Cloverfield Movie Review

Cloverfield is the new blockbuster movie directed by J.J. Abrams, and although it seems like another movie relying on viral marketing a la Snakes On A Plane, it actually can be considered a legitimately entertaining movie. It attempts to revolutionize the tired monster movie genre and infuses it with a new POV along with genuinely likable characters and an interesting monster.

 

The plot follows the typical routine for a movie of this genre, with a monster suddenly attacking a city while the hero and a few of his friends must escape, but adds a couple of nice effects and some hilarious dialogue. The acting is quite low-key and nobody stands out for their brilliant acting, but it is more than adequate for the pseudo-documentary feel of the movie. Rob Hawkins (Michael Stahl-David) seems sufficient as a leader of his little crew but never attempts to be a stereotypical hero. His best friend Hud (T. J. Miller) is the cameraman for most of the film and brings hilarious non-sequiturs and one liners, all the time pining for Marlena (Lizzy Caplan), who plays the part of sarcastic outsider perfectly.

 

The monster itself is the highlight of the movie though, and Cloverfield excels at building suspense for monster by showing only glimpses of the monster until it shows itself in all of its glory near the end of the film. Until then, you are shown little parasites that fall off of the creature and inflict beautifully gory deaths.

 

In the end though, the real stars of this movie are the CGI team and the sound effects crew. The explosions and the sounds really enhance the intensity of the movie and it’s quite safe to say that without it, the visceral experience of the film would dampen considerably. That said, with it the film has an exhilarating feel to it that would make even the most adrenaline addicted junkies gasp in awe. The movie has even caused theaters to post a warning stating that due to the movies filming style has caused nausea similar to riding a rollercoaster.

 

Cloverfield is a far more effective movie than more recent monster flicks King Kong and Godzilla movies, is much more innovative than I Am Legend, and uses viral marketing much more effectively than Snakes On A Plane. It may not have revolutionized the monster genre like it had hoped but it takes a very jaded person to not be impressed by this spectacle.

 

Rated: PG13 

Date Published: 2008-01-30 05:00:00

Section: Entertainment,