/2008 at 01:45 PM
Since you put it that way, I understand it a little more. However I do believe that this monster movie was very "artsy". Everything about it was so outstanding and beautifully done. It left me wanting more. That was the art, at least to me. Anyway, I agree that this movie rocked it just was lacking in some areas for me and thats ok.
Posted by: Eric | 01/21/2008 at 10:32 PM
Could be worse Joe, he get a slice of pizza...or ice cream. Whatever happened to Milk Duds, JuJu Bees & popcorn??
The reviews are getting better? Must be the reviews from the presidential candidates, who are now being told that recent polls show viewer approval is increasing.
Posted by: chris w | 01/22/2008 at 01:51 PM
I'm with you Steve. I loved the movie. I heard some other people in the theater grumbling when the credits rolled, but I was thinking, "that rocked."
I was initially worried about the limitations of having the entire story told from the contents of one videotape, but I thought the director was very clever in how he pulled it off. The progressive revelation of the creature was also perfectly done (reminiscent of "Jaws"), and in spite of the low budget, camcorder look, the special effects were top-notch.
Finally, let me agree with Joe: nachos have no place in a movie theater. Nor do pretzels, hamburgers, ice cream or bottled water. Popcorn and sodas only please.
Posted by: Terry J | 01/22/2008 at 05:53 PM
Terry, I'm with you up to the last paragraph. At that point we must part ways. ;)
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 01/23/2008 at 04:01 PM
Fair enough, Steve. To paraphrase Paul: One person esteems one movie snack food as better than another, while another esteems all movie snack foods alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
Posted by: Terry J | 01/25/2008 at 11:54 AM