CLOVERFIELD
CAROLINE: The much-anticipated “Cloverfield” is in theaters and kicking major ass in the box office. But one wonders – will it have legs?
RYAN: I like that you said that because it reminds me of your gorgeous legs. This movie is executive produced by J.J. Abrams, who we love because he created “Alias.” It’s a film that makes your heart race and will remind you of terrorist attacks in New York City.
CAROLINE: I was so excited to see this movie that I hastened to see it on opening weekend because we missed the advanced screening last week. But sadly, I didn’t really enjoy the movie going experience. It made me really uncomfortable and it was all too reminiscent of 9/11. Except for the fact that there wasn’t a big lizard in NYC on 9/11.
RYAN: It’s really a sign of the times that we’re at a place where a movie like this can be released. Clearly, Hollywood has decided we’re healed enough to see New York under attack in a film. Had this been intended for release in 2001, they would have had to push back the release date.
CAROLINE: Oh honey, they would have had to cancel the film altogether! There’s no way anyone would have watched this movie. Some of the scenes look exactly like what happened on 9/11, with smoke billowing down the streets and people getting engulfed. And it takes place in downtown Manhattan too. Then it moves to other neighborhoods like the Spring Street subway station and let me just say to the set director, you did a crap job of replicating it. It looks nothing like the Spring St. subway stop.
RYAN: I wonder how people from other parts of the country are reacting since they’re not as connected to it all.
CAROLINE: Well, clearly they’re loving it to the tune of $40 million at the box office last weekend. I just think it’s the kind of movie that had such huge buzz that all the folks who were dying to see it went on opening weekend. But now there will probably be a big drop-off.
RYAN: We’ll find out this weekend, won’t we?
CAROLINE: Having said all this, the movie is shot in a very cool way and the special effects are amazing. There are no huge stars in the film, and they put most of the dough in the effects, and they’re awesome. At no time was I ever like, “That looks so fake.” It all looked real and great and scary.
RYAN: J.J. Abrams fought hard for it and he had his own game plan for this film, which has clearly paid off. I’d like to give him a pat on the back for actually revealing the monster to us in the film. Meanwhile, we’re still waiting to see what the hell is terrorizing everyone on “Lost.”
CAROLINE: Exactly. The monster in “Cloverfield” is really big and scaly. I wasn’t sure if it’s supposed to be a reptile or if it had some extra legs and was spidery too. It was big and gross regardless.
RYAN: Either way, I don’t want it in my sheets tonight.
CAROLINE: Given that most of the effects were done in post-production, I thought everyone did a really good job with their acting. They all seemed genuinely freaked out. And the guy who’s ostensibly shooting the whole movie was great. He’s not on camera much, but you hear his voice almost narrating the movie and the action and he does a great job.
RYAN: Maybe one of these no-name actor kids will get a career out of this. Bottom line?
CAROLINE: It’s a cool movie and the way it’s shot as if a guy on the street captured the whole thing going down is very innovative. It’s a unique and modern take on filmmaking. If you were in any way involved or impacted by 9/11, I don’t recommend seeing this movie, but if you like action, fast-pasted drama and thrills, you’ll be into it.
RYAN: It’s a really short movie and it’s always exciting, so I was never bored. If you’re at all inclined to see it, see it on the big screen because the effects are great. It’s not my favorite movie or anything, but it’s interesting and I think it lives up to the hype.
CAROLINE: As my boyfriend Tom who saw it with me said, “The movie is exactly what you think it’s going to be based on the ads.”
RYAN: That’s the truth, Ruth.