Product Description

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.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE/THRILLERS UPC: 097363520641 Manufacturer No: 352064

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #879 in DVD
• Brand: PARAMOUNT PICTURES
• Released on: 2008-04-22
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, Russian
• Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 84 minutes

Amazon.com
One of the first things a viewer notices about Cloverfield is that it doesn't play by ordinary storytelling rules, making this intriguing horror film as much a novelty as an event. Told from the vertiginous point-of-view of a camcorder-wielding group of friends, Cloverfield begins like a primetime television soap opera about young Manhattanites coping with changes in their personal lives. Rob (Michael Stahl-David) is leaving New York to take an executive job at a company in Japan. At his goodbye party in a crowded loft, Rob’s brother Jason (Mike Vogel) hands a camcorder to best friend Hud (T.J. Miller), who proceeds to tape the proceedings over old footage of Rob’s ex-girlfriend, Beth (Odette Yustman)--images shot during happy times in that now-defunct relationship. Naturally, Beth shows up at the party with a new beau, bumming Rob out completely. Just before one's eyes glaze over from all this heartbreaking stuff (captured by Hud, who's something of a doofus, in laughably shaky camerawork), the unexpected happens: New York is suddenly under attack from a Godzilla-like monster stomping through midtown and destroying everything and everybody in sight. Rob and company hit the streets, but rather than run with other evacuees, they head toward the center of the storm so that Rob can rescue an injured Beth. There are casualties along the way, but the journey into fear is fascinating and immediate if emotionally remote--a consequence of seeing these proceedings through the singular, subjective perspective of a camcorder and of a story that intentionally leaves major questions unanswered: Who or what is this monster? Where did it come from? The lack of a backstory, and spare views of the marauding creature, are clever ways by producer J.J. Abrams and director Matt Reeves to keep an audience focused exclusively on what’s on the screen. But it also makes Cloverfield curiously uninvolving. Ultimately, Cloverfield, with its spectacular effects brilliantly woven into a home-video look, is a celebration of infinite possibilities in this age of accessible, digital media. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Worst movie EVER!
Want to watch a 19 something bunch of kids run around Manhattan with no clue, no acting ability and 5 minutes of good CGI. Well then you will love Cloverfield. This is the first movie I have wanted to pluck my eyes out over. This sucked SO BAD. I watched it for some redeeming qualities and found NONE (except when it ended; sweet relief). Don't even waste your time if someone gives it to you for free (they are just trying to get rid of the worst movie ever). Not even worth a look at $0.99 rentals. At least with Netflix it was not the only movie I got...

I really wanted to hate this but,
I didn't. The movie snob in me wanted to stick my nose up at it, but I just couldn't.

Summary: Rob is leaving for Japan (hee GODZIRRA!) and Lily, his brother Jason's girlfriend, is throwing him a surprise going away party. Rob is in love with Beth, a girl he's been FRIENDS with since college - but are on the outs (watch the movie if you want to know why.) Beth leaves the party, cue big bangs and explosion, running and screaming, a glimpse of the monster and me feeling just a tad freaked out. Rob, Lily, Marlena, and Hud (your camera man for the evening) go off to save Beth - because that's what Rob wants, and he's kind of a big deal in this movie.

Why I liked this movie?
*The monster was actually very well done, and REAAAALY freaking scary looking.
*The hand held camera didn't bug me at all. I don't see why people are complaining about it. Maybe I'm used to watching home videos and youtube videos.
*I like what J.J.A. is trying to do (giving the US their own Godzilla).
*I actually watched the Extra features and have more of an understanding & appreciation for what they were going for.
*Unlike Blair Witch, it wasn't pretentious.
*The special effects were really great.

What I didn't like:
*The acting wasn't great. The only character I actually liked was Hud.
*I think there were other good story angles that could've been used that weren't so cliched as "going to save the woman I love!"
*Because of the overlapping of the video, the very first part of the film was a bit confusing. Note! Pay attention to the date at the bottom of the screen.
*In an effort to make the film feel a little "post-apocalyptic" you get no extra information than what is provided on the home video. This left me kind of frustrated at the end.
*The love story was LAME. Would've done better if they focused more on the comedy and action.

It was okay for what it was. I hated BWP & Godzilla 98 - but I enjoyed this. I was entertained - I'm not afraid to say it! The monster put knots in my stomach. Ugly mofo. If there's a sequel I'll see...probably at the $1 show though. Heck I didn't even buy this DVD, my mom gave it to me.

Good, but annoying at times
I've always been intrigued by the alien invasion type films, and the amount of hype for this movie definitely got to me. I am not usually a fan of erratic camera movies, but this one was done pretty well, although before the movie was halfway over Hud really, really got annoying. Not only did the fact he kept turning around to film things seem impossible, especially as shots were being fired or buildings were collapsing, but even his voice got to be irritating. I mean, honestly, if you were being attacked by strange alien beings would you keep recording? Previous reviewers have pointed out whether people would actually follow someone into the center of alien-like activity rather than in the other direction, which is a good point. But although there are some impossible moments, Cloverfield still succeeds due to its uniqueness in the genre.