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Saturday January 19, 2008 11:00 pm

‘Cloverfield’ Warning: Take Your Motion Sickness Pills

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Paramount, Action, Drama, Horror, Thrillers, Filmmaking

Cloverfield

Tonight, I was really looking forward for my chance to see .  Not only was I intrigued by the trailers, I was relieved to watch a movie that was only 1.5 hours long.  A short run time basically guaranteed the action would start quickly.  Unfortunately, the production ended up feeling like the longest 85 minutes of my life.  (And that wasn’t because it was necessarily a bad film.)  It was also the most nauseating experience I had had in quite some time.  (And that wasn’t because it was a particularly gory film.  In fact, it was fairly tame.)  Cloverfield just happened to be the shakiest piece of film I can recall having to endure.  Period.

Had this been any other movie, I might have walked out on it.  The problem was that I wanted to sit through the whole thing.  (I needed to see that bad-ass monster for myself.)  If that meant averting my gaze through a third of the film, I figured that would still be better than completely leaving halfway through it.  I refused to wimp out.

But if any of you out there have a problem with motion sickness, heed my advice:  Take Your Dramamine!  Envision the shaky home video your friend took at your wedding. Then imagine them running with the camera.  Then extend that same piece of film (with no pauses) to movie-length.  I like to think that I can stomach a lot, but this was x 10.  (Though when compared to the sickening feeling I felt on a casino boat once, this was about half as bad.)


NOTE:  I am giving you a piece of advice.  This is not meant to be a review of the film.

I want everyone to understand that I’m not criticizing the director () for using the shaky-cam technique.  In fact, I thought it was a creative storytelling device.  I just wish I had been better prepared.  Although I had seen the commercials and was aware of the movie’s basic premise, I stupidly didn’t put two-and-two together. A whole movie shot on a home video camera should have set off alarms with me.  (Maybe I was just hoping the amateur behind the camera would have a steadier hand.)  So let my cautionary tale be your word of warning.

And before I go, I’d like to add a quick note directed toward theater owners: if you don’t want clean up any future ‘spills’, I’d advise you to post some warnings outside the auditorium doors.  You know, just like the ones you see at amusement parks. 

“Those who are pregnant, elderly or likely to feel queasy during shaky experiences should take precautionary measures before watching this film.  Dramamine can be purchased at the concession stands for $10.”


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Comments:

1/21/08 2:16 am

This was an AWESOME piece of advice. I just like you didn’t put the pieces together and realize that this whole movie was going to be shot like this. I unfortunately couldn’t stomach the whole thing and I ended up throwing up right in the middle of it.:( I contemplated going back in because it was THAT good…but I couldn’t. I will wait until it comes to dvd and watch it at home where I can pause it and take it easy:)

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1/21/08 7:06 pm

I DID, TOO! I thought it was cause I’m 6 months pregnant or my fiance put too much caramel on the popcorn. But spooky in some areas!

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1/22/08 2:18 am

Very good advice.  My wife and I went to see it this past weekend and my wife couldn’t stomach more than 15 minutes of it.. she’s a trooper though and stayed through the whole thing (face buried in my shoulder though) and just kinda caught bits and pieces of it.  I didn’t have a problem with it and thought the movie was fantastic and I love the whole documentary style of it.  We’re going to try and catch it again this weekend and she’ll be taking some medicine before we see it to see if that helps.

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1/24/08 10:55 am

don’t feel bad, i walked in totally unaware of this potential problem.  i was OK during Blair Witch so why would i have a problem with this?  well i had to look away for easily 1/2 the movie because i couldn’t take the jerky camera motions that are CONSTANT.  Yes it is THAT bad!  I do wish the theater or filmmakers had warned me.  I may take some dramamine and go see it again - it was a good movie!! smile

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2/3/08 10:21 am

I unfortunately had the exact same problem.  My girlfriend was fine, but I was feeling awful after 10 minutes.  Luckily though, I stayed around for the whole thing, and even though after only “seeing” a tenth of the film, but “hearing” it all, I loved it!  I can’t wait until it’s on DVD as on a small screen I was fine with Blair Witch, but had the same problem in the cinema.

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2/14/08 10:18 am

I went to see this last night and couldnt stand it, sat for 15 minutes and ran to the toilet to throw up! ive never felt motion sickness in my life before and was surprised!! i have a twin who was fine!!

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6/9/08 8:49 am

Film is really good, i’ve watched it to the end. But my girlfriend went away after 20 minutes of it and i had to tell her the content later. smile Thank author, it’s really a good piece of advice.

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Ted Ted 2/28/09 3:21 am

Unfortunately I saw this movie only yesterday. I want to say that this film isn’t impressed.

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Ted Ted 2/28/09 3:23 am

Unfortunately I saw this movie only yesterday. I want to say that this film isn’t impressed.
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