Words to think about.

Overview

• Director: Matt Reeves
• Producer: J.J. Abrams
• Companies: Bad Robot, Paramount Pictures
• Release Date: January 18, 2008 (USA)
• Rating: PG-13 for violence, terror and disturbing images
• Runtime: Approx. 85 min.
• Website

Synopsis

Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives.

Cloverfield has become a phenomenon full of mysteries and hidden secrets. Even when the film was in production, strict confidentiality was enforced. With the creative mind of producer, J.J. Abrams, subtle hints and clues have been released online now regarding and relating to the story behind the Cloverfield monster…

Compliments

The sheer vastness of the Cloverfield project is quite impressive. The diligence with which the movie was created can be seen through how “careless” and “crude” the camera work looks, a fact that can easily be overlooked. Props must be given for the immense creativity of the whole project. The movie was shot from a bystander’s handheld camcorder’s point of view, so there is no score, yet this creates a tension which contributes greatly to the film. Genius. The special effects are amazing, as New York is very convincingly destroyed, and the movie as a whole successfully emits a sense of tension and terror.

Criticism

Although the camera work seems very authentic, it is a bit too dizzying, and I had to look away many times to catch my balance. As for morality, the fact that the producers left many things unexplained to create mystery is granted, but the whole movie is pretty much just destruction, violence, and gore…and profuse cussing.

Conclusion

Cloverfield is a creative and artistic film that will get your heart racing. Filled with excessive destruction though, it can be over the top.

Ratings

• Acting: 9/10
• Cinematography/Photography: 8/10
• Morality: 3/10
• Plot/Storyline: 7/10
• Music/Score: 8/10
• Overall: 7.0/10