Sunday, February 03, 2008

MOVIE: CLOVERFIELD


Went to Vue in Cardiff this evening with my daughter who wanted to see the latest goofy comedy, Dan In Real Life, but didn't realise until we got there that the film doesn't play on a Sunday night. The only film starting at the time we were there was Cloverfield which, for both of us, turned out to be far better.

It was a B-movie of the modern era shot in the same genre as The Blair Witch Project as if someone was shooting a home movie. This time as one of the characters was having a farewell party before moving for work from America to Japan.

Set in New York, why is it always bloody New York? Every disaster movie from King Kong to I Am Legend seems to be based there. Just for once, can't they blow up Splott, Barry, Bridgend or, please, please, Swansea?

What starts out as mates recording their farewell messages to camera soon turns into a recording of the city being ripped apart by one enormous monster and its mini offspring in breathtakingly fast footage style not unlike 9/11 as that unfolded.

The jerky camera movements did grate at first but you soon settled into it and got taken in by the film. Special effects for this type of movie were very good, it was tense and everyone - all the goodies and heroes - got killed which made a refreshing change leaving the camera as the only document of the night.

Ignoring how a video camera last from a 9pm party to 7am next day without its film or battery ever being changed, this was a satifying movie that had a full audience gripped in silence throughout and stiill sitting quiet in their seats for a minute or so as it finished.

Worth a viewing if you fancy a film.

Movie website and trailer are here:
http://www.cloverfieldmovie.com/

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