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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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"Lions for Lambs" trailer

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I've tried to play this brand-new Lions for Lambs trailer six times (it's currently an AOL Moviefone exclusive) and the hell with it. I have a perfectly functioning laptop with Windows XP and all the major media players and no time at all for trailers that don't play free and easy. I saw the green MPAA logo, a silent MGM lion and then nothing...and then I heard the lion and then Tom Cruise saying a line and then nothing. So I went back and tried to play it twice more and it failed both times.

Gut reactions from the priveleged who are able to play it?

I-Phone sitdown<< previous | next >>"Transformers"

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on June 29, 2007 at 12:47 PM

comment #1

George Prager says ...

I worked for me. Hopefully, it will be better than FROGS FOR SNAKES, but that trailer isn't making me optimistic.

Posted by George Prager at June 29, 2007 12:56 PM

comment #2

malibugigolo says ...

So on Sept. 2, 1945 every US soldier just packed up, and headed home?

That's a laugh!

I heard the first title was Acorns For Oaks (per the line in the script) but Redford nixed it because of environmental concerns.

Posted by malibugigolo at June 29, 2007 01:04 PM

comment #3

Josh Massey says ...

I think the most interesting detail is that Cruise gets third billing.

Posted by Josh Massey at June 29, 2007 01:13 PM

comment #4

lazarus says ...

I don't know whether to commend Cruise for taking third billing, or call Redford crazy for not giving the top billing to Cruise or Streep.

Strange.

The music was terrible, and I think if your film's prestige, bill it as such. Where's the orchestral cues and slow-motion shots? I don't know that cutting the trailer as some kind of suspense theatres is going to help much. Either people are going to go because of these stars, or not.

Redford has yet to make a bad film, in my opinion (and that includes Bagger Vance), so I'm there. But this is poor marketing.

Posted by lazarus at June 29, 2007 01:16 PM

comment #5

George Prager says ...

"So on Sept. 2, 1945 every US soldier just packed up, and headed home?

That's a laugh!"

How many U.S. soldiers were killed in WWII after Sept. 2 1945?

Schmuck.

Posted by George Prager at June 29, 2007 01:17 PM

comment #6

Jesse Perry says ...

I'm intrigued simply because of the cast, but I was too distracted by the IRON EAGLE 3 soundtrack.

Posted by Jesse Perry at June 29, 2007 01:23 PM

comment #7

malibugigolo says ...

George Prager: Tens of Thousands. For about 3 years in both Japan and Germany.

Posted by malibugigolo at June 29, 2007 01:26 PM

comment #8

George Prager says ...

Never happened, malibu.

Coincidentally, CUBICLES FOR CORNHOLES, the malibugigilo story, is now on DVD.

Posted by George Prager at June 29, 2007 01:32 PM

comment #9

berkguru says ...

The trailer is HORRIBLE. Give you no flavor for what the movie is even about and the music blows. Just can't take Tom Cruise seriously - he looks and acts the same in every movie he is in. Has no range.

Posted by berkguru at June 29, 2007 01:33 PM

comment #10

JD says ...

Terrible, terrible, TERRIBLE trailer... and yet, very good script. Redford strikes me as the wrong director for this film. At least half of the film revolves around people under the age of about 22 and he seems too far removed from that age group to get it right. Also, is it just me or does Redford's entire being radiate condescending, liberal sermonizing these days? I like a good liberal sermon as much as the next guy and I'm a big Redford fan, but these are two tastes that taste bad together.

Posted by JD at June 29, 2007 01:39 PM

comment #11

PatrickC88 says ...

Not a very good trailer but it is just a teaser. It looks like the kind of film that will enrage anyone remotely supportive of Bush or the "War on Terror". Might be too polarizing for Oscar.

Posted by PatrickC88 at June 29, 2007 01:46 PM

comment #12

cjKennedy says ...

JD, you stole my exact reaction, only you worded it better than I would've so it's ok.

I'll just add that I could live a long, full, happy life if no one ever used the words "tipping point" ever again.

Also, I'm a little late to the party on this one, but I'm really over Tom Cruise now. For a long time he was a non-factor in my decision to see a movie, but now he's become a liability. When I see the name Tom Cruise, I'm thinking "Ok, what else have you got?"

Posted by cjKennedy at June 29, 2007 01:49 PM

comment #13

SHR says ...

Interesting that the trailer shows no battle footage and makes the film appear to be more of a procedural. Is UA afraid that the public is so war torn that a teaser with armed forces and terrorists included might just turn everyone off right away? They accomplished that anyway with this preachy, old fashioned looking teaser.

Posted by SHR at June 29, 2007 02:02 PM

comment #14

Rich S. says ...

The last sequence looks like Cruise got his DNA crossed with Jack Nicholson when he was questioning him in A Few Good Men. "And who's going to man those walls? You?"

Posted by Rich S. at June 29, 2007 02:03 PM

comment #15

Breedlove says ...

CJ - i'm the exact opposite. if cruise is in it i'm guaranteed to see it in a theater. i don't get too caught up in the off-the-field stuff - the man has impeccable taste, far and away the best of any a-list actor. on 4 seperate occasions he's made my favorite film of the year - jerry maguire, magnolia, vanilla sky, and minority report. all is does is ambitious, challenging stuff with great directors. as far as the actual movies go, let's face it: the guy totally, completely gets it.

Posted by Breedlove at June 29, 2007 02:07 PM

comment #16

cjKennedy says ...

Breedlove, I don't know what happened. I liked Magnolia, Vanilla Sky and Minority Report. I was a little put off by the hype around Jerry Maguire, but I even liked the guy in Eyes Wide Shut.

You have to admit he hits that one note an awful lot...that intense Tom Cruise note.

I don't know. Maybe the off screen stuff is finally getting to me. Normally I don't let that bug me though.

Posted by cjKennedy at June 29, 2007 02:15 PM

comment #17

actionman says ...

breedlove--i totally agree

solid teaser...i love political thrillers...i'm there

between this film and The Kingdom (which I have seen and can say is terrific), screenwriter Matthew Michael Carnahan is on a roll.

Posted by actionman at June 29, 2007 02:16 PM

comment #18

George Prager says ...

I mostly agree with Breedlove, even if his post reads like he posted it from that big Scientology headquarters on Sunset.

Posted by George Prager at June 29, 2007 02:21 PM

comment #19

Mr. Gittes says ...

SEE Born on the Fourth of July...that will quell any doubts about Mr. Cruise.

Posted by Mr. Gittes at June 29, 2007 02:25 PM

comment #20

George Prager says ...

Mr. Gittes is Tom Cruise's sister.

Posted by George Prager at June 29, 2007 02:31 PM

comment #21

nemo says ...

"You have to admit he hits that one note an awful lot...that intense Tom Cruise note."

I noticed that one same repetitive intense Tom Cruise note as far back as "Top Gun", "Cocktail", and "Days of Thunder".

Don't you ever get sick to death of his relentless gung-ho can-do Tom Cruise spirit? In more than half his films he seems like a cult member onscreen, even if you knew nothing about his offscreen life.

He is a good actor, I'll grant him that. But it's hard go into his films without gritting your teeth. It's like letting the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses and the Hare Krishnas and the Jesus freaks into your house to tell you how great your life could be if you would just submit to the Borg.

Posted by nemo at June 29, 2007 02:39 PM

comment #22

George Prager says ...

nemo is Mimi Rogers.

Posted by George Prager at June 29, 2007 02:44 PM

comment #23

nemo says ...

Do you have algorithm for generating your comments while you're busy looking in the fridge, George? You're seeming a little mechanical.

Posted by nemo at June 29, 2007 02:52 PM

comment #24

George Prager says ...

nemo is Tom Cruise!

Posted by George Prager at June 29, 2007 02:56 PM

comment #25

nemo says ...

OK, I was going to chide you for operating at the poopy-pants level of insults and for not fulfilling your potential, but I have to admit, that last one was funny.

Posted by nemo at June 29, 2007 03:07 PM

comment #26

Josh Massey says ...

You got it, Breedlove. I look at his resume, and see only one out-and-out bad movie since he made Cocktail 19 years ago - the second Mission: Impossible.

Posted by Josh Massey at June 29, 2007 03:08 PM

comment #27

Aladdin Sane says ...

I thought the Mission Impossible theme was gonna start up at any moment listening to that music.

Horrible trailer. I hope someone cuts a better trailer and quick. Did Redford actually okay this? Or was some guy in the mail room allowed to do it?

Anyhow, I'd still see the film, given the pedigree, but that trailer wouldn't get me into a theater if I were Joe Blow.

Posted by Aladdin Sane at June 29, 2007 03:10 PM

comment #28

Rod32303 says ...

George is Jeff...on his third Bud Select.

TEASER is awesome, because it made me interested. We're always bitching about how the trailer basically gives the movie away. This TEASER held my interest, and Streep is always committed, even in her dreck (see "Evening). I dig Cruise, and I love Redford.

It's a TEASER - full trailer coming.

The music is shat, though.

Posted by Rod32303 at June 29, 2007 03:13 PM

comment #29

nemo says ...

Hell, even the Mimi Rogers crack was kind of funny. When I look back at my comments, it does sound like something she or Nicole Kidman would say.

Posted by nemo at June 29, 2007 03:13 PM

comment #30

George Prager says ...

nemo, you're a gentleman.
Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time to crack open Stone Ruination #4.

Posted by George Prager at June 29, 2007 03:32 PM

comment #31

NYCritic says ...

Other than the long-awaited on screen pairing of Streep and Cruise (remember she was supposed to be in MINORITY REPORT and then was replaced by Lois Smith?) -- this trailer doesn't really tell me much about the movie. Streep is getting to be a bit too ubiquitous for my tastes -- can't she let one of the other 50-something A-listers do at least one of the Oscar-bait movies she takes on?

Redford can be a good director with the correct material -- will have to wait until another trailer or the actual film comes out to pass judgment.

Posted by NYCritic at June 29, 2007 04:56 PM

comment #32

BurmaShave says ...

I'M TIRED OF ALL THESE MOTHERFUCKIN' LIONS ON THESE MOTHERFUCKIN' LAMBS!

Dear God, that is the worst fucking trailer I've seen in a long time. What the fuck is with that music? It sounds like a rejected Moby track. It should only be used for trailers involving Milla Jovovich in a catsuit. And why the fuck is the damn thing lit like it's an NBC TV Drama? My interest level has plummeted to roughly zero. Was this fan made?

Posted by BurmaShave at June 29, 2007 05:42 PM

comment #33

dre says ...

didnt care for this trailer ... the idiots in marketing are trying to market to the wrong people or something ... but i still can't wait to see this thing.

Posted by dre at June 29, 2007 07:35 PM

comment #34

George Prager says ...

THE FIRM is on Lifetime right now. Pinch me, I'm dreaming!

Posted by George Prager at June 30, 2007 01:29 PM

comment #35

david says ...

Hollywood Elsewhere

Upcoming

"Lions for Lambs" trailer

George Prager says ...

malibugigolo says ...

Josh Massey says ...

lazarus says ...

George Prager says ...

Jesse Perry says ...

malibugigolo says ...

George Prager says ...

berkguru says ...

JD says ...

PatrickC88 says ...

cjKennedy says ...

SHR says ...

Rich S. says ...

Breedlove says ...

cjKennedy says ...

actionman says ...

George Prager says ...

Mr. Gittes says ...

George Prager says ...

nemo says ...

George Prager says ...

nemo says ...

George Prager says ...

nemo says ...

Josh Massey says ...

Aladdin Sane says ...

Rod32303 says ...

nemo says ...

George Prager says ...

NYCritic says ...

BurmaShave says ...

dre says ...

George Prager says ...

david says ...