The Official Studio Line:

Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives.

****BEWARE OF SPOILERS AHEAD!****

When I initially read about the genesis of this film in an article published before it’s theatrical release, I was a bit mystified. The article revealed that after a trip to a Toy store in Japan with his son, producer J.J. Abrams (Co-creator of shows like FELICITY, ALIAS, and LOST) was fascinated with the connection the Japanese still felt with the Godzilla creature and mythos that was spawned over 70 years ago. He wondered why in America we hadn’t developed a similiar rapport. He later decided that he would create an iconic Monster that could become as indelibly attached to America’s Popular Culture as Godzilla is to Japan’s. After reading this, all I could think was “We already have one of those, he’s called King Kong.” I guess the relatively miniscule havok wrought by the giant gorilla wasn’t good enough for Mr. Abrams. And so glimpses of CLOVERFIELD were unleashed into the world in the Summer of 2007 (although at the time, it lacked the title it has now. We were merely given the effectively cryptic “01-18-08″), and the hype machine began rolling at a frighteningly high speed. So did writer Drew Goddard and director Matt Reeves succeed in making Abrams’ ambitious dreams a reality? Uh, no. Did anyone honestly think that CLOVERFIELD could ever have matched up to the ridiculously high and feverish expectations the preceding Teaser and Viral Marketing generated? I would hope not.

But despite it’s failure to become America’s Next Top Monster, CLOVERFIELD is a fun ride of a flick. This is Bigness on a budget and Director Matt Reeves pulls it off expertly. The destruction of Manhattan, Brooklyn Bridge, and The Statue of Liberty is on-par with anything from the $200+ Million BankBusters we’ve seen in the last few Summers. What the filmmakers realized is that its not about quantity, its about quality. They save their big moments, so when we get’em its memoriable and impactful. The one-shot visual style (sorta like the last memerizing sequences in CHILDREN OF MEN) makes the already compelling events unfold with all the more intensity. You’re there in the midst of chaos; unescapably pulled into it like the rest of the helpless individuals caught in a stampede of humanity. Ever since seeing 28 DAYS LATER’s use of digital photography, I knew that this new method of filming was going to open up the vast possibilities of a more immersive and engaging movie experience, and CLOVERFIELD’s YouTube approach pushes these possibilities into a whole new stratosphere. It also grounds the film in a reality rarely afforded these types of genre outtings (except for the preposterous moment where our hapless cameraman is dispatched by the giant beast, somehow sneaking behind him unnoticed long enough to get the poor fool into his gapping maw).

The film’s opening 15 minutes can be a chore for some to get through admittingly. Watching a bunch of seemingly rich yuppie 20-somethings partying, telling bad jokes, and experiencing moments of romantic awkwardness is not on the top of any Monster Movie Lover’s list. But I understand the need for it. You need to establish your protagonists and their motivations in order to have a fully enjoyable movie experience. I’d equate it to the exciting moments of ascension on a rollercoaster right before the big drop, minus the “exciting” part. But once things get going, the films moves at a break-neck speed. Upon seeing it for the first time in a theater, the atmosphere and tone was something akin to seeing live Breaking News. It was that convincing. Once it was over though, I had a sinking feeling that subsequent viewings would result in the “Blair Witch” syndrome. Seeing the film for the first time with no expectations gives an harrowing experience, but the second time around would only be met with boredom and reflective moments of “Did I really like this the first time out?”. Luckily CLOVERFIELD’s well-constructed narrative and plot save it from such a fate, making it a worthwhile repeat viewer. Plus, the fact that many of the film’s “money shots” fly by so quickly means that you don’t mind sitting through it again in hopes of getting a better look. The welcome luxury of DVD also allows for the catching of smaller details that may have been missed (like the unwittingly recorded object that seems to fall out of the sky and into the Atlantic Ocean during the final flashback at Coney Island), or the opportunity to fully appreciate composer Micheal Giacchino’s awesome Cloverfield Overture (which is pleasantly reminiscent of the soaring ROBOCOP 2 overture where a chorus is chanting “Robocop” ad nauseum).

Now what about the much-talked about Monster? The Creature itself is rather odd. They weren’t kidding when the filmmakers laid claim that we were going to see something we had never seen before. But it hardly possessed an iconic design that strikes a timeless chord with audiences. It ain’t no Godzilla (and I’m talking about the Japanese incarnation, not that giant iguana Devlin and Emmerich infamously dropped on American audiences in 1998), but it’s weird enough to leave an impression. I suppose the real source of dissappointment and frustration for most viewers anticipating the flick was the lack of any explanation about the creature’s origins. All we have is this video document from a group of clueless youngsters that can hardly hold a camera stable long enough to get a decent look at the monstrosity. After all the thoeries, clues, and hints at a deeper mythos awaiting them, the film’s complete lack thereof may have been percieved as a fairly resonate slight. However, considering the context of the film (found footage from the perspective of unsuspecting city residence), there could be no way to shoehorn in any explanations without it sounding like forced exposition. Maybe if this so-called video file had been interspersed with other video logs of government scientists hypothesizing or experimenting on the remains of the creature, these dissapointed folks may have felt more justified in their rabid hunt for clues months prior to the film’s release.

Lets start our review of the DVD extras with Director Matt Reeves’ feature commentary, which is a good one and well worth a listen. He goes over everything from the film’s origins, the process of making a Blockbuster Monster Movie on a quarter-sized budget, to even mentioning the frenzy generated by the Teaser (including the whole “It’s a Lion/It’s Alive!” debacle) and his further fueling of it with the eerie voiceover played at the end of the film credits.Then we have three featurettes focusing on the making of the film, it’s digital effects, and the logic behind the design for the creature. I wish the third featurette had been a little more in-depth regarding the monster design because what we get is a succinct but short look at designer Neville Page’s motivations and ideas. Also, the complete omission of any thoughts from the filmmakers regarding the viral marketing campaign and the clues found therein is frustrating even to someone like myself that didn’t really buy into all the hype. Good, not great. And not enough to satiate my hunger for info on the project. From there we get the obligatory gag reel and several deservedly deleted scenes. The alternate endings seemed to have been the biggest topic of discussion before the DVD release, and will likely leave fans once again disappointed. All we get is a different closing flashback and the split-second inclusion of a fuzzy face supposedly belonging to a member of the recovery team that discovers the video camera. Then there’s previews of INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL and J.J. Abrams’ STAR TREK prequel. Oh, and there’s some VERY interesting Easter Eggs for those of you that have not yet been spurned enough to give up on the CLOVERFIELD mythos. I took the time to check them out and their inclusion eased my aforemented frustration with the unacknowledgment of the viral marketing by the filmmakers. Sometimes you just can’t help but get caught up in an intricately weaved mystery, so have fun with those.

As it stands, CLOVERFIELD is a fun and exciting Monster movie that amalgamates the BLAIR WITCH PROJECT style with the GODZILLA premise. Unfortunately not as good as THE HOST (South Korea’s first foray into the Monster Movie genre, released here last year), but definitely nowhere near the stinker 1998′s GODZILLA turned out to be. Plus the DVD has some worthy things to offer, especially the hidden Easter Eggs. I’d definitely recommend it. Until next time, keep those discs spinning…
Bobert’s Rating: - RECOMMENDED!
Bobert’s Alternative Picks:

The Official Studio Line:

Based on the critically acclaimed novel of the same name by John Burnham Schwartz, this is the compelling new dramatic thriller from two-time Academy Award-nominated writer/director Terry George (“Hotel Rwanda”). A tale of anger, revenge, and great courage, the film follows two fathers as their families and lives converge. On a warm September evening, college professor Ethan Learner (two-time Academy Award nominee Joaquin Phoenix), his wife Grace (Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly), and their daughter Emma (Elle Fanning) are attending a recital. Their 10-year-old son Josh (Sean Curley) is playing cello – beautifully, as usual. His younger sister looks up to him, and his parents are proud of their son. On the way home, they all stop at a gas station on Reservation Road. There, in one terrible instant, he is taken from them forever. On a warm September evening, law associate Dwight Arno (Mark Ruffalo) and his 11-year-old son Lucas (Eddie Alderson) are attending a baseball game. Their favorite team, the Red Sox, is playing – and, hopefully, heading for the World Series. Dwight cherishes his time spent with Lucas. Driving his son back to his ex-wife, Lucas’ mother Ruth Wheldon (Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino), Dwight heads towards his fateful encounter at Reservation Road. The accident happens so fast that Lucas is all but unaware, while Ethan – the only witness – is all too aware, as a panicked Dwight speeds away. The police are called, and an investigation begins. Haunted by the tragedy, both fathers react in unexpected ways, as do Grace and Emma. As a reckoning looms, the two fathers are forced to make the hardest choices of their lives.

There are few films that tell a more tragic tale than that of the accidental death of a young child, and they can be tough to watch. They certainly don’t elicit geeky joygasms like the latest Superhero flick can do. Nor is it uplifting in a way that most “Based on a True Story” flicks seem to do these days. No, the Family-Grieving-Over-The-Death-Of-A-Young-Child genre of film doesn’t cater to many demographics. That is surprising considering the kinds of films that can be bred from such a fertile premise, ranging from Revenge stories to other more cautionary tales. In the case of Terry George’s RESERVATION ROAD, the film seemingly attempts to run the gamut of possible outcomes. Ethan Leaner, father of the deceased boy and played by a welter-like Joaquin Phoenix, goes from a rather wussy College Professor, to Conspiracy Theorist, to a vengeance thirsty Charles Bronson type, back to sorta wussy College professor. Dwight Arno, the hit and runner, is offered up as a type of Everyman that loves to watch Baseball with his kid and live modestly, someone that audiences couldn’t possibly hold a grunge against since he’s so much like us. This point is further driven home as the film makes efforts around every corner to show how pained and conflicted the character is about his misdeed. Despite false starts and misleading narrative detours, the film is ultimately a story of forgiveness and rationality. While that’s certainly a worthwhile message, as far as entertainment goes and in the manner its depicted here, its a snore. Without a doubt (and here’s some ***SPOILERS*** folks, so beware) the film’s denouement suffers from feeling somewhat muted after a long-winded buildup, however I have to admit that I was surprisingly relieved to see the film avoid a bloodier ending. Perhaps in my old age I have grown soft, but I just felt like the death of a child is enough tragedy in one flick. Especially one that strives for realism.

So while the flick may be a bit meandering and ho-hum, the performances however are all top notch. As stated above, Phoenix does a pretty admirable job as a father consumed with grief and the search for the kind of “Justice” the Law can’t give him. Ruffalo’s portrayal of a tortured and guilt-stricken man is heartening, if a little tiresome at points. The lovely Jennifer Connelly may want to be careful about the roles she chooses to do next, or else she might find herself typecast has the hottie that is constantly put through the wringer emotionally. I swear, her contract must specify that any role she takes has to have at least one emotional breakdown. I know she’s tired of being only offered roles where people ogle her breasts for the entire running time, but the latter half of her career has been one downer after another. With that said, she once again gives a convincing performance as a grieving mother. Her character essentially loses it initially but eventually finds her way through the darkness to unexpectedly become a beacon of strength. Oh and it’s always nice to see Mira Sorvino prominently featured in a legitimate movie again, even if its only to appreciate her magnificent cleavage. Sorry if I sound crass, but it’s an amazing sight to see again.

As for the DVD extras, the odd inclusion of an episode of the TV show FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS must be mentioned. As to why its on the disc, I can only surmise that Universal Pictures is desperate for some cross-promotion of its properties. Aside from that oddity, we have the usual round-up of Deleted Scenes which are I suppose better than your average collection of said cutting-room floor material. And finally, we also get a better than average “Making-Of” featurette that delves into the story’s origins in literature as well as the cast and crew’s approach to the adapted script. Overall, an ok assortment of supplemental features.

Writer/Director Terry George may have won a lot of good will for HOTEL RWANDA, but his attempt to tell a more intimate tale falters. Where his earlier film succeeded in telling a story with a clear viewpoint, RESERVATION ROAD is muddled. The plot of the film is driven by a string of suspiciously convenient coincidences and not-so-subtle plot developments, made all the more jarring by George’s obvious and subdued direction. The movie definitely looks good from a technical standpoint, it just lacked the flourishes needed to give this story it’s impact. Sadly, RESERVATION ROAD left this viewer cold. And for the reasons stated, I don’t see myself ever traveling that road again. For everyone else, I recommend a rental. Until next time, keep those discs spinning…
Bobert’s Rating: – RENT IT!
Bobert’s Alternative Picks:

“She looked healthy to me”

“I never thought I would get it”

“I used protection…but it wasn’t enough”

If you have said these phrases, you have either gotten some horrible STD, or experienced an Xbox 360 shutting down on you. The Red Ring of Doom (RROD) is a very common occurrence. This issue, caused by hardware failure has become the stuff of legends. Various hacks, tricks and work around tactics have been developed, yet none of them can 100% fix the problem. Thankfully the later models have seemingly fixed this problem.

Even though it doesn’t have a catchy nickname like RROD, overheating is another serious issue facing 360 owners. Gone are the days when you could shove a console into an entertainment center and have it look pleasing to the eye. You practically need to plan exactly how the Xbox will align with Earth’s magnetic poles to ensure that your system will not get to hot. The problem actually lies with the soldering of some of the electronic components. Apparently a type of material was used that when it heats up is fine, but when it cools it can become brittle and damaged. This affects the various systems in the Xbox…including ironically, the fan and cooling system. This is what plagued me. My Xbox would start up fine, but just about the time I navigated through all of the menus and began a game, the system would shut down, and the 2 left red lights would begin flashing. The system would also be very noisy when it started up, and the cooling system having been damaged, would begin to fan the Xbox, despite being at a room temperature.

The problem cannot be easily solved, and is quite frustrating. Even though the system thinks it is overheating, this is not the case. You could have your xbox near freezing (believe me I tried), but this does not repair the damage already done. You may get lucky and have the system start up again, but beware. Later model 360’s have cured this problem by using better materials, and an upgraded cooling system, but many of the early model 360’s may suffer from this problem. This leads us to the question “what do I do?”. In a clear “OOPS!” moment, Microsoft did extend their warranty to 2 years to help customers suffering from these Xbox STDs (Seriously Terrible Defects). This means you can contact them about your problem, and they will send a box and a packing label to you. You send them back your Xbox, and after they determine it cannot be fixed, they will send you a refurbished one in its place.

I thought it was good of the company to automatically extend the warranty process; however, the process is crap. It takes 1-2 weeks for you to get the label and box to mail your Xbox. Then you play the waiting game. You can’t blame Microsoft for the mail; however after the 3 days to get to them, it can take up to 3 weeks for them to determine what to do with your Xbox. Then another 3 days for your REFURBISHED or REPAIRED system to get back to you. As you can imagine, this would seem like forever. Imagine all the poor fools this will happen to when GTA: IV comes out. Yikes. However, all hope is not lost. I recommend the following for everyone looking to get any system with known bugs on the release date. This may not help with stable as a rock machines like the Wii, but when Microsoft releases the 720, or whatever new system they have, heed my words!

I support mom and pop shops to the fullest. Even though it’s not exactly mom and pop, I often buy from GameStop. My local store has a great staff, and I like the way they run their store. Buying and trading games has allowed me to keep my gaming library current and fun. However, I am now going to recommend you buy new buggy systems from Best Buy. Here’s why. I bought my 360 from Best Buy 1 year and 10 months ago. Then I got my 360 STD. Best buy sent me the packing for my system in 5 days. I shipped off my Xbox and in 7 business days, I received a gift card. Not a refurbished system, not my repaired system, a gift card. The gift card was for the full price of the Xbox I purchased (with Hard drive), including tax. I was very happy. I could have used this card to get anything. A PS3, a Wii, or simply get a new 360. My headset and controller had also degraded over time, and the gift card allowed me to purchase new ones as well. I have to admit I was very satisfied with their resolution to my problem. I basically invested 50.00 and 2 years later, was able to get a new system of my choosing.

So a lesson to the wise: be careful when getting those buggy systems on or near launch date. Companies like Nintendo and Sony are known for their stability, however something tells me Microsoft may continue this bug filled legacy for a while. Make sure you protect yourself and your investment with an extended warranty. If you don’t purchase a system from Best Buy, then go somewhere that gives you choices on how to spend your money. Sure, spending the extra $50.00 the day I bought my 360 hurt, but 2 years later I felt it was the best investment I could have made (much better than the Michael Jackson day-care I bought stock in). I give Microsoft’s warranty a 5 for being extended, but the amount of down time and lack of options really hurt it’s score. On the other hand, I give Best Buy 9 out of 10. They were fast, gave me options, and were even pleasant to deal with. Game On!