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)

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February Dog Days

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The usual February dog days aren't as canine as they could be. Screenings of City of Men, The Eye, Young at Heart, Diary of the Dead, The Hottie and the Nottie, Cover, The Witnesses, Snow Angels. (What about Vantage Point?) In Bruges, The Band's Visit and Fool's Gold (HE favorite Matthew McConaughey!) opening on 2.8; Be Kind Rewind, The Counterfeiters and Vantage Point on 2.22; Chop Shop on 2.27 in NYC; Chicago 10 (limited); City of Men and The Other Boleyn Girl on 2.29. Plus the will-they-or-won't-they-happen Oscars, special screenings, script reviews, next week's DVD of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, etc (which, of course, will be bare-bones to allow for a subsequent "director's cut with extras" version down the road.)

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 31, 2008 at 10:19 AM

comment #1

actionman says ...

City of Men, Vantage Point, Snow Angels, In Bruges, Be Kind Rewind, and possibly The Other Boleyn Girl are the ones I'm looking forward too.

Can't freaking wait to get Jesse James next Tuesday

Posted by actionman at January 31, 2008 11:20 AM

comment #2

actionman says ...

And I hope Jumper is fun

Posted by actionman at January 31, 2008 11:24 AM

comment #3

Mgmax says ...

City of Men, City of God, Children of Men, Children of a Lesser God, City of Lost Children... not since William, John and Mississippi John Hurt have I been so confused.

Posted by Mgmax at January 31, 2008 11:26 AM

comment #4

Aguirre says ...

oy, i posted a comment on www.chud.com 's new comments section that i was trying to copy and paste over here but their site seems down at the moment... essentially it said that i caught BE KIND REWIND last week, and even as someone who simply adores gondry's visual whimsy (the absolute magic it worked for bjork's videos and the degree to which it complimented kaufman's eternal sunshine script) the film was thuddeniigly mediocre. the script is beyond leaden and cloying, the characters nauseatingly stupid, the narrative distracted, and the moments of glee few and far between (and almost all seen in the trailer). despite its admirable message, gondry turns out one of the most crushingly flat films in recent years.

Posted by Aguirre at January 31, 2008 11:29 AM

comment #5

MiraJeffAICN says ...

Jeff, don't forget Jumper, which looks unreal, and Semi-Pro, which looks hilarious.

Posted by MiraJeffAICN at January 31, 2008 11:37 AM

comment #6

actionman says ...

The trailer for Semi Pro is indeed very funny...can anyone confirm that it's rated R?

Posted by actionman at January 31, 2008 11:40 AM

comment #7

Josh Massey says ...

Semi-Pro is indeed R - the redband trailer should erase any doubt. And for some reason I'm really looking forward to Vantage Point. Great trailer.

Posted by Josh Massey at January 31, 2008 12:06 PM

comment #8

Dave says ...

Ya know, when I first heard about Jumper I thought-- winter dump crap. I mean, Sam Jackson is a fantastic actor. . . who unfortunately does more paycheck roles than most anyone. And Hayden is great at playing whiny brat, not much more.

Then I saw the trailer. It's not the greatest trailer, but it sure made the movie look a whole lot more interesting than just hearing about it. It seems smarter than most shitty sci-fi movies.

So, crapfest, or sleeper hit? I'm not expecting something like the Matrix, but I'll definitely take something like Equilibrium.

Posted by Dave at January 31, 2008 12:09 PM

comment #9

the king says ...

Jumper is shit

Wells: do you know for a fact that there will be a DC of Assassination of Jesse James?

I was planning on getting the Blu-Ray, but if there is a DC (haven't heard that) I'll hold off.

Posted by the king at January 31, 2008 12:29 PM

comment #10

bachelorcool says ...

Heard today that Jumper has been put back to the summer. Is this true, given it's supposed to open in the UK February 14?

Posted by bachelorcool at January 31, 2008 12:34 PM

comment #11

actionman says ...

That's sweet that Semi-Pro is R...I've cracked up at the trailer so it's good to know that the crazy/raunchy stuff hasn't been ruined yet.

Vantage Point...great trailer...but they show waaaay to much...is it a case of great-trailer-shitty-movie?

I really hope Jumper is as fun as the premise is...it seems like it could be an edgy two-hour episode of Sliders with big-budget FX work...or maybe it's a pile of monkey dung...

Posted by actionman at January 31, 2008 12:37 PM

comment #12

Dave says ...

FYI on Vantage Point-- isn't that trailer, like, a year old? I saw it in front of Rambo, and I recall seeing it a very long time ago, and it was exactly the same. How long has that thing sat on the shelf? And anyone know why?

Because it WAS a pretty cool trailer-- Syriana meets Bourne meets Rashomon (or, sadly, Snake Eyes, ugh).

Posted by Dave at January 31, 2008 12:40 PM

comment #13

Rich S. says ...

The best part of the Jumper trailer is that you apparently keep one of them from jumping by hitting them with some kind of harpoon gun (with which you can presumably haul them back from wherever they've jumped). That is goofy as hell, but for some reason I love it.

Posted by Rich S. at January 31, 2008 12:41 PM

comment #14

thatmovieguy says ...

bachelorcool: I think you may have gotten some bad information. My Fox rep just confirmed a JUMPER screening for Feb. 11. I'm pretty sure it must be going on the 14th.

Posted by thatmovieguy at January 31, 2008 1:39 PM

comment #15

D.Z. says ...

Don't bother with The Eye, unless you want to check out the original Thai version of the film.

Posted by D.Z. at January 31, 2008 3:33 PM

comment #16

Edward says ...

I think I'd rather smoke some Thai.

Posted by Edward at January 31, 2008 4:10 PM

comment #17

jeffmcm says ...

DZ, surely the original Thai version of the movie is crap because it's ripping off superior Japanese movies.

Right?

Posted by jeffmcm at January 31, 2008 6:43 PM

comment #18

jeffmcm says ...

By the way, it's more Hong Kong than Thailand anywa. Aren't you supposed to be some kind of expert on Asian movies or is that yet another one of the many things you really don't know anything about?

Posted by jeffmcm at January 31, 2008 6:46 PM

comment #19

D.Z. says ...

jeff: The directors are Thai, and the setting is mostly Thai. There are some HK actors in it, but that's about it. Also, "The Eye" is nothing like "The Ring", unless you think all "young women in peril" thrillers are Japanese.

Posted by D.Z. at January 31, 2008 8:16 PM

comment #20

jeffmcm says ...

No, I just think you've proven, time and time again, that you're an idiot. And as usual, I'm an idiot for arguing with you because it's pointless, but here goes again to set the record straight just so everyone knows that you're wrong. The directors were born in Hong Kong of Chinese ancestry. The lead actress is Chinese and Malaysian. Most of the movie, until the last act, takes place in Hong Kong. I have to assume you haven't actually seen it.

It's not accurate to call it a 'Thai' movie.

Posted by jeffmcm at January 31, 2008 8:34 PM

comment #21

D.Z. says ...

Ok, I'm wrong about the nationality of the directors, but the film is still mostly Thai with some Chinese talent involved.

Posted by D.Z. at January 31, 2008 8:42 PM

comment #22

jeffmcm says ...

No, that's still incorrect. It's mostly Chinese from Hong Kong with some Thai talent involved. The only Thai involvement is that the directors started their career their while being originally from Hong Kong, part (less than half) of the film was shot there, and one of the film's four or five main characters is Thai with the others being generally Chinese.

Let me make something clear: My first choice in this world would be for you to be able to have normal, reasonable conversations not burdened by your huge pretentious ego. In second place would be for you to be so shamed by the constant evidence of your own ignorance that you just stop posting. But instead we're settling for you to never listen to anybody and persist in your path of madness and terror. Is there any way that anybody could ever break through your steely facade? Would you like a hug?

Posted by jeffmcm at January 31, 2008 8:47 PM

comment #23

D.Z. says ...

So their residency in Thailand makes them Thai by nationality.

Posted by D.Z. at January 31, 2008 10:00 PM

comment #24

cute4u23 says ...

Matt is my favorite. He is a hottie. I saw his profile on millionaire dating site http://WealthyRomance.com last week. I am wondering what kind of relationship he is looking for on that site.

Posted by cute4u23 at February 1, 2008 2:21 AM