Cloverfield review

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docm

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Great concept....<br /><br />Excellent acting (extra points to Mike Vogel)<br /><br /><b>FANTASTIC</b> monster!!<br /><br /><b><i>TOTALLY RUINED</i></b> by the massive over-use of "jitter-cam".<br /><br />A ***1/2 star movie made into a *1/2<br /><br />Before people even got out of their seats at the end they were complaining of headaches and nausea, essentially <b><i>MOTION SICKNESS</i></b>. These complaints extended into the lobby and bathrooms with both men and women saying they were too upset to even go to dinner after the show. Several said no way would they recommend it for that reason.<br /><br />The producers/director need to understand that modern camcorders ALL have anti-jitter features that smooth out camera motion to a smooth slide instead of a shaky jitter.<br /><br />It's also one thing to see jitter-cam on a small screen which takes up maybe 10%-20% of your field of view, but it's entirely something else to have it fill up 90% in a darkened room. That is enough to bring on a previously dormant seizure disorder.<br /><br />Even I got slightly nauseated and I raced cars, love roller coasters and have a history of parachuting off buildings <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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votefornimitz

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Now thats a travesty... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <span style="color:#993366">In the event of a full scale nuclear war or NEO impact event, there are two categories of underground shelters available to the public, distinguished by depth underground: bunkers and graves...</span> </div>
 
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weeman

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I probably wouldn't get sick, I've never had motion sickness in my life. I could be on a roller coaster that's on a boat in stormy seas and I'd be fine <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <br /><br />I will probably wait for the dvd on this one. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000">Techies: We do it in the dark. </font></strong></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>"Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with that special girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That's relativity.</strong><strong>" -Albert Einstein </strong></font></p> </div>
 
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oklahoman

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"The producers/director need to understand that modern camcorders ALL have anti-jitter features that smooth out camera motion to a smooth slide instead of a shaky jitter."<br /><br />No, they don't. I have 4 cameras that are all less than 3 years old without it.<br /><br />That being said, it ought to be a given that the actor does have an anti jitter camera.<br /><br />That being said, an-anti jitter device on a camera can not work miracles. They can only eliminate a few degrees of angular movement. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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docm

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I have about 16 camcorders, some miniDV and most in higher end formats, and all but 2 have anti-jitter. Some are optical, some are electronic, but all would have mitigated about 70% of what was in the film. It needed this feature badly.<br /><br />I also shoot and edit video <i>for money</i>, and believe me this "style" is more irritating to viewers than these guys think. I'm sure they'll make money, but based on what I heard in the theater last night its going to have word of mouth problems outside the ADHD demographic.<br /><br />The recent excessive use of Jitter-cam reminds me of the companies who make editing software/hardware throwing in all manner of real-time 3D digital video effects (DVE's); spinning cubes, particle effects etc. Sure they're pretty and nice to have in the toolkit, but you should only use them for about 1% - 3% of all scene transitions etc. if that. Otherwise it detracts from the material. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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oklahoman

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I suppose they ought to release a version with the effect toned down. If nothing else, someone could privately run it through appropriate software. (Adobe or Final Cut have stuff for this) It will trim off a good percentage of the outside of the frame though.<br /><br />I get the impression that the jitter really bothers about 25% of the audiance, some of who become nauseous. I haven't seen the film. <br /><br />I have shot lots of footage with a light, cheap minicam, on foot walking, and I don't think a anti-jitter feature would have improved it enough for those 25%. <br /><br />I shoot for money too. But it is all stationary shots. Lectures.<br /><br />"The recent excessive use of Jitter-cam reminds me of the companies who make editing software/hardware throwing in all manner of real-time 3D digital video effects (DVE's); spinning cubes, particle effects etc. Sure they're pretty and nice to have in the toolkit, but you should only use them for about 1% - 3% of all scene transitions etc. if that. Otherwise it detracts from the material."<br /><br /><br />As a person who edits video, I am aware of every transition and effect I see. You are too. But since I don't do motion video, I am not as effected, I think, by the jitter-cam as you are- it looks like my home footage- realistic. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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a_lost_packet_

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Wasn't it said, somwhere, that he was going to film the majority of the movie using standard, handheld DVRs ala "Blair Witch?"<br /><br />(I haven't seen the flick yet and will probably end up waiting for video.) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1">I put on my robe and wizard hat...</font> </div>
 
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oklahoman

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Just saw it.<br /><br />I don't think an anti-jitter cam would have helped a whole hell of a lot. The movement is really huge.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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docm

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Any port in the storm <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /><br /><br />Better yet would have been to use a freakin' SteadiCam during the shoot. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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brigandier

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The camera made me very nauseous.. but I don't think I would've enjoyed it as much if it were any different. I haven't watched a movie that thrilled me as much as this one in a very VERY long time. I was literally shaky by the end of it. It was just amazing<br /><br />Nauseating, but amazing
 
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docm

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I will get the DVD, but it will be fed through software and made into a "watchable" version for viewing. <br /><br />Yes, I have strong video f/x Kung-Fu <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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jsmoody

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I decided not to go see it after seeing the trailer. I HATE those jittery cams. They're supposed to make it look like a home video I guess, but it just makes it look stupid. I'll wait 'til it comes on HBO if I watch it at all. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> No amount of belief makes something a fact" - James Randi </div>
 
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odysseus145

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Honestly the shaking didn't bother me too much. What did bother me though was the ending. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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docm

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Not everyone is affected by visual vertigo, maybe 20-30 percent. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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shadow735

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What was the monster anyway was it Godzillas brother? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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docm

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Indescribable, about the best thing in the film <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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flynn

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Really enjoyed the film apart from the motion sickness.<br /><br />I'm really torn if I want to see the rumoured sequal come to pass. Whilst I want to know more, I like it that I don't. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#800080">"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - <strong>Chuck Palahniuk</strong>.</font> </div>
 
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jmilsom

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<p>I just saw this film on home DVD. </p><p>I had never read any threads about it, had not seen any trailers or previews. </p><p>I thought it was excellent. I have not seen such a well done monster flick since since Aliens. It was edge of the seat stuff. Challenging to film and realise, and pretty well done I thought. </p><p>As I saw it on a small screen, I didn't notice the motion problem at all. But then I've been on a ship in a storm with 80% of the people vomiting everywhere and didn't feel ill either! <br /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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docm

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I'm a former skydiver/BASE jumper/race car driver (open wheel and sports cars) and it made me a bit nauseus....and it made my wife downright seasick. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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jmilsom

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<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I'm a former skydiver/BASE jumper/race car driver (open wheel and sports cars) and it made me a bit nauseus....and it made my wife downright seasick. <br />Posted by docm</DIV></p><p>I wonder if it is a question of difference between a large cinema screen and small home TV screen. These days when I go to the movies it is usually to take my kids. If I am sitting in the middle or closer watching any movie, I can't actually focus on it all any more. The screen is too wide - and cinemas stick their chairs too close. So, just watching normal movies, I don't get nauseous, but often get blurred vision <em>or better put</em>&nbsp;I can only focus on part of the screen, while the other part is blurry. I imagine this would be exacerbated with a movie like Cloverfield. </p><p><br /><br />&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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a_lost_packet_

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<p>I saw some of it.&nbsp; I put in another cable box upstairs and decided to rent it on PPV.&nbsp; The problem was, the cable signal is somewhat degraded upstairs.. too many splices coming off the main trunk.&nbsp; So, it started breaking up a little bit.&nbsp; I didn't know if that was a feature of the film or not. :)&nbsp; When it got too annoying, I stopped watching it. Probably about 30 mins into it.&nbsp; I didn't feel like watching it downstairs so went to sleep and forgot I had rented it. :)</p><p>I'll rent it again just to see the end.&nbsp; The camera movement was very, very annoying though.&nbsp; Sometimes, it added to the effect, that much I'll give credit for.&nbsp; But, there were alot of scenes that "added effect" detracted from the overall experience.&nbsp; It could have stood to be a bit less severe. </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1">I put on my robe and wizard hat...</font> </div>
 
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