alloa, Local Online News Community, Forums, Chats, For Sale, Classified, Offers, Film Reviews, Events, Motors Sale, Property For Sale Rent, Jobs, Hotels, Taxi, Restaurants, Pubs, Clubs, Pictures, Sports, Charities, Lost Found
  1. Published on: 27/02/2018 11:13 AMReported by: Film Critic
    Plot: When a group of scientsits try to find a solution to an energy crisis. They end up facing a dark alternate reality.

    I think enough of you are aware of my love for the Cloverfield franchise. The excitement and intrigue going around at the start of 2008 for this film was positively unprecedented. They created the perfect way of presenting a trailer. It explained very little, and got plenty of bums on seats.

    The first film was a pretty spectacular experience and made great use of the found-footage concept. I still remember getting minor motion sickness during one particular scene on top of a building. That still did not detract my overall enjoyment of this gripping sci-fi thriller.

    The next installment of 10 Cloverfield Lane was more of the same. A great trailer, with many tense moments and yet showed very little on what the story is about. It ended being a pretty tense and fun feature with an exceptional performance by John Goodman.

    Now we have a third part, and it continues to break ground in the way of marketing a film release. Not only did they tell very little about this film in the build-up, they released the film one day after showing us the first trailer during the Super Bowl.

    While that got me and many others excited, finding out that this is a Netflix release gave me concerns. Apart from a few exceptions including the brilliant Beasts Of No Nation, major Netflix original feature film releases have not a critical success. That being said, it's a Cloverfield film, I was stoked.

    Now that I've seen it, I can totally see why it was put onto Netflix. There is plenty to get out of it. But it seems that it never had one clear story that it wanted to tell.

    It starts with an interesting premise and I was impressed at the ensemble cast that I was seeing. The more obscure it went, the more interested I was, despite not everything making sense from a story-telling point of view. The close we got to the finale, the more I could see the Cloverfield tie-ins that the trailers were promising.

    However, the very final scene had me confused and kind of expecting it. It was the moment that reminded of the ending to '10 Cloverfield Lane' i.e. they found a mediocre film and then did some re-shoots to make it a Cloverfield film. But after my initial reaction, I have a theory that can defend what I saw on screen, and now I feel more at ease. I don't think it was helped by the CGI being noticeably sub-standard either.

    As I said before, the cast was pretty strong in its depth and the performances were pretty solid on the whole as well. Gugu Mbatha-Raw is the central character and she continues to show that she is a highly talented actor. She carried the film well and had many good moments to shine on screen.

    The standouts from the supporting cast were Chris O'Dowd who did his usual shtick that gave the film enough soft comedic relief. While David Oyelowo and Daniel Bruhl did nothing spectacular, their presence I think was necessary to give it some credentials.

    Elizabeth Debicki was a nice addition and did some good stuff, particularly in the second half, and it was great seeing Ziyi Zhang again. Most of you will know her from 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon', 'House Of Flying Daggers' or even 'Rush Hour 2'. The last time I saw here was probably in 'The Grandmaster' back in 2014.

    The production design was pretty good. Outside of the very final scene, the CGI looked good. It mixed in well with the impressive practical sets.

    The score in Cloverfield films are usually all right and go out on a high with a brilliant end credits suite. This one is no different like the others, I will listen to the end credits suite form some time.

    Once seeing it, I think you will find big similarities with Life, Interstellar and various sci-fi TV series. With Life being mentioned, you will notice a lot of tropes you get with many sci-fi horrors. I didn't mind them as they did not make feel it generic.

    To summarize, this franchise in some ways continues to show films that are totally different each time in terms of its genre, tone and presentation. The marketing is once again right on the money and I love how different they are every time.

    However in terms of quality, this was probably the lowest. It's most certainly the weakest of the three, and that is mainly to do with the writing and flawed story. But there is plenty of content to keep you interested throughout, it has a break-neck pace which adds to the excitement, the performances are solid and the imagination and mythology it has is interesting to see being used and explored.

    I think the biggest problem people will have with it is that it seemed unclear with its message. You can see a whole bunch of things it's trying to say. But it does not have one clear course that it's to keep on track with.

    As a standalone film, it's a perfectly functional sci-fi thriller with enough excitement in its set-pieces and interesting ideas to be passable viewing. But as a Cloverfield film that was being marketed to bridge the gap between the previous two, it manages to confuse you even more. I think like '10 Cloverfield Lane', it was not intentionally being made as a Cloverfield film. But it got picked up by the right people and made a few alterations to try and make it tie-in with the franchise.

    There will be many fan theories to support or hinder this franchise, and it will be interesting where they go with this in the next installment. I was not disappointed with the film, and yet at the same time I did not feel satisfied.

    It has plenty of problems, but all of them are honorable in terms of what they were exploring.

    Rating: 7/10
     

  2. Your Comments:



You are in: UK / Alloa / Scotland
Find any Town in the UK, or Use UK map
Local Google MAP for Alloa
Tide Predictions from NTSLF.ORG



User Control Panel

Not a Member? Sign Up!

Login or Register


Film Reviews, Last Cinema Movies, Movies, DVDs
alloaalloa News


Stats: Qlocal over 500,000 page views a month (google analytics)
alloa Bathroom Suppliesalloa Bathroom Tapsalloa Bathroom Furniturealloa Bathroom Showersalloa Shower Enclosuresalloa Bathsalloa L Shaped Bathalloa P Shaped Bathalloa Wet Roomsalloa Bath Screensalloa Bath Mixer Tapalloa Bidet Tapsalloa Toilet Seatsalloa Sanitarywarealloa Combined Toilet Basinalloa Stovesalloa Wood Stovesalloa Home Stovesalloa Cooker Stovesalloa Enamel Stovesalloa Designer Stovesalloa Contemporary Stovesalloa Multi Fuel Stovesalloa Accounts Softwarealloa Sage Softwarealloa Sage Line 50alloa Sage Line 200alloa Pegasus Accountsalloa Access Accountsalloa Car Servicingalloa MOTgalloa Tyresalloa Car Batteryalloa Exhaustalloa Journalist Jobsalloa Reporter Jobsalloa Writing Jobsalloa Freelance Writeralloa Self Employed Jobsalloa Franchise Businessalloa Franchise Opportunitiesalloa Driving Schoolsalloa Driving Lessonsalloa Driving Testalloa Driving Theory Testalloa Driving Instruction, 0000 alloa Driving Instructor, 0000 alloa Insolvencyalloa Insolvency Servicealloa Insolvency Servicesalloa Liquidation Servicealloa Business Recoveryalloa Insolvency Practitioneralloa Bankruptcy Servicealloa Winding Up Petitionalloa Business Financealloa Business Recoveryalloa Voluntary Arrangementalloa Individual Voluntary Arrangementalloa IVAalloa Debt Advicealloa Debt Managementalloa Company Administrationalloa Administrationalloa Corporate Recoveryalloa Corporate Voluntary Arrangementalloa CVAalloa Corporate Insolvencyalloa Corporate Liquidationalloa Members Voluntary Liquidationalloa MVLalloa Partnership Voluntary Arrangementalloa PVAalloa Tax Demandalloa Invoice Financealloa Bridging Financealloa Vouchersalloa Dealsalloa Matalanalloa Firewoodalloa Fire Woodalloa Kiln Dried Hardwoodalloa Logs For Salealloa Log Suppliesalloa Logsalloa Firewood Logsalloa Seasoned Logsalloa Hardwood Logsalloa Firewood Suppliersalloa Firewood Log Suppliersalloa Firewood Dumpy Bagsalloa Firewood Cratesalloa Cheap Firewoodalloa Homefire Logsalloa Cheap Firewood Logsalloa Kindle Conesalloa Pizza Oven Logsalloa Heating Oilalloa Home Heating Oilalloa Red Dieselalloa White Dieselalloa Keresenealloa Commercial Fuelsalloa Calor Gasalloa Propane Gasalloa Butane Gasalloa Heating Gasalloa Horse Trainingalloa Horse Traineralloa Horse Whispereralloa Equine Whispereralloa Horse Whisperer Victoria Smithalloa Rattan Garden Furniturealloa Rattan Furniturealloa Rattan Sofaalloa Rattan Dining Setalloa Rattan Directalloa Cheap Rattan Furniturealloa Rattan Corner Sofasalloa Rattan Day Bedsalloa Rattan Sun Loungersalloa Rattan Cube Setsalloa Rattan Bistro Setsalloa Chimeneasalloa Firepitsalloa Patio Heatersalloa Card Payments Processingalloa Credit Card Processingalloa Merchant Servicesalloa Merchant Accountalloa Merchant Paymentsalloa Card Machinesalloa Card Terminalsalloa Online Paymentsalloa Worldpayalloa Bouncy Castlesalloa Bouncy Castle Hirealloa Garden Trampolinesalloa Pramsalloa Pushchairsalloa Strollersalloa Hauck Pramsalloa Huackalloa Childrens Trampolinesalloa Baby Mobilesalloa Baby Activity Matsalloa Baby Bedroom Furniturealloa Childrens Bedroom Furniturealloa Hygiene Vendingalloa Washroom Vendingalloa Air Freshenersalloa Air Carealloa Aerosol Systemsalloa Gel Systemsalloa Water Savingalloa Urinal Water Savingalloa Eco Capsalloa Sensaflushalloa Water Managementalloa Urinal Dosingalloa Urinal V Screensalloa Legionella Risk Assessmentalloa Legionaires Bacterialalloa Odour Controlalloa Odour Eliminationalloa Odour Removalalloa Airsterilalloa Hand Carealloa Hand Creamalloa Hand Soapalloa Hand Washingalloa Hand Dryingalloa Hand Dryersalloa Electric Hand Dryersalloa Fast Hand Dryersalloa Commercial Hand Dryersalloa Energy Efficient Hand Dryersalloa Hand Dryer Rentalalloa Hand Dryer Salesalloa Paper Towelsalloa Roller Towelsalloa Cotton Roller Towelsalloa Blue Roller Towelsalloa White Roller Towelsalloa Janitorial Suppliesalloa Janitorialalloa Cleaning Suppliesalloa Cleaning Productsalloa Cleaning Equipmentalloa Office Cleaningalloa Home Cleaningalloa Debt Recovery Servicesalloa Debt Recoveryalloa Debt Collectionalloa Outsource Credit Controlalloa Collection Agencyalloa Debt Collection Agencyalloa Commercial Canopyalloa Steel Canopyalloa Bike Shedsalloa Bike Storagealloa Bicycle Storealloa Bicycle Storagealloa Bikes Storealloa Bike Storealloa Outdoor Canopyalloa Cycle Sheltersalloa Cycle Shedalloa Cycle Storagealloa Cycle Rackalloa Cycle Compoundalloa Cycle Solutionsalloa Scooter Storagealloa Scooter Shelteralloa Canopiesalloa Canopyalloa Play Area Canopyalloa Entrance Canopiesalloa Entrance Canopyalloa Waiting Shelteralloa Smoking Shelteralloa Parent Waiting Shelteralloa Parent Shelteralloa Teen Shelteralloa Nursery Canopyalloa School Canopyalloa Play Canopyalloa Envirolawnalloa Astroturfalloa Cheap Astroturfalloa Artificial Grassalloa Cheap Artificial Grassalloa Astro Turfalloa Artificial Lawnalloa Fake Grassalloa Fake Lawnalloa Fire Stove Glassalloa Heat Resistant Glassalloa Fire Glassalloa Stove Glassalloa Fire Resistant Glassalloa Replacement Stove Glassalloa Glass For Stovesalloa Spill Kitsalloa Spill Control Kitsalloa Spill Kit Refillsalloa Spill Kit Refill GK6alloa Chemical Spill Kitsalloa Oil Spill Kitsalloa Solar Panelsalloa Solar Panels Costalloa Solar Heatingalloa Solar PValloa Commercial Solaralloa Photovoltaicalloa Dust Matsalloa Entrance Matsalloa Reception Matsalloa Anti Fatigue Matsalloa Floor Matsalloa Logo Matsalloa Washroom Servicesalloa Principal Washroomsalloa Washrooms Suppliesalloa Washrooms Solutionsalloa Sanitary Disposalalloa Sanitary Binsalloa Sani Binsalloa Lady Binsalloa Feminine Hygiene Unitsalloa Sanitary Waste Disposalalloa Sanitary Wastealloa Sanitary Unitsalloa Feminine Unitsalloa Hygiene Servicesalloa Sanitary Bin Supplieralloa Sanitary Bin Rentalalloa Sanitary Bin Rental Servicesalloa General Wastealloa Trade Wastealloa Commercial Wastealloa Business Wastealloa Waste Managementalloa Waste Collectionalloa Cardboard Wastealloa Paper Wastealloa Plastic Wastealloa Glass Wastealloa Biomass Wastealloa Metal Wastealloa Confidential Wastealloa Confidential Waste Servicealloa On Site Shreddingalloa Off Site Shreddingalloa One Off Shreddingalloa Contract Shreddingalloa Dental Wastealloa Dental Waste Disposalalloa Dental Waste Legislationalloa Dental Waste Compliancealloa Accupuncture Wastealloa Accupuncture Waste Disposalalloa Accupuncture Waste Collectionalloa Tattoo Wastealloa Tattoo Waste Disposalalloa Sharps Binalloa Sharps Collectionalloa Hazardous Sharpsalloa Non Hazardous Sharpsalloa Cytotoxic Sharpsalloa Cytostatic Sharpsalloa Ink Blockalloa Wet_Wastealloa Tattoo Inkalloa Drug Destructionalloa Drug Disposalalloa Drug Denaturingalloa Unwanted Drugsalloa Out Of Date Drugsalloa Pest Controlalloa Rodent Controlalloa Bird Controlalloa Bird Proofingalloa Guano Controlalloa Pest Call Outalloa Pest Preventionalloa Pest Deterrentalloa Nursery Wastealloa Nappy Wastealloa Nappy Binalloa Nappy Disposalalloa Nappy Wheelie Binalloa Nursery Waste Disposalalloa Nursery Waste Collectionalloa Incontinence Padsalloa Offensive Wastealloa Human Wastealloa Nursing Home Wastealloa Care Home Wastealloa Hazardous Wastealloa Infectous Wastealloa Pharmaceutical Wastealloa Medicinal Wastealloa Medicine Wastealloa Infection Controlalloa Hand Sanitisersalloa Clinical Waste Disposalalloa Clinical Waste Managementalloa Clinical Waste Policyalloa EA Registrationalloa Hammocksalloa Garden Hammocksalloa Adult Hammocksalloa Childrens Hammocksalloa Baby Hammocks