Comments on: Movie Review: Cloverfield http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/ The Journal of Gamer Culture Thu, 24 May 2012 01:39:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Horrificus http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61484 Horrificus Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:49:23 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61484 You are totally right Bartoneus. Although it is a very cool, and original monster concept, it seems totally unsuited for water. I didn't even see any webbing, or anything. It looked more like a climber, or possibly a burrower. You are totally right Bartoneus. Although it is a very cool, and original monster concept, it seems totally unsuited for water.
I didn’t even see any webbing, or anything.
It looked more like a climber, or possibly a burrower.

]]> By: Bartoneus http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61483 Bartoneus Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:04:54 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61483 Horrificus: You've got me there, I suppose my feeling is that when I saw the Cloverfield monster it didn't particularly speak to me as a monster from the depths of the ocean (I know it came from there though). I expect dark, slimy, or scaly skin and at least some kind of fins or such. That's not to say I'm criticizing how the monster looked because I loved it, but at no point did I think of pretty much any other monster save for Zerglings when we saw the parasites. Horrificus: You’ve got me there, I suppose my feeling is that when I saw the Cloverfield monster it didn’t particularly speak to me as a monster from the depths of the ocean (I know it came from there though). I expect dark, slimy, or scaly skin and at least some kind of fins or such. That’s not to say I’m criticizing how the monster looked because I loved it, but at no point did I think of pretty much any other monster save for Zerglings when we saw the parasites.

]]> By: Horrificus http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61482 Horrificus Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:16:33 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61482 I have seen MANY different artist's create their versions of the monstrous Kraken. As a matter of fact, the 8 limbs and the "breathers" is just a plus. The Kraken was not always described as an octopi or squid-like creature. In the earliest descriptions, the creatures were more crab- like than octopus-like, and generally possessed traits that are associated with large whales rather than with giant squid. What it always came down to, though, was a gigantic sea creature that, many times, was described as having many limbs. Rent Clash of the Titans, or google it, and you will see an example of what I am talking about. I have seen MANY different artist’s create their versions of the monstrous Kraken.

As a matter of fact, the 8 limbs and the “breathers” is just a plus.
The Kraken was not always described as an octopi or squid-like creature.

In the earliest descriptions, the creatures were more crab- like than octopus-like, and generally possessed traits that are associated with large whales rather than with giant squid.

What it always came down to, though, was a gigantic sea creature that, many times, was described as having many limbs.

Rent Clash of the Titans, or google it, and you will see an example of what I am talking about.

]]> By: Bartoneus http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61481 Bartoneus Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:56:12 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61481 I actually disagree with Horrificus, there was no point in the entire movie that I thought "kraken". Just because the monster might have had 8 limbs, that's where the similarities pretty much end. Plus the whole thing is about it coming to shore and being on land / in the city, not very kraken like behavior at all. I actually disagree with Horrificus, there was no point in the entire movie that I thought “kraken”. Just because the monster might have had 8 limbs, that’s where the similarities pretty much end. Plus the whole thing is about it coming to shore and being on land / in the city, not very kraken like behavior at all.

]]> By: Horrificus http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61480 Horrificus Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:16:58 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61480 The creature is indeed a Kraken. It even has 8 limbs, although it is hard to see them all at any one time. At the end, as Hud checks it out from underneath, and we see the length of it, we see the 2 tentacles that we previously thought were a tail. We see 2 large hind legs. Moving up to the torso, we see 2 small rubbery limbs hanging down around it's waist. The, of course, we see the enormous front forelimbs. Then, we have the same type of pulsating breathing apparatus that you would find on an octopus. Only, we see these things pulsing and breathing on the sides of it's head. 8 Limbs. Introducing "Typhon". The creature is indeed a Kraken. It even has 8 limbs, although it is hard to see them all at any one time. At the end, as Hud checks it out from underneath, and we see the length of it, we see the 2 tentacles that we previously thought were a tail. We see 2 large hind legs.
Moving up to the torso, we see 2 small rubbery limbs hanging down around it’s waist.
The, of course, we see the enormous front forelimbs.
Then, we have the same type of pulsating breathing apparatus that you would find on an octopus. Only, we see these things pulsing and breathing on the sides of it’s head.
8 Limbs.

Introducing “Typhon”.

]]> By: Reverend Mike http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61479 Reverend Mike Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:55:04 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61479 Nah...Cloverfield is the name of the area formerly known as central park...best we can do is call that thing the Cloverfield Monster... Nah…Cloverfield is the name of the area formerly known as central park…best we can do is call that thing the Cloverfield Monster…

]]> By: Scypher http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61478 Scypher Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:12:40 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61478 I thought the beginning of the movie (indirectly) noted that the monster was codenamed Cloverfield? Or maybe the whole Manhattan incident was just known as Cloverfield. -- SPOILERS -- @Patrick: Since you brought it up, yeah - the last 10 or so minutes from the helicopter scene on were pretty ridiculous. Helicopter crash? Everybody but the trained military men survive with no visible injuries? Beth, in the state that she's in, is the first to wake up? And Hud walks ten feet and yet doesn't notice a mile-long monster in the vicinity? As an ending, it was climactic and conclusive, but it felt reaaally half-assed after everything that came before it. -- END SPOILERS -- I thought the beginning of the movie (indirectly) noted that the monster was codenamed Cloverfield? Or maybe the whole Manhattan incident was just known as Cloverfield.

– SPOILERS –
@Patrick: Since you brought it up, yeah – the last 10 or so minutes from the helicopter scene on were pretty ridiculous. Helicopter crash? Everybody but the trained military men survive with no visible injuries? Beth, in the state that she’s in, is the first to wake up? And Hud walks ten feet and yet doesn’t notice a mile-long monster in the vicinity? As an ending, it was climactic and conclusive, but it felt reaaally half-assed after everything that came before it.
– END SPOILERS –

]]> By: Reverend Mike http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61477 Reverend Mike Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:52:30 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61477 Not Godzilla...Godzilla gets temporarily defeated, but for all we know...humans evacuated the planet and came back 100s of years later when the monster left, only to discover a 90-minute DV tape... I guess we just need to give this monster a name before we can stop comparing it to Godzilla ALL the time...I'm going to classify him as a land kraken...though I'm not sure of a name suitable for such a thing other than Cthulhu... Not Godzilla…Godzilla gets temporarily defeated, but for all we know…humans evacuated the planet and came back 100s of years later when the monster left, only to discover a 90-minute DV tape…

I guess we just need to give this monster a name before we can stop comparing it to Godzilla ALL the time…I’m going to classify him as a land kraken…though I’m not sure of a name suitable for such a thing other than Cthulhu…

]]> By: steve http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61476 steve Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:31:47 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61476 glad I didnt actually read the response, just read Zerglings and stopped reading! I guess whats funny to me is he talks about how we need our own monster and how King Kong is to lovable... but he got the idea while in Japan, and its basicly Godzilla.... How is that "Ours"? I guess in retrospect we cant do a giant beast ravaging a city and not relate it to Godz-rilla. My only question then is... So where Mothra when you need her?! glad I didnt actually read the response, just read Zerglings and stopped reading!

I guess whats funny to me is he talks about how we need our own monster and how King Kong is to lovable… but he got the idea while in Japan, and its basicly Godzilla…. How is that “Ours”?

I guess in retrospect we cant do a giant beast ravaging a city and not relate it to Godz-rilla.

My only question then is… So where Mothra when you need her?!

]]> By: TheMainEvent http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61475 TheMainEvent Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:50:26 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61475 NICE SPOILER TAG ASSHOLE! NICE SPOILER TAG ASSHOLE!

]]> By: Patrick http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61474 Patrick Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:04:32 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61474 The ending felt kind of cheap. First, the thing probably wasn't tall enough to get the helicopter, then, you don't survive a helicopter crash, but hey, its not as bad as the hot chick in Deep Blue Sea getting eaten right at the end, for no nessecary reason. The ending felt kind of cheap. First, the thing probably wasn’t tall enough to get the helicopter, then, you don’t survive a helicopter crash, but hey, its not as bad as the hot chick in Deep Blue Sea getting eaten right at the end, for no nessecary reason.

]]> By: joshx0rfz http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61473 joshx0rfz Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:58:24 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61473 Zerglings would make an excellent breakfast cereal. Zerglings would make an excellent breakfast cereal.

]]> By: Reverend Mike http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61472 Reverend Mike Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:23:39 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61472 I didn't see the zerglings so much as miniaturized starship trooper bugs, thanks to my lack of starcraft knowledge... Awesome movie, but a lot of 13-year olds in my theater apparently disliked it...I didn't bother shouting my opinion, but sometimes I think certain movies should be R just so I don't have to deal with them... There definitely needs to be some kind of sequel...I want that thing to have a name... I didn’t see the zerglings so much as miniaturized starship trooper bugs, thanks to my lack of starcraft knowledge…

Awesome movie, but a lot of 13-year olds in my theater apparently disliked it…I didn’t bother shouting my opinion, but sometimes I think certain movies should be R just so I don’t have to deal with them…

There definitely needs to be some kind of sequel…I want that thing to have a name…

]]> By: steve http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61471 steve Sun, 20 Jan 2008 17:04:15 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61471 everything is better with zerglings everything is better with zerglings

]]> By: joshx0rfz http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61470 joshx0rfz Sun, 20 Jan 2008 14:11:23 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61470 This movie has zerglings? Why didn't you say so in the first place! This movie has zerglings? Why didn’t you say so in the first place!

]]> By: Scypher http://critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61469 Scypher Sun, 20 Jan 2008 08:24:18 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/2008/01/19/movie-review-cloverfield/#comment-61469 Totally agree. I love the fact that, unlike many films that try to experiment or redefine genres, this movie does not cram a few dozen borrowed elements and sell it as something new. It's devoted to one concept: being a first-person disaster story. And it does that very, very well. There are a lot of parts that are pretty illogical, and really demand the audience's suspension of disbelief (I wish I could do spoiler tags and detail 'em) and yet, they add to the experience of being a nerve-wracking adventure. I was really happy with this movie. With the box office success its enjoying, I'd love to hear word of an upcoming sequel/parallel story in the same vein. (Other Manhattans making their own escapes? Documentation from a doctor who treats victims and also performs autopsies on the lil' Zerglings? Or maybe a stitched-together narrative of news reports, government press conferences, etc. about what happened after the movie? The possibilities are endless.) Totally agree. I love the fact that, unlike many films that try to experiment or redefine genres, this movie does not cram a few dozen borrowed elements and sell it as something new. It’s devoted to one concept: being a first-person disaster story. And it does that very, very well.

There are a lot of parts that are pretty illogical, and really demand the audience’s suspension of disbelief (I wish I could do spoiler tags and detail ‘em) and yet, they add to the experience of being a nerve-wracking adventure.

I was really happy with this movie. With the box office success its enjoying, I’d love to hear word of an upcoming sequel/parallel story in the same vein. (Other Manhattans making their own escapes? Documentation from a doctor who treats victims and also performs autopsies on the lil’ Zerglings? Or maybe a stitched-together narrative of news reports, government press conferences, etc. about what happened after the movie? The possibilities are endless.)

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