edited by Jonathan Doyle

Cloverfield [BLU-RAY] (Paramount Home Entertainment, 6.3.2008) Disguised under deliberately goofy, yet deliciously edible-sounding, aliases such as Cheese and Slusho, Matt Reeves' Cloverfield was produced and rushed into theaters under an equally appetizing shroud of secrecy. From last year's incredibly elusive Super Bowl ad to the film's viral marketing campaign, Cloverfield had everybody scratching their heads and drooling in anticipation. Aside from the as-yet untitled title and the Blair Witch-ian visual style, the film's biggest appeal was the enigmatic creature who was last (un)seen hurling the decapitated head of the Statue of Liberty onto the crowded streets of New York City. All we knew about the mysterious beast was that it was big and angry. Now that the highy-anticipated project has come and gone, one question has fortunately been answered: Cloverfield was a major success. (continued)

Upcoming

November 12

Slumdog Millionaire

November 14

A Christmas Tale

B.O.H.I.C.A.

Dostana

The Dukes

Eden

House of the Sleeping Beauties

How About You

Quantum of Solace

We are Wizards

November 21

The Betrayal

November 30

Blades vs. Robinsons

email this story
read comments (18)
post a comment

The weekend's big box-office battle is between Blades of Glory, the Will Ferrell-Jon Heder-New Homophobia comedy that the hairy-backed hoo-hoo crowd is reportedly hot to see, vs. Meet The Robinsons, the Disney 3-D animated deal that toddlers and their families cramming into starting this afternoon. No one cares who the winner will be, or how much money will be made....nobody wants to know anything because it's a weekend of mourning. If I could wave my hand and make the Ferrell flick into a failure, I would, but it's expected to do around $35 million.

Hollywood hills fire<< previous | next >>"North by Northwest" blunder

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on March 30, 2007 at 5:27 PM

comment #1

jeffmcm says ...

Okay - this officially marks you as being an elitist snob (have you even seen this movie? I'm assuming not) and not cool or hip - a hip person would have already moved on to talk about how good The Host is or what's in store on The Sopranos instead of posturing about gorilla men and riding around on his fauxcycle.

Posted by jeffmcm at March 30, 2007 5:55 PM

comment #2

ZacharyTF says ...

I want to see Blades of Glory just to see Jenna Fischer in lingerie on the big screen! :)

Posted by ZacharyTF at March 30, 2007 5:56 PM

comment #3

jackkerouac says ...

After reading this column now for a couple of years and being subjected to idiotic comments like the ones above, I have to say that you have got some serious issues to work out, dude.

Get laid, have a few drinks and then get off your high horse. They're only movies and besides, sometimes nothing goes down better after a hard week of work or school like a bit of fun and yes- mindless- entertainment.

Posted by jackkerouac at March 30, 2007 6:02 PM

comment #4

Walter Sobchak says ...

For "Meet the Robinsons in 3-D" you forgot to mention the all-important stoner crowd. Speaking of which, I'll see ya'll at next friday's "Baraka" screening at the Egyptian. Party on.

"You had me at '3-D'"

Posted by Walter Sobchak at March 30, 2007 6:08 PM

comment #5

tholl-yung says ...

Except that it's not so funny or all that entertaining. Just middling to good. Don't pay Jeff.

Posted by tholl-yung at March 30, 2007 6:09 PM

comment #6

dobbsy says ...

Earth to Wells: Today, writing about "Blades of Glory," you opined, "If I could wave my hand and make the Ferrell flick into a failure, I would.."

Why?

Seriously.

Why?

Posted by dobbsy at March 30, 2007 6:19 PM

comment #7

tholl-yung says ...

you mean when you could free the hostages instead?

Posted by tholl-yung at March 30, 2007 6:58 PM

comment #8

PanTheFaun says ...

I like Ferrell. I like him a lot. I also have a hairy back. I consider myself to be a bit of a movie snob. Yet I like "Talladega Nights" quite a bit. It's very funny. I think Jeff Wells is an elitist douchecock. All that said, "Blades of Glory" is a pretty shitty movie.

Posted by PanTheFaun at March 30, 2007 7:32 PM

comment #9

atticusrex says ...

Jeff: Why is this a weekend of mourning? Have some people died in the Hollywood Hills fire? By the by that pic you posted of the plume is really a very good spot on photo.

Still I ask you... why is this weekend a time of mourning? I understand from a B.O. viewpoint not much opened except for The Lookout. Sad thing is The Lookout won't score much moola. But at times like these... family movies and silly comedies or grand fantasies are what the audience needs... I expect Grindhouse will do wonders next weekend though partly due to it's subject matter and running time won't post the #'s 300 did. But 300 like Grindhouse provide a true escape from the everyday... something movies were meant to do. Of course though we need more important films or films from the heart as well... but you need the Blaze of Glory, Talledaga Nights, Pixar ect to make $$$ so that we get the movies we really want to see that changes or at least add to the language of film. We cheer if a Scorsese movie breaks the $100 million mark... We sing praises if a small indy film with something on it's mind makes say over $25 million... but you need the mass audience pleaser to pay for those type of films... because very, very few important and or Art films make $$$ at the box office... and after all Movies is a Business first... then art....

Posted by atticusrex at March 30, 2007 10:36 PM

comment #10

Dublin101 says ...

I like Ferrell but I'm going to skip this one. What I've seen of Blades suggest that it's strictly second division stuff that’s not worth the effort of going to out to a cinema. The only film on my personal radar is Danny Boyle’s Sunshine which opens where I am next week) but otherwise it’s a lean time for new releases. Roll on summer.

Posted by Dublin101 at March 31, 2007 6:28 AM

comment #11

dobbsy says ...

dublin: You're right, blades isn't very good. skip it.

but i still want to know, jeff, why do you want to "wave your hand" and turn someone's film into a failure? you said it, now do the right thing and back it up with an explanation.

i may think grindhouse is a witless, soulless, boring piece of cynical studio-style hype, but if people dig it, great. we can debate what makes for art and entertainment. and to tell the truth, the more people who go to movies, the better it is for all people who make movies.

but do you wish to wave your hand and make films fail? i'm curious and really want to understand your reasoning. is it ego? messiah complex? are you going to save people from being entertained by films jeff wells deems unworthy?

we got the kvetch, but we're waiting for the critique and the rationale for your dream of superpowers that enable you to destroy careers and investments and control people's minds and hearts.

Posted by dobbsy at March 31, 2007 8:14 AM

comment #12

count.olaf says ...

I assume the weekend of mourning is passover/palm sunday? And why didn't he stick to his original post?
Jeff usually champions sticking with what you write no matter how bad or wrong it turns out in the future. Be a man! You called people who go to this film some sort of awful name/characterization...now you have the "mourning" line in there.
Own up!

Posted by count.olaf at March 31, 2007 9:38 AM

comment #13

tholl-yung says ...

it's got to be the sweet jesus chocolate bunny, damn that thing is gorgeous -- what a talented sculpter -- i'd go see it.

Posted by tholl-yung at March 31, 2007 10:10 AM

comment #14

Mike Schaefer says ...

Dublin101: I assume you're actually *in* Dublin? Let us know what you thought of "Sunshine", it's been pushed back to September here in the states.

Posted by Mike Schaefer at March 31, 2007 10:57 AM

comment #15

Dublin101 says ...

Dublin101: I assume you're actually *in* Dublin? Let us know what you thought of "Sunshine", it's been pushed back to September here in the states.

Yep, hence the name. The advance reviews for Sunshine in the British press have been uniformly positive so I'm really looking forward to it. It has Danny Boyle, Cillian Murphy and sci-fi. What's not to like?

Posted by Dublin101 at March 31, 2007 12:33 PM

comment #16

Mr. Blood Vessel says ...

Jeff-
saw Meet the Robinsons last night.

a real shame.
what could have been a real charming and original (to me at least) idea of an orphan who finds a family, turned out to be the same schlock (boy no one understands who is a nerd but it's ok since he has weird hair).
what is really a shame is that the original writer got fired b/c he didn't want the worst character in the movie-the loser-ish villian.

John Lasseter may help disney in the future, but he is gonna have a real rough start.

Posted by Mr. Blood Vessel at March 31, 2007 1:59 PM

comment #17