Cloverfield (2007) Movie Review

Cloverfield is a nerve numbing experience with the audience left in the dark with jittery frames. The dead silence in the theater demonstrated the effectiveness of the storytelling and execution of the movie.

Some of the set scenes has an eerie resemblance to the 9/11 News footage and this added a strong sense of realism to the movie. The sudden visual shocks and loud explosions, thanks to the Double Negative Ltd and Tippet Studios special effects team, gets your adrenalin pumping and your legs in flight mode.

The opening act may seem trivial but it adds to the realism, setting the stage for the emotional and physical turmoil to come. The monster is one of the classic monsters on the silver screen simply because we only have a brief glimpse of it here and there. Additionally, the monster is a complete mystery, so our imagination goes into overdrive. J.J. Abrams the creator of Cloverfield and "Lost" the TV series was not very helpful saying only that the monster is just a baby.

Whether Cloverfield will be a long lasting favorite with fans remains to be seen. Not many documentaries have long legs. But for a first or second time viewing, it is one hell of a ride. Certainly, it is a ground breaking sci-fi / horror film and that alone should make it a compulsory buy for fans of this genre.

LATEST NEWS: NEW CLOVERFIELD INCIDENT IN THE ATLANTIC:

Cloverfield monster attacks an oil drill in the mid-Atlantic ocean (new video clip not seen in the movie!). This Atlantic incident reportedly happen before the monster rampaged through New York city. What's next?

At last, we get to see the real Cloverfield monster. Mystery solved, well.... sort of.....

Cloverfield Movie Review - Not Suitable for Young Children:

This PG13 movie is certainly not for children below 10 years old as it will be absolutely terrifying for them. This 75 minutes feature (excluding the 10 minutes of credits) has many disturbing and violent scenes that will give them nightmares. There are also references of couples sleeping together which are not suitable for the young ones. That said, Cloverfield was the first monster / horror movie my 12 year old son watched. He said it was scary but he liked the movie.

There isn’t much of a motivational theme running through Cloverfield. The only redeeming feature of the movie is the main character's love and concern for his ex-girlfriend. In spite of their failed relationship, he is willing to risk his own life to save her. The movie also demonstrates the true test of friendship. His friends rally around him when he decides to rescue his injured ex-girlfriend from a building (partially destroyed by the Cthulhu creature) even when they know the chances of survival are slim.

We don't really get up close and personal with the lead characters of Cloverfield, so we don't have a strong emotional attachment to them. They merely act as guides leading us closer and closer to the ultimate face-to-face confrontation with the thing we fear the most in our lives.

It proves once again that New York is a dangerous place to live in.

Viral Marketing notwithstanding, Cloverfield has certainly monster movie to beat.

See the true Cloverfield monster in this streaming video trailer on YouTube - an exclusive by courtesy of JJ Abrams. Don't get a heart attack!:

goingtomovies

Sunday, March 30, 2008