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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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"Despite some criticism, Pastor Roger Byrd says that the message will stay on the sign. He took the issue before his congregation Sunday night, and they decided unanimously to keep it." There's a small-screen video report that accompanies the WYFF news story.

Cannes Officially<< previous | next >>David Woody Wood

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on April 23, 2008 at 9:24 AM

comment #1

C Toto says ...

Crazy stupid.

Hey, isn't this a movie site??

Posted by C Toto at April 23, 2008 9:40 AM

comment #2

gruver1 says ...

Wells to C. Toto: No, it's not -- it's Hollywood Elsewhere, and I'm sick and tired of explaining to the flatfoots that it's a Hollywood-based thing that gets into the whole cultural rumble. The tone and character of HE is not simply that of a "movie site." Is that a tough one for you or...? Want me to explain it another way? Tell me if it's too tough because if it's too challenging or brain-teasy, I'll be happy to change everything and write only about movies in order to please you. Fair enough? Guys like you mean the world to me.

Posted by gruver1 at April 23, 2008 9:51 AM

comment #3

Fred Mounts says ...

I'm always reminded of the scene in Spartacus when the senators discuss the importance of pretending to believe.

If people really want to discuss progress in this country, wake me up when an outspoken atheist is elected to a high-level position.

In the meantime, I sincerely hope that the pastor and his ilk go to visit Jesus sooner rather than later, since they love him so much. I also hope that they're inept enough to take the rest of us with them.

Posted by Fred Mounts at April 23, 2008 10:05 AM

comment #4

redmond says ...

They finally took it down but I can't believe the pastor tried to defend it. How fucking racist can you be? My father is actually a Church of God minister so I'm not totally surprised by their sign, but c'mon. I don't care if you are in the south, some shit you just can't get away with.

Posted by redmond at April 23, 2008 10:15 AM

comment #5

vansmith says ...

flatfoots tell your story walking..ha

Posted by vansmith at April 23, 2008 10:30 AM

comment #6

Fred Mounts says ...

How funny is it that in a sentence concerning ineptness, I missed a word...to NOT take us with them!

D'oh!

Posted by Fred Mounts at April 23, 2008 10:31 AM

comment #7

Monument says ...

There has got to be a special place in hell for pastors that teach and practice the exact opposite of the scripture that they're supposed to be preaching.

Posted by Monument at April 23, 2008 10:33 AM

comment #8

CinemaPhreek says ...

Where are the morons who burn down churches when you need them?

Posted by CinemaPhreek at April 23, 2008 10:39 AM

comment #9

CinemaPhreek says ...

Those who most loudly proclaim to be Christian seldom are.

Posted by CinemaPhreek at April 23, 2008 10:41 AM

comment #10

iamanerd says ...

Tell 'em, Wells! Keep bringing in the whole gambit of pop culture, politics, etc. It helps the site since movies aren't enough content for one and most of them usually suck anyways.

Keep up the good work.

Posted by iamanerd at April 23, 2008 10:44 AM

comment #11

christian says ...

To quote Max Von Sydow, "If Jesus came back today,and saw what was going on in his name, he'd never stop throwing up."

Posted by christian at April 23, 2008 10:44 AM

comment #12

iamanerd says ...

Oh yeah, and that pastor's a dumbass. Under that guy's logic, we should watch out for that John McCain fella. You know, 'cus his name is like Cain's from the Bible. The first murderer. Man, people are scary.

Posted by iamanerd at April 23, 2008 10:46 AM

comment #13

CinemaPhreek says ...

Christian, try to give the proper author credit. It was Woody Allen who said that, he just used Von Sydow's mouth to do it.

The full, spot on quote:

"You see the whole culture. Nazis, deodorant salesmen, wrestlers, beauty contests, a talk show. Can you imagine the level of a mind that watches wrestling? But the worst are the fundamentalist preachers. Third grade con men telling the poor suckers that watch them that they speak with Jesus, and to please send in money. Money, money, money! If Jesus came back and saw what's going on in his name, he'd never stop throwing up. "

There, at least we turned the convo back to film.

Posted by CinemaPhreek at April 23, 2008 10:51 AM

comment #14

CinemaPhreek says ...

Another gem of an exchange:

HANNAH: Could you have ruined yourself somehow?
MICKEY: How could I ruin myself?
HANNAH: I don't know. Excessive masturbation?
MICKEY: You gonna start knockin' my hobbies?

Think I'm going to have rent that and finally re-watch it (as a former projectionist, there are some films that it's taken decades to want to enjoy again).

Posted by CinemaPhreek at April 23, 2008 10:55 AM

comment #15

christian says ...

Cinemaphreek, I give credit it to the folks at HE for knowing where that quote comes from.

Posted by christian at April 23, 2008 11:08 AM

comment #16

Indeed says ...

Redmond: How, exactly, is that sign racist?

Stupid? Yes. Pointless? Yes. But racist?

Just wondering.

Posted by Indeed at April 23, 2008 11:26 AM

comment #17

Edward says ...

Yes the sign displays an amazing amount of ingnorance and stupidity, but they do have every right to display it.

Posted by Edward at April 23, 2008 11:45 AM

comment #18

Monument says ...

...and we have every right to be upset about it, write about it, and protest it. And people in the congregation have every right to go to a different church, fire the pastor, or do nothing at all.

Yay, rights all around, God bless America.

Posted by Monument at April 23, 2008 11:55 AM

comment #19

christian says ...

And is it elitist to point out that there are more than a few Americans who are ignorant enough to think that sign has valid meaning?

Posted by christian at April 23, 2008 12:25 PM

comment #20

Filthy Rich says ...

"It's simply to cause people to realize and to see what possibly could happen if we were to get someone in there that does not believe in Jesus Christ," he said.

Wow - that'd be awful to not have had a war that cost $1 trillion, 4000 soldiers' lives, and the lives of several hundred thousand civilians.

It'd be awful to have a president in there not contributing to global warming and maybe not kill us all in the process.

Posted by Filthy Rich at April 23, 2008 12:29 PM

comment #21

Mgmax says ...

"...and we have every right to be upset about it, write about it, and protest it. And people in the congregation have every right to go to a different church, fire the pastor, or do nothing at all."

But the one thing you absolutely must not do is decide not to support a presidential candidate because he goes to a church where crazy hate gets preached. That's Swift-boating!

Posted by Mgmax at April 23, 2008 12:35 PM

comment #22

christian says ...

And if the President receives spiritual counsel from a Reverend busted for meth and gay sex, then keep it real quiet.

Posted by christian at April 23, 2008 12:56 PM

comment #23

redmond says ...

Indeed,

It's racist because this pastor knows Obama has brown skin and an "Ay-rab" sounding name. This guy knows what game he's playing and is hiding behind his "let's just get people thinking" rhetoric. Yeah, get people thinking that the Darky Boogie-Man is going to take over our government! WATCH OUT!

He also doesn't have a right to put this sign up because he's making a political statement which would invalidate his church's tax exemption. That's why his state headquarters had it pulled on the ASAP. Gotta keep operating their business, I mean "church," without paying a dime in taxes.

Posted by redmond at April 23, 2008 1:50 PM

comment #24

Indeed says ...

Redmond,

I see what youre saying but I still think thats a bit of a reach. Would you think someone a racist if they started using Obama's middle name when referring to him?

The priest made a retarded sign based on his personal political beliefs, but I dont see how the sign itself sends a statement that the aforementioned priest thinks that blacks are inferior than whites.

Posted by Indeed at April 23, 2008 2:04 PM

comment #25

Mgmax says ...

Christian, that's unusually DZ-nonsensical from you. On the one hand we have the rot that Rev. Elmeriah Gant has been preaching to the tender ears of the Obama children since birth, unquestionably known to all who attend (since it's on DVD too). On the other hand we have what was revealed to be the private sinfulness of a preacher, who promptly lost his position. Do you really see no difference between those in terms of the level of official approval conferred by the powerful?

Posted by Mgmax at April 23, 2008 2:19 PM

comment #26

christian says ...

You're right Mgmax. There's no connection between a party trying to ban homosexual unions along with their contempt for gays by using the Bible as their belief source and a GOP president who receives counsel from closeted reverends. Irrelevant.

And jes' cause Jimmy Swaggart got busted with a hooker didn't take away from his warm message of condemning sinners.

Posted by christian at April 23, 2008 2:31 PM

comment #27

TheJeff says ...

Yes the sign displays an amazing amount of ingnorance and stupidity, but they do have every right to display it.

Actually, they don't. Churches maintain tax-exempt status largely based on their lack of political affiliation. Promotion or disparagement of a particular candidate is in direct violation of their tax exempt agreement. The IRS would be fully within their rights to revoke the tax exempt status, collect back taxes, and hopefully bankrupt these ignorant fucks.

Posted by TheJeff at April 23, 2008 3:12 PM

comment #28

C Toto says ...

Gruver1/Wells ... yes, it's too brain teasy for me to figure out that this site combines far lefty content and movie stuff. Can you dumb it down for me?

Yikes, I was just trying to lighten the mood a touch.

That said, your film insights and scoops are far more intriguing for me as a reader than harping on every last poll and candidate flub.

Posted by C Toto at April 23, 2008 4:00 PM

comment #29

D.Z. says ...

Mgmax: "But the one thing you absolutely must not do is decide not to support a presidential candidate because he goes to a church where crazy hate gets preached. That's Swift-boating!"

There's a difference between ranting against the government, and using a religion to promote intolerance against specific groups.

Posted by D.Z. at April 23, 2008 4:28 PM

comment #30