Monster movies have long been a favorite among movie goers have flocked to see the latest movies featuring their favorite big screen monsters. The Japanese have Godzilla, and Gammera, and Mothra, and a slew of others, while we here state-side have a big ape who got killed ontop of a building. Well J.J. Abrams sought to change that this January with the release of Cloverfield. Well tuesday this suprise hit comes home on DVD and we have the review for you.
Cloverfield follows five New Yorkers from the perspective of hand held video camera. The movie is exactly the length of a DV Tape (85 Minutes). We follow friends Rob (our main character who is celebrating his last night in the United States), Hud (our camera-man), Lizzy, and Jessica. On the night of Rob’s big going away party New York is attacked by a monster of unknown origins. As the movie goes on we see the monsters rampage through the city through news footage and eye-witness accounts. But the movie not only works as “A Monster Destroying a Big City” movie but it also works very well as a a film that shows what we as people are capable of being in moments of horriffic tragic moments.
The disc is packed with a lot of informative special features that go deep into the making of the film, however they may not be what the viewers are expecting.
• Audio Commentary by Director Matt Reeves
• Deleted Scenes
• 2 Alternate Endings
• Clover Fun outtakes reel
• I Saw It! It’s Alive! It’s Huge! - Featurette
• Document 01.18.08: The Making of Cloverfield - Featurette
• Cloverfield Visual Effects - Featurette
As I said there is plenty here for people, however I for one would’ve liked a little background on the monster it self (other than the technical backgrounds) like some info on where exactly the monster came from (was it from whatever crashed into the water in the Cooney Island flashback, or was it something from the Slusho! company, WE WANT TO KNOW DAMNIT!!!) Aside for that there is a lot of stuff here for people to enjoy!
- Rating: 4 out of 5
Presented in its original 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio Cloverfield is a great looking DVD. shot entirely on handheld HD cameras everything is extremely detailed and clear. Though I will say this if you get motion sick easy this is not the film for you. Because of the handheld nature of this film there are no steady cam shots, it is as if someone were filming the event as it happened, dont say I didnt warn you.
Ontop of the great Video quality we also get a equally great Dolby Digital surround track. Filled with deep bass, the bass not only pushes the limits of your sub-woofer but also the rest of the surround speakers. This DVD really is a standard for audio quality on standard def DVDs.
- Rating: 5 out of 5
A great DVD release that is sure to recieve another release once Paramount makes the switch to Blu-Ray Disc again. There was already an elaborate HD-DVD edition planned for the film that featured some of the very special features I wish were included on the DVD, so if you really need to have this movie in your collection then by all means DO, you wont be dissapointed. But those who can wait do it will be worth the wait (I hope).
- Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Film and Features: 4
Technical Specs: 5
Overall Review: 4
Studio: Paramount Studios
Genre: Sci-Fi
Aspect: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital
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