Friday, Feb. 01, 2008 | 08:28
Cloverfield
saw Cloverfield last night. read today they're thinking about a sequel. it's an interesting idea, but the execution didn't pan out. basically, the characters are dull, not very likeable. i don't care they're going to die, or in what order. if i felt for them, the ending would have been so much better. poignant. instead they're monster fodder waiting to get wacked. the filming style was interesting--i went because i like the idea of a monster movie told from the ground, from the street view, but the style limits our ability to get to know the characters. there's a certain cinema verite style that limits our ability to get to know people. that, and most of the movie is spent running away, or towards, danger. that can work, but not if character development stops when it starts.
basically, it's Blair Witch in the city, with a giant monster instead of a ghost story. an unconvincing cgi monster, at that. a model, even with cgi enhancements, would have been much better. at least Blair Witch was scary, and had character development. it had lulls where the characters could talk to the camera, and we could get some insights into them. Cloverfield is realistic, and that's it's flaw--a lot of shaky camera shots while running, and enough confusion it's hard to settle down and talk about anything. no thoughts on what is happening, just how to accomplish the next step. it's mostly ridiculous.
my other complaint about Cloverfield is realted to that. because there are never any lulls, the movie bypasses opportunities for surrealism. it hints at it when a horse still pulling its carriage trots by, but the kids are running past, and no one takes the time to watch it or think about it. it doesn't have to have deep meaning, but if the kids stop to think it might, or get distracted momentarily, then it would give the viewer a breath before plunging into the next dumb death trap.
also, PG-13? give us blood and take the R. let the monster eat people. show real carnage. when the kids stumble into a triage unit, they should look around and think about what's happening. we should get more moaning, more panicked telling of stories, more confusion, yes, but also a chance for a lull.
the style has two limitations: battery life and tape length. assuming the battery is fully charged, ok, it'll make it, but the tape runs out and you're done. compacting all the action and breaths into that time frame is a challenge. the filmmakers don't succeed.
