| The gigantic monster menace is not as | | | | life with a random date a giant monster |
| widespread in Occident as it is in old | | | | decides to attack Manhattan. |
| Asian legends. First thing I thought | | | | It is very commendable that Matt Reeves, |
| about when I saw the preview of | | | | who is new to this world of directing |
| Cloverfield a long time ago was | | | | feature films and as friend of Abrams as |
| Godzilla, one of the most recognizable | | | | scriptwriter Drew Goddard (they all have |
| symbols of Japanese popular culture. | | | | collaborated previously in Abrams |
| Once considered by the Japanese people | | | | TV-series), keeps the story simple in |
| as a metaphor for the United States it | | | | terms of length. Less than one hour and |
| went all the way from Japan to New York | | | | a half that most of you will thank for. |
| City in Godzilla (1994), which is | | | | Mainly because the shaky camera will not |
| probably one of the few examples of this | | | | go away. Nowadays people like to tie |
| kind of cinema to the west of the | | | | shaky camera to realism. I tie too much |
| Greenwich Meridian. Second thing I | | | | shaky camera to seasickness. |
| thought about when I saw the preview, | | | | Nevertheless, the idea, although not as |
| and the well cared for wrapper, was that | | | | original as they would have liked (The |
| a hype is usually followed by | | | | Blair Witch Project (1999)), works, at |
| mediocrity. Is this the case? Is | | | | least, the first half an hour. |
| definitely not the case in terms of | | | | Everything is shown through Hudson's |
| profit. J. J. Abrams, the guy behind the | | | | camera, and while some will enjoy the |
| ropes and the director of the still to | | | | consequences of that, it will after a |
| come Star Trek (2008), is probably | | | | while get in most's nerves. Thus, most |
| rubbing his hands together as I write | | | | of the action is up to the viewer that |
| this and he thinks about how beneficial | | | | will use the shadowed image and |
| a just $25 million movie has turned to | | | | distorted sound as an adrenaline |
| be. Truth is, cloverfield has been | | | | stimulant as effective as he wishes. |
| successfully sold as a product ever | | | | To prevent the leaking of information |
| since its first presence on the | | | | about the movie the casting process was |
| internet, and its promotional campaign | | | | kept as secretive as possible. Judging |
| should certainly be studied by those who | | | | by the cast performances as secretive |
| sell rather than offer stories. | | | | that no suitable actors were aware of |
| Nevertheless, when I think about what I | | | | it. It is not that they perform badly, |
| experienced in the movie theater, I | | | | it is that rather than rescue an already |
| cannot but go back to the mediocrity | | | | difficult to buy script, they help |
| term. | | | | making it even less plausible. To an |
| The dispensable and trivial plot is just | | | | extent that I was unwillingly laughing |
| an excuse. Robert Hawkins (Michael | | | | when I was not supposed to, unless I |
| Stahl-Davis) is leaving for good | | | | would have watching a B movie. |
| following a promising career in Japan. | | | | In the end, I left with a peculiar |
| His brother Jason (Mike Vogel) and his | | | | feeling. The feeling they had just taken |
| brother's girlfriend Lily Ford (Jessica | | | | an old B movie and dressed up with an up |
| Lucas) throw a going away party for him. | | | | to date fashion outfit that did not |
| Going away party that Hudson Platt (T. | | | | really fit it. I still think better |
| J. Miller) will record with a video | | | | movies of this kind can be found to the |
| camera for posterity. But when Robert | | | | east of the Greenwich Meridian. And as |
| thinks the worst that is going to happen | | | | an example, The Host (2006). |
| that night is seeing the love of his | | | | |