Cloverfield (Movie)

Surely there are plenty of Monster movie about such as: giant fish, giant snake, giant crocodile, godzilla. I believe in 1980's there is mutant alien ant that i mock as ridiculous monster ever back when i see advertisement sign in Vigilante8 2nd game. But then it arrives with fallen meteor and harasses me with laser-eye. That's kind of karma, isn't? Today i present you with article about one of gigantic-monster movie: Cloverfield (2008).

 The movie is quite ground-breaking because unlike other movie with same genre, it tells its tale through footage from a video camera. This feature makes Cloverfield stand-outs from other while (in my opinion) cuts cameramen-budget. I heard that uniqueness from long time ago and only these day i decide to watch it because of my negligence business.     

 It starts with the Rob video-ing inside of his girlfriend's Dad's apartment room. It's nice and cozy, i give you that. After he looks the loose traffic outside and say "What a nice day", he wakes his girlfriend named Beth.

 She is shy about being video-ing like this and says "I could just see this ending up on the internet.". Well, you're on not-famous blog's article. It's really understandable that you are so embarrassed like that.

Here is Jason himself. Somehow, he looks kind of smug.

 

After that, the video cut to go to street, a mart, and end up in a building where a party is held. This time the one who behind the vid-cam is Jason (Rob's brother) and that lady over there is Lily, his girfriend.

As Rob own this vid-cam, Jason is tasked with making testimonial from everyone here regarding Rob going to Japan to become a vice president of a company (i hope not Konami). So that's the reason why he looked so smug back then. Jason said that it's s**t job proving that he doesn't like doing that also he is a lazy git. Thus he entrusts that job to this guy named Hud. At first, Hud disinclines to do so because he already busy with this sign and other decoration. But he accepts it because Rob tells him that Marlena will be here. She is probably his crush.

Hud doing the task quite well then he meets Lily, ask why he doing this instead of James and kind of questioning his seriousness on this task. He answers that convincingly then he makes testimonial from her.

But during making Lily's testimonial, he focus on this lady instead. She must be Marlena. Surely, Lily kind of upset about this.

 

After that, Hud makes a move! First, he makes Marlena's testimonial. You can tell from this caption that, her expression is kind of awkward that's because she stated that Marlena barely knows Rob thus she thinks that she is inappropriate for testimonial record. Shortly after her testimonial, Marlena leaves. Poor Hud.

 

But Hud remains un-faltered and keep film-ing. Then here's the guy, Rob himself. "Surprise!" said everyone. But the only person who looks surprised is the bloke behind Rob instead of him.

 

Beth comes late to the party. She comes along with her new boyfriend, Travis. Cue sad music, everyone! :P

 

Heavy_taunts05.wav. Then Rob asks Hud whether this is his camera and did Hud switches the tape first. As Hud (also Jason) doesn't know well to operate vid-cam, tape that contain Jason's sweet memories with Beth is being overwritten. But Jason says it's allright, and it (the tape) is stupid. That's the spirit, Rob! You must lives on and forget about her. I bet video games and manga will make you forget about her, man.

 

During making Beth's testimonial. Rob barges in and asks Beth to talk for awhile in outside. Come on! Just forget her already! It's pointless.

 

Hud tells there's something not good between Rob and Beth, to Jason. But, the useless git is busy playing soccer table with his friend. Thus Hud investigates it himself.    

 

Sniper_specialcompleted08.wav. It's pretty obvious that the ex-pair don't want to get taped while they're arguing. Lily tells Hud to get inside quickly.

 

Hud senses that Lily know something about the reason they're arguing. But she keeps shut about it. So he asks Jason to squeak the information from her. Finally, she tells them that Rob and Beth had sex few weeks ago and that shocks all of them. Isn't that common in America for pair of boyfriend and girlfriend to have pre-marital sex? I really apologize if this is rude stereotypical-ing or stuff like that. Anyway, Lily says to keep this fact secret to everyone. But Hud spoils it to anyone (including Marlena) at the party. Good job, Hud. -_-

 

After satisfied arguing, Rob back inside while Beth pick Travis then leave the party. Beth said "Good luck in Japan, Rob" and Rob replied "Good luck tonight, Travis" to "roast" Beth.

 

Then Rob seclude himself in fire escape stairs. Then Hud and Jason have a talking with him. Are you still reading this? Thank you.  

 

Then suddenly, whole city are having blackout. This is it, guys! The non-cheesy-drama interesting part is about to begin.

Not shortly after that, electricity is on again. Everyone in party are having a bit panic for awhile then look at news to see what's going on. The reporter said that there is a possibly earthquake in lower Manhattan (which is nearby) and it makes a Tanker capsizes.

Everyone goes to rooftop to figure things further. Then there is a big explosion.

 

That explosion lets out fiery debris. Obviously, everyone instinctively begin to panic and running downstairs into the street.

Then, Liberty's head falls in street near the building. It's Republic's worst nightmare!

 

Hud saw a glimpse of the monster. Then a building collapses and sends giant smoke debris toward Hud and Co. Run, everyone!

 

Hud and Co run to a mart. After the smoke debris go away, a roar can be heard. Jason intend to see outside despite Rob's & Lily's warning. When thing goes casual, Jason is lazy. But when it doesn't, he become adventurous, reader.

 

But he is fine. The monster isn't around here anymore. Marlena witness it and said that "It was eating people. It was eating everyone". As i don't watch movie about giant monster/kaiju that much, i wonder whether it eats human or something else. Thing for sure is: it doesn't eat building or statue. They are just destructible decoration in its perspective.   

 

Anyway, everyone decide to get out of Manhattan via Brooklyn Bridge. Hud keeps recording because he want everyone know about this. Rob ask "Can't you just tell them instead?" then Hud says "No that wouldn't work. Everyone need to see this.". Even though today Hud using Video camera for the first time, he already develops true-journalism soul within himself. I salute you, Hud.

 

The evacuation looks fine until monster's tail snaps the Brooklyn Bridge. The one who climbing a lamp post under helicopter's light is Jason. He approximately in the center of impact. Here goes the lazy-but-sometime-adventurous guy. By the way, Rob got call from Beth (the ungrateful lady), saying she can't move and such. Thus he stop walking and take a side with Hud accompanies him. But that call saves them (who are at the most back from the protagonist group) and Lily & Marlena (who are roughly between Rob & Hud and Jason). For certain reason, Hud and Co go back to Manhattan side.

Hud and Co goes back safely in Manhattan part. Rob's phone is dead thus he goes to nearest electronic shop that's being pillaged in search for its replacement or new battery. Hud goes after him and stop to watch the news in Tv. Here we can see the monster. It has head, leg, and tail. But, no wings so it's not flying monster which could be worse case.

 

I spoke to soon. It gets worse. The monster spawns children that immediately ravaging soldier and civilian alike. The spawnling look like zergling. So, the monster is mad because tonight is its birthing-period.

 

After Rob got voice message from Beth that saying "I can't move. I'm bleeding. Whole wall fell on me.", he goes to her apartment in Midtown instead of evacuating. The problem is the monster and its children is in Midtown too. Soldier_DominationScout11.wav.

 

Lily voluntarily follows Rob while Hud and Marlena are reluctant to do that. Obviously, you lot will be caught in the middle of battle between monster and army. On the bright side, you can see military action at very close range.

 

Hud and Co manage to run into nearest subway then they wait for things to cool a bit. The Rob's mother call him. He tells that they're fine and in the middle of evacuation (obviously scrappy lie) also Jason is a goner (dramatic truth). Hearing his mother cries makes him very sad then Lily comforting hugs him. So sweet. Engineer_no02.wav.     

 

Rob decides to walk the tunnel train to go to the district where Beth's apartment located. The tunnel is really dark that's only illuminated with dim lamps and video camera's light. If this is horror movie, Hud and Co will be ambushed by psychopath killer, vampire, or haunting being. You guys should arm yourself with whatever you can find/get! That's basic thing to survive. I know smashing something/someone with trash bin is ridiculous. But that's better than being totally arm-less and hapless when something/someone attack you at this instant.  

 

Then there is mice running past them. There's definitely something very bad at direction where they came from.

 

There is strange noises and Rob turns the night vision on video camera. Then Hud can sees the monster's children in the ceiling. Whenever there is running mice, you should continue moving, guys! Instead of stopping to hear/see what's behind you. See! My advice (to arm yourself) sounds really good now, huh?!   

 

They try to run but soon the monsters catch them thus battle for survival ensues. Luckily, there is someone (either clumsy or generous) who drops a steel rod/pipe on rail so Marlena can use it to bash some of the monsters. But still Hud and Co are outmatched and escape safely through an emergency door.

 

As the group is traumatized with the last attack, Rob decides not to walk the tunnel again and instead to go to surface. Luckily, they soon arrive at destination and army find them. Apparently, they are in one of army's operation base. They are about to be evacuated via chopper but Rob insists he want to save Beth no matter what.

 

Damn! That looks really pernicious. Marlena got bitten from one of small monster and this is its effect. Then she got dragged by paramedic. Shortly after that, she sprays lots of blood. There goes Hud's crush. Once again, poor Hud.

 

This soldier is cooperative with Rob's "mission". He tells about government plan to destroy whole Manhattan and last evacuation chopper's location and time. You should reward him big time, Rob!

 

Here we witness a miracle. A horse is walking through this catastrophic area and it along with its cart are totally fine (don't know what's the coachman's condition though). It's not even galloping in panic or scared. Demoman_sf12_goodmagic04.wav.  

 

Beth's apartment is building that leaning ones. Rob is puzzled by how he can reach Beth who is at 34th floor. Hud iseng-ly propose a crazy idea: Go to the straight building, ascend to where adjacent section, find a way to cross, then descend into floor where Beth is located. Rob immediately goes with that idea. Fantastic, Hud!

 

After the arduous journey, Hud and Co find Beth is impaled through a steel bar. Bravo, Rob! You just wastes Hud and Co's (life)time in vain. Oh she's alive. Whatever. By the way, they manage to take out Beth from that steel bar. Where's Travis when you need help, huh, Beth?

 

Suddenly the momma monster come this way (in far distance though) as if it says "How does she stills alive?". Actually that's very my question, ma'am. 

 

When the group go inside of the still-straight building. A lesser monster appeared. But it got dealt swiftly by Rob with fireaxe that positioned (conveniently) nearby. As a pyro, i approve this.      

 

Here's another miracle. Not only they manage to evacuation zone but also Beth can run! I want to remind you that previously Beth is impaled to steel bar for a couple hours. Probably it didn't get her vital organ. But still she must be wounded badly and loss so much blood. It's movie's miracle, everyone.

 

Lily got the first chopper to fly, leaving the rest. Rob and Beth can make out while Hud filming them. Sucks to be you, Hud.

 

Owh! Guess who get jealous toward the pair? It seem the monster never get smooch from its husband. Poor monster.

 

A F117 flies toward the monster and carpet bombs the hell out of it. It seems bombs got the monster well. But it manages to hit the evacuation chopper which contain Hud and Co. You got one job, the fool who controls this chopper! And that is: fly further from the monster, stupid.

 

Hud and Co luckily survive the crash at Central Park. After he stop the bleeding in Rob's leg, he pick the video camera back and soon astounded by the monster presence very near him. Then he got chomped by it. Good bye forever, Hud! You journalism's soul will always be remembered by me.

 

 That mean the survivor that we know is the pair. Somehow, the monster ignore them so they can take cover under a bridge along with video camera that's still intact. From radio in chopper, we know that the military will do bigger bombard and this time they're still in blasting zone. So Robert makes last word here with Beth. Not long after that, explosion happens and the video camera is buried under rubble. Then the tape cut to previous moment when Robert and Beth in Coney Island and finally The End.

 

What do i think about Cloverfield? It starts with unimportant drama, but the monster make ruckus, but again Robert the-imbecile-bloke ruins everyone's chance to survive by going to save Beth. Even though he insists that he doesn't need to be accompanied, it's still his grim fault that Hudson and Marlena die but Lily survives, perhaps. And in the end Robert and Beth also perish, i hope think. I know that if the story is about "Robert and Co try to consistently evacuate instead of trying to rescue Beth" that will be duller but won't drop the plot to become boring, in my opinion. On the good side, the story get the suspense atmosphere very well and so immersive thanks to survivor's camera point-of-view which is basically how they try to survive in the middle of giant monster's shenanigan. That means you won't get the detailed fact about the monster like: how to defeat it, where it comes from, etc. On the first part of monster's chaos, the story is very good but on later part it get funnier like (*i still insist on this*) how come Beth survives that impalement and later can moves well later without proper medical treatment, or the giant monster kind of get attached with Robert and Co. In the end, you got "last-time romance with monster around you" from Robert and Beth instead of -you know?- how the end of this monster accident. It seems Cloverfield is like common giant-monster movie but from a video camera's perspective also with unimportant drama. Heck, if Robert-Beth drama part is cut shorter and replace it with any trivia about Robert and Co, such as Hudson's favorite beverage or Lily's hobby. Cloverfield will be much better. Overall it's still quite good movie but i remind you that i'm not expert at giant-monster movie so i could be wrong. If you want to watch or re-watch it, do yourself a favor by skipping the Robert-Beth parts! They are not worthy to see. Trust me!