Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Movie Review: Cloverfield
()
Since its teaser trailer screened in front of Transformers this past summer, there's been a good deal of buzz surrounding Cloverfield. Unlike most movies that arrive loaded with hype, though (Snakes on a Plane anyone?), Cloverfield completely delivers. It is the most visceral, thrilling movie I've seen in years. Not since Trinity's opening bullet-time fight in the The Matrix have I heard an audience spontaneously burst into applause in the middle of a movie. They did in Cloverfield at the end of an insanely tense sequence in a subway tunnel.
The story of the movie is really quite simple: something immensely destructive has arrived in Manhattan and is on the loose. The film begins with a farewell party for a character named Rob. Everything seems completely normal. People are talking, flirting, drinking when suddenly a massive earthquake hits the city. The party-goers rush to the roof to see what's happening, arriving just in time to see a massive fireball erupt . The next hour of the film is so intense that many of who will find yourselves laughing (like I did) just to alleviate the tension.
()
Support for LAist comes from
Rather than trying to escape, the central characters of Cloverfield head back into the city to try to rescue one of their fallen friends. Without spoiling anything, they encounter a nightmare world of surreal destruction where death is always only inches away. That journey is the real joy of the movie and immense credit must go to director Matt Reeves for creating a world that feels completely real and staging action sequences where the spatial orientation is so precise and correct that you always feel like you're in this world with these characters.
The combination of simple hand-held video and dense, layered special effects is seamless and the sound effects track is a perfect, crunching complement. Simply put, at no point does anything you're seeing feel artificial. Even though the characters are given only the barest of depth, you begin rooting for them almost immediately and the various tragedies that befall them have real impact. At its core, Cloverfield is nothing more than a monster movie, but it is one that is so perfectly executed that you simply marvel at it once its over.
Previously on LAist
- LAist Interview: Matt Reeves, Director of Cloverfield
Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Wasteland Weekend is all about souped-up rust buckets, spikey costumes and an ‘ideal apocalypse.’ -
The Shadow the Scientists initiative at UC Santa Cruz strives to demystify astronomical research. -
Some submissions to the Pasadena Humane Society were made by extremely talented artists. The others … tried their best. -
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out. -
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings. -
It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning.
Best of LAist