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Movies / On DVD / Cloverfield
Cloverfield

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Cloverfield (2008)

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Reviews Counted:192

Fresh:147

Rotten:45

Average Rating:6.8/10

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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141 - 160 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

A clever premise keeps the audience literally off-balance.

Full Review Source: Beliefnet | comment Comment
01/17/08
Nell Minow
Nell Minow
Beliefnet

a milestone in contemporary filmmaking [that] appeals directly to the maturing YouTube generation without pandering.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
01/17/08
Sean O'Connell
Sean O'Connell
Filmcritic.com

clearly a reflection of post 9/11 fears that boasts terrific effects...a convincing ride if not a terrifically ground-breaking one.

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
01/17/08
Laura Clifford
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews

Basically a 70-minute YouTube video, Cloverfield has all the head-rattling jolt and dramatic verisimilitude of a prank phone call.

Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com | comment Comment
01/17/08
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
DVDTalk.com

There has never been a film of its kind so intense, so personal, so real.

Full Review Source: Star-Democrat (Easton, MD) | comment Comment
01/17/08
Greg Maki
Greg Maki
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

The movie eventually falls into monster movie clichés...If you're into the movie, you won't care. If you're fed up, you'll just laugh.

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
01/17/08
Andy Spletzer
Andy Spletzer
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

It's the end of the world as captured on an unsteady camcorder, a YouTube panic attack.

Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
01/17/08
Colin Covert
Colin Covert
Minneapolis Star Tribune

You're still left breathless, wowed and wanting for more.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
01/17/08
Glenn Gaslin
Glenn Gaslin
E! Online

Despite a first reel entirely devoted to establishing characters, Cloverfield is basically a line-'em-up, pick-'em-off horror movie that's effective without being either viscerally frightening or emotionally moving.

Full Review Source: Slate | comment Comment
01/17/08
Dana Stevens
Dana Stevens
Slate

A relentless, I-thought-my-eyeballs-were-bleeding exercise in visual disorientation.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/17/08
John Anderson
John Anderson
Washington Post

While it [the "camcorder ploy"] injects the film with a run-and-gun urgency, the device grows tiresome and ultimately leaves the film shortchanged.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
01/17/08
Kevin Crust
Kevin Crust
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

the best monster film to come around in decades and one that not only lives up to its hype, but surpasses it in every conceivable fashion.

Full Review Source: Gazette (MD) | comment 1 Comment
01/17/08
Jeffrey Lyles
Jeffrey Lyles
Gazette (MD)

The low-tech hype is a sham, since it has the support of the sorts of digital effects used in conventional films.

Full Review Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | comment Comment
01/17/08
Duane Dudek
Duane Dudek
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Reeves's film works hard to negate any noteworthy meaning from its mayhem.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
01/17/08
Nick Schager
Nick Schager
Slant Magazine

Cloverfield is a cute concept but little more. Devoid of any genuine character development or notable acting, the film is a slapdash affair which manages to be neither funny nor frightening.

Full Review Source: Internet Reviews | comment Comment
01/17/08
Steve Rhodes
Steve Rhodes
Internet Reviews

Alarming and nothing short of terrifying. Cloverfield is the year's first unadulterated masterpiece. There has never been anything quite like it.

Full Review Source: DustinPutman.com | comment Comment
01/17/08
Dustin Putman
Dustin Putman
DustinPutman.com

There's nothing to Cloverfield, really, but stripped-down chaos shot in a faux-verite Blair Witch Project fashion...But I have to say, I was with it.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
01/17/08
Michael Phillips
Michael Phillips
Chicago Tribune

The first great monster movie for the YouTube generation.

Full Review Source: Metromix.com | comment Comment
01/17/08
Matt Pais
Matt Pais
Metromix.com

It's hard to imagine how anyone will top this. It's magnificent in its harsh reality. It is the monster movie remade for the 21st-century, post-9/11 world.

Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | comment Comment
01/17/08
MaryAnn Johanson
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher

Not for anyone over 30.

Full Review Source: FilmsInReview.com | comment 43 Comments
01/17/08
Victoria Alexander
Victoria Alexander
FilmsInReview.com
 
 
141 - 160 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >> >|
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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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