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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November 12

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A Christmas Tale

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I love Robert Downey, Jr. when he's in his glib, smart-ass mode. Which is what...90%, 95% of the time? I've been hearing that Jon Favreau's Iron Man (Paramount/Marvel, 5.2) will be huge, but now I'm convinced. If it plays on this level (admonishing the robot, etc.), I'm down with it on a trust basis. Sometimes I'm on things earlier than most; sometimes I'm late to the party. No word from Paramount about screenings yet. Why, I wonder?

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on April 12, 2008 at 5:59 PM

comment #1

christian says ...

And too much of that glibness will kill this film. The most obvious approach is to have him say someting snarky after every moment. I doubt that Favreau will play it out that way. I hope.

Posted by christian at April 12, 2008 6:18 PM

comment #2

actionman says ...

I think this is going to be a great start to the summer movie season.

Posted by actionman at April 12, 2008 6:20 PM

comment #3

Ortega says ...

I actually clapped at the end of that clip. Bring on the glibness, I say. It's not everyday you get Downey Jr. on a big superhero blockbuster, and if you want to be ahead of the pack this summer, a couple of Downey Jr. zingers are much more appealing than a gazillion dollars' worth of CGI.

Posted by Ortega at April 12, 2008 6:28 PM

comment #4

cjKennedy says ...

A little glibness goes a long way with these superhero movies. The unwillingness to take them seriously, no matter how ridiculous they are, undermines them.

If the filmmakers don't take it seriously, why should the audience?

I don't want a superhero movie designed to appeal to people who don't like superhero movies.

Posted by cjKennedy at April 12, 2008 6:46 PM

comment #5

christian says ...

Excelsior, CJ!

Posted by christian at April 12, 2008 7:05 PM

comment #6

scooterzz says ...

'iron man' junket is 4/25 in ny and it will screen then and there... right now, la is being told 'no screenings' but we're hoping there will, at least, be something a few days before opening...... paramount is really doing some strange marketing stuff this season.......

Posted by scooterzz at April 12, 2008 7:07 PM

comment #7

Mumbleboy says ...

Usually I stay away from clips of flicks I know I want to see to stay spoiler-free, but I'm watching and loving all the bits I've seen of Iron Man so far.

Way to take a character I never cared for and making a movie out of it that's at the top of my summer watch list. I'm thinking this could be the big hit of the summer. Even bigger than Indy.

Posted by Mumbleboy at April 12, 2008 7:09 PM

comment #8

R. Hunt says ...

I've been bored silly by most superhero movies and Iron Man was never a favorite even in the days when I read every title Marvel released (up until around 1968), but I enjoy the Iron Man trailer every time I see it, solely because of Downey.

Posted by R. Hunt at April 12, 2008 7:57 PM

comment #9

Don Murphy says ...

Gruver why don't you research the insane financing deal wherein Marvel loses the rights to Hulk Punisher and Iron Man when the films bomb?

--------------------------
IRON MAN
from the director of ZATHURA

Posted by Don Murphy at April 12, 2008 7:58 PM

comment #10

Gnome de Guerre says ...

That clip made LOL, something I rarely do, much less type. Nah, I'm kiddin. I do it a lot. Still though, good clip.

Now what's the deal with him testing his flaming jet contraptions in a garage with millions in automotive products? Wouldn't he have another garage to tinker in? Or a lab? Or at least a shed out back? Do you have to literally be a garage inventor to be a garage inventor? Yeah, I know. Purely rhetorical.

Posted by Gnome de Guerre at April 12, 2008 8:07 PM

comment #11

christian says ...

Good point, Gnome...

Posted by christian at April 12, 2008 8:08 PM

comment #12

Jeffrey Kunze says ...

Mumbleboy - "Way to take a character I never cared for and making a movie out of it that's at the top of my summer watch list. I'm thinking this could be the big hit of the summer. Even bigger than Indy."

Agreed. Batman/Indy/Iron Man will all do great, no doubt about it, but Iron Man is the sleeper hit for sure. The Incredible Hulk is a far, far fourth place.

R. Hunt - "I've been bored silly by most superhero movies and Iron Man was never a favorite even in the days when I read every title Marvel released (up until around 1968), but I enjoy the Iron Man trailer every time I see it, solely because of Downey."

Agree. Who the F is Iron Man. Sure I had the toy, but never was given the background info. Always seemed so secondary...

Posted by Jeffrey Kunze at April 12, 2008 9:24 PM

comment #13

breadlymoore says ...

"la is being told 'no screenings' but we're hoping there will"

Paramount isn't screening this movie? You gotta be kidding me...

Posted by breadlymoore at April 12, 2008 9:27 PM

comment #14

romeoisbleeding says ...

Favreau had to fight to get Downey as the lead. I have read that he was even told "no" at one point but Downey hung in there. He really really wanted this movie. You can see from the clips that he is a perfect choice. There is no way any other actor could have been as good. Downey is Tony Stark! I will be there opening day to see this movie.And probably the next day to see it again.

Posted by romeoisbleeding at April 12, 2008 10:05 PM

comment #15

Nate West says ...

"I don't want a superhero movie designed to appeal to people who don't like superhero movies."

You mean adults? Frankly, Downey is the only reason I'd even consider seeing this movie.

Posted by Nate West at April 12, 2008 11:18 PM

comment #16

Mjs says ...

Yeah, let's have more deadly serious and deadly boring superhero movies. Spiderman 3? The new Superman? Fantastic Four? The third X-Men? Okay, those weren't all deadly serious but they were horrible mistakes from beginning to end.

Remember, a superhero movie can be fun. Anybody that has a problem with the glibness just has a problem in general.

Posted by Mjs at April 13, 2008 2:56 AM

comment #17

christian says ...

"Anybody that has a problem with the glibness just has a problem in general."

Now that's a glib summation. And clearly what made BATMAN BEGINS so popular with critics and audiences was Bale yukking it up. Hopefully, BATMAN FOREVER will be even funnier. I mean...

Posted by christian at April 13, 2008 3:38 AM

comment #18

Movie Watcher says ...

What a great clip. He talked to that robot like you would talk to you kid, when they are about 7 or 8 years old. Having three kids, I think that's accurate. The movie is going to be huge; I hope Downey is a smart-ass through the entire movie. I LOL at the end.

Posted by Movie Watcher at April 13, 2008 3:58 AM

comment #19

christian says ...

Here's a revealing Downey quote from last year:

"and as much as we’ve been able to in this we’ve tried to have it feel like if Bob Altman had directed Superman."

Posted by christian at April 13, 2008 4:04 AM

comment #20

romeoisbleeding says ...

Thanks for the quote about Altman. Downey would know.. he worked with Altman a few times in Gngerbread Man and Short Cuts. He had wanted him to be in Gosford Park but he was unable to work at the time.

Posted by romeoisbleeding at April 13, 2008 6:37 AM

comment #21

bikinigirl says ...

Luve him. Once chatted with him on the free and hot millionaire and celeb dating club RichMatchMaki ng.c om...... where lots of hotties and cutties show up everyday

Posted by bikinigirl at April 13, 2008 7:37 AM

comment #22

Mjs says ...

"Now that's a glib summation. And clearly what made BATMAN BEGINS so popular with critics and audiences was Bale yukking it up. Hopefully, BATMAN FOREVER will be even funnier. I mean..."

Is Iron Man a sequel to Batman? Didn't think so, moron.

Posted by Mjs at April 13, 2008 10:29 AM

comment #23

Ogami Itto says ...

"Now that's a glib summation. And clearly what made BATMAN BEGINS so popular with critics and audiences was Bale yukking it up. Hopefully, BATMAN FOREVER will be even funnier. I mean..."

Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark are very different characters in terms of personality and purpose.

Stark didn't witness the murder of his parents when he was 8 and become obsessed with justice; he started out as a boozing billionaire businessman who had to learn some tough lessons later in life.

And how horrible -- a superhero with a sense of humor. Do they all have to be so mopey and whiny?

Posted by Ogami Itto at April 13, 2008 10:43 AM

comment #24

cjKennedy says ...

"Remember, a superhero movie can be fun. Anybody that has a problem with the glibness just has a problem in general."

I'm not exactly sure what that last part even means, but for the record I wasn't passing commentary on the movie. I didn't watch the clip. I'm seeing the movie. I don't need to be sold on it.

I don't remember what my point was anymore.

Posted by cjKennedy at April 13, 2008 11:24 AM

comment #25

christian says ...

"Is Iron Man a sequel to Batman? Didn't think so, moron. "

You know MSJ, I've defended you here before on HE and never resorted to calling you names. I just don't like repetitive smart-ass remarks in action movies. It's not unique and there's more to the character than that, which you might not know. It's my opine, not a personal attack. It's a comic book. Get angry about something important.

Posted by christian at April 13, 2008 12:40 PM

comment #26