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Movies / On DVD / Cloverfield
Cloverfield

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Cloverfield (2008)

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Reviews Counted:35

Fresh:30

Rotten:5

Average Rating:4.0/10

Consensus: A sort of Blair Witch Project crossed with Godzilla, Cloverfield is economically paced, stylistically clever, and filled with scares.

Rated: 15 [See Full Rating] for violence, terror and disturbing images.

Runtime: 85 mins

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Theatrical Release:01-02-2008

Synopsis: Director Matt Reeves (THE PALLBEARER) and producer J. J. Abrams (LOST, ALIAS) turn a mysterious monster loose in Manhattan in the disaster flick CLOVERFIELD. The movie begins at a party for Rob... Director Matt Reeves (THE PALLBEARER) and producer J. J. Abrams (LOST, ALIAS) turn a mysterious monster loose in Manhattan in the disaster flick CLOVERFIELD. The movie begins at a party for Rob (Michael Stahl-David), who has accepted a promotion that will send him to Japan. Hud (T. J. Miller) is entrusted with the responsibility of videotaping the party--and as the trouble grows, he holds on to the camera, recording everything that happens. In fact, the entire movie is seen through the lens of his camera, reminiscent of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. As terrified people in a post-9/11 New York City take to the streets, Rob decides to head uptown to try to save Beth (Odette Yustman), the woman he loves, though he's afraid to tell her so. Rob is joined by his brother Jason (Mike Vogel), Jason's girlfriend Lily (Jessica Lucas), Lily's friend Marlena (Lizzy Caplan), and Hud, who has a thing for Marlena. Rob is determined not to give up, even after almost being crushed by the Statue of Liberty's head and as the military shows up to force evacuation of the city. Reeves and first-time screenwriter Drew Goddard, who previously has written television episodes of such series as BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, ANGEL, ALIAS, and LOST, focus in on the central aspect of the story: people trying to survive the monster attack. Very little else is explained, since the story is told completely through the video camera. And there is no additional score to heighten the drama; the only music is that which is picked up by Hud and the camera's microphone, including snippets of songs by Kings of Leon, Parliament Funkadelic, Of Montreal, and others. The anticipation of CLOVERFIELD's release was enhanced by a viral marketing campaign that included Web sites built around the main characters and even the fictional drink Slusho. [More]

Starring: Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Odette Yustman, Lizzy Caplan

Starring: Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Odette Yustman, Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, T.J. Miller

Director: Matt Reeves

Director: Matt Reeves
Screenwriter: Drew Goddard
Producer: J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk
Studio: Paramount Pictures

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Cloverfield

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1 - 11 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Paramount have given us a nice 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, 5.1 DD soundtrack and stacked this DVD with a number of extras.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
11/26/09
Jamie Gillies
Jamie Gillies
Apollo Guide

Still too many unanswered questions for my tastes.

Full Review Source: 3BlackChicks Review | comment Comment
12/27/08
Kamal  'The Diva' Larsuel
Kamal 'The Diva' Larsuel
3BlackChicks Review

Tense monster movie is loud, hectic -- and scary.

Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | comment Comment
07/02/08
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
Common Sense Media

If you liked the movie in standard definition, you'll love it in high-def, despite the contradictions the improvements bring to the "documentary" concept. (Blu-ray Edition)

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
06/03/08
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

With sound that packs a punch and a decent set of extras, it's well worth picking up if you're a fan of the film, or monster movies in general.

Full Review Source: SoundtrackNet | comment Comment
05/08/08
Dan Goldwasser
Dan Goldwasser
SoundtrackNet

Director Matt Reeves and screenwriter Drew Goddard have plenty of tricks up their sleeves... but it's all clever flourishes with no story smarts.

Full Review Source: MSN.com | comment Comment
05/03/08
Sean Axmaker
Sean Axmaker
MSN.com

Cloverfield comes to us packaged like a secret government file; if they wanted to maintain the illusion, why not go all the way as did the film?

Full Review Source: Projection Booth | comment Comment
04/25/08
Rob Humanick
Rob Humanick
Projection Booth

Reminiscent of The Blair Witch Project, this cleverly-conceived screamfest was shot entirely with a shaky hand-held camera operated by one of the film's central characters.

Full Review Source: Mount Desert Islander | comment Comment
04/19/08
Kam Williams
Kam Williams
Mount Desert Islander

If Godzilla was a manifestation of Cold War paranoia, the Cloverield monster is a reflection of the chic nihilism that is the J.J. Abrams brand.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
04/18/08
Ed Gonzalez
Ed Gonzalez
Slant Magazine

In a time when nothing seems original, Cloverfield has managed to redefine the look of movies and provide us with a new, scary monster.

Full Review Source: DVDSleuth.com | comment Comment
04/15/08
Mike Long
Mike Long
DVDSleuth.com

Mystery monster really mad at Manhattan on rampage, making the collective audience skin crawl and leaving you with sweaty palms and clenched teeth, no matter where you're sitting.

Full Review Source: NewsBlaze | comment Comment
04/07/08
Prairie Miller
Prairie Miller
NewsBlaze
 
 
1 - 11 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Cloverfield

April 27, 2009: Five Favourite Films with J. J. Abrams
The blockbuster season is upon us and amongst the line-up is the highly anticipated reboot of Star Trek. RT spoke to the man in the captain's chair, J. J. Abrams, about his... More...

March 02, 2009: Abrams Plots Cloverfield Sequel-Type Thing Opens in new window
Saying "the idea's pretty sweet," J.J. Abrams has confirmed that a sequel to "Cloverfield" -- or at least a new movie "related to" it -- is on the table. More...

September 25, 2008: Matt Reeves Will Let the Right One In Opens in new window
Overture is prepping a remake of Tomas Alfredson's Swedish vampire movie "Lat Den Ratte Komma In," to be helmed by "Cloverfield" director Matt Reeves. More...

April 21, 2008: RT on DVD: Cloverfield, Charlie Wilson and 2008's Worst-Reviewed Film
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a Slusho, whatever that is! Cloverfield stomps its way onto DVD as not only the most exciting new release of the week, but the one most... More...

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