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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Acid or Gasoline?

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Last night In Contention's Kris Tapley took a second look at Iron Man with some paying customers, and thereby caught the new The Dark Knight trailer. He came away believing that cowriters Chris and Jonathan Nolan "may have taken some liberties" with the facial scarring of Harvey Two-Face Dent (being played this time by Aaron Eckhart).

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on May 3, 2008 at 2:13 PM

comment #1

Aladdin Sane says ...

It does look like gasoline in the trailer. I hope it's acid, but if it's not, it won't be the end of the world.
Since the character of Sal is in the film, I just hope it's him that lights the match and not the Joker. I can see it being Joker who sets up the situation, but if it ain't Sal, well I think quite a few geeks will be up in arms about that.

Posted by Aladdin Sane at May 3, 2008 2:44 PM

comment #2

Adonis says ...

Wow, Wells getting deep into fanboy dilemmas... I like it, Wells. I like it.

Oh, but the only thing that surprised me in that link: Eric Roberts not only still has a career, but he managed to get into a Christopher Nolan film. Did NOT see that one coming, no sir.

Posted by Adonis at May 3, 2008 2:46 PM

comment #3

Aladdin Sane says ...

Well Tapley did link to this article, and in it Eckhart says "burned off by acid", so um, I guess that's somewhat settled?

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-ca-echkart-2008may04,0,3210342.story

Posted by Aladdin Sane at May 3, 2008 2:52 PM

comment #4

BurmaShave says ...

I believe it was gasoline in the cartoon, and actually a really cool sequence.

Posted by BurmaShave at May 3, 2008 2:56 PM

comment #5

Mr. Gittes says ...

So I saw Iron Man last night -- not even close to Batman Begins -- and when the credits appeared at the end, someone in the audience shouted, " Bring on The Dark Knight!" Several people followed suit and yelled the same thing; other people clapped with approval as well. To put a point on it, I think The Dark Knight will surpass all Box Office expectations. But I've been tootin' the Batman horn for a long time now...

Posted by Mr. Gittes at May 3, 2008 3:08 PM

comment #6

Kristopher Tapley says ...

Aladdin: Still seems fishy. We'll see how it pans out, I guess.

Burma: It's been a while since I saw that episode, but was it really fire in the cartoon? I guess I need to dig out the ole' DVD set and give it another look.

Posted by Kristopher Tapley at May 3, 2008 3:12 PM

comment #7

redmond says ...

I'm with Mr. Gittes.
I saw Iron Man in the theater this morning and it was decent - at best. Anyone else but Robert Downey Jr. and the film would've fallen apart. That said, I felt like I got my ticket's worth after seeing The Dark Knight trailer. I think it helped elate me to a point that I found Iron Man somewhat entertaining.

Posted by redmond at May 3, 2008 3:13 PM

comment #8

Mr. Gittes says ...

I wonder if Matt Damon regrets turning down the role of Harvey Dent/Two-Face...though, I think he's done with franchises.

Posted by Mr. Gittes at May 3, 2008 3:16 PM

comment #9

Scott Mendelson says ...

In the 1990s cartoon, Harvey Dent (fully off-his rocker at this point) is chasing head mobster Rupert Thorne over a bridge in a smelting-type factory. He is forced to the floor by gunfire and before he can get up a stray bullet hits an electrical cord and sends it into a fire pit. The cord mixed with fire causes a massive explosion right under the part of the bridge where Dent is lying, and the kaboom and sends Dent flying.

It's a stunning sequence especially because, aside from our familiarity with the character, you basically are seeing a man's face get blown off by a fireball in an afternoon kids cartoon. Although he was only in two episodes prior, Harvey Dent was such a funny, honorable, likable guy that it was truly tragic went he eventually became Two-Face.

Scott Mendelson
http://scottalanmendelson.blogspot.com/

Posted by Scott Mendelson at May 3, 2008 3:33 PM

comment #10

LYT says ...

Considering how many liberties they seem to be taking with the Joker, I'd say Two-Face is a minor point.

Posted by LYT at May 3, 2008 3:59 PM

comment #11

Geoff says ...

I'm just having a hard time imagining a guy pinning down Dent's face while a raging fire erupts below his crotch. I say it's acid.

Posted by Geoff at May 3, 2008 4:25 PM

comment #12

CinemaPhreek says ...

At this point, I usually try to avoid seeing trailers for films I know I am going to see either way (why spoil what you are going to be paying money to see, not to mention being a big boy means being able to handle surprises).

That said, I do have to admit that THE DARK KNIGHT trailer has turned it into the No 1 film pick for my summer viewing. Meaning, opening day with a group of friends. DARK KNIGHT is now that film.

Also, thanks Wells for my LOL of the day as the fan boys fell for this stunt to up the page views.

Posted by CinemaPhreek at May 3, 2008 4:54 PM

comment #13

K. Bowen says ...

OH NO! THEY'VE TAKEN LIBERTIES WITH THE FACIAL SCARRING OF HARVEY DENT! STOP THIS FILM FROM BEING RELEASED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by K. Bowen at May 3, 2008 5:51 PM

comment #14

Kristopher Tapley says ...

^^^ Hardly the insinuation.

Posted by Kristopher Tapley at May 3, 2008 5:59 PM

comment #15

berg says ...

PLOT FOR IRON MAN 2 ... the first film is too grounded in voodoo science, it needs to kick up the fantasy element ... solution, in Iron Man 2 Tony Stark seduces then give She Hulk an injection which takes away her super powers. Since she attended Harvard Law school she sues his ass good. Meanwhile Stark has pissed off Pepper Potts plus faces pending litigation due to default on his government contracts. Stark drinks a lot. Some have alluded to Stark being modeled on Howard Hughes but he more closely resembles Shaw's Andrew Undershaft. Lift the second half of the film from Major Barbera, as Stark finds out about his until then bastard daughter, now a teen activist with Greenpeace. Her boyfriend, a smart ass Greek scholar is led into the arrms trade by Stark. Meanwhile War Machine or whomever has been kidnapped by aliens from the future and needs to be rescued.

Posted by berg at May 3, 2008 6:07 PM

comment #16

K. Bowen says ...

Yeah, but it's probably funnier than the real insinuation.

Posted by K. Bowen at May 3, 2008 6:07 PM

comment #17

JasonGeyer says ...

Keep in mind that they weren't bothered by now explaining the Joker's origin, and that he is wearing makeup and has horrific facial scars, all non-canon (as was Ra's Al Ghul and Scarecrow in BB).

Trust in the storytellers to tell an interesting story, and not get hung up on strict adherence to comic lore. Which the Nolan's haven't.

Besides, Batman continuity has changed many times over the years. This stuff is flexible enough to keep the essence without sweating the details.

Posted by JasonGeyer at May 3, 2008 7:34 PM

comment #18

Kristopher Tapley says ...

No one's getting hung up on it. Just pointing out an uneasiness. And blending Frank Miller stories together with some Loeb material for Batman Begins (of which I was clearly a fan) is a little different than making the Joker the impetus for Two Face's creation. It isn't an issue of canon so much as mythos and character development.

But I'm always willing to give the Nolans the benefit of the doubt.

Posted by Kristopher Tapley at May 3, 2008 8:22 PM

comment #19

actionman says ...

Really had fun with Iron Man. Not perfect, but very, very enjoyable. Downey Jr. made the film.

AMAZING trailer for The Dark Knight. Indy looks like a blast too.

Posted by actionman at May 3, 2008 10:48 PM

comment #20

Aladdin Sane says ...

For more on what Scott is talking about:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-Face_(Batman:_The_Animated_Series)#Part_I

Posted by Aladdin Sane at May 4, 2008 12:48 AM

comment #21

Rich S. says ...

In the Burton film, the Joker killed Bruce Wayne's parents. The fanboys will get over it.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Batman Returns was better than Batman, but it got tripped up in the mainstream by being too dark and fetishist. Even if Dark Knight is by far the better film, it could face the same fate (although it will certainly outperform BB at least for the first weekend).

Posted by Rich S. at May 4, 2008 7:21 AM

comment #22

Seijornec says ...

Here's a link to the actual trilaer Jeff is talking about. His link is for the 1st full length trailer.

http://www.whysoserious.com/happytrails/trailer.htm

Posted by Seijornec at May 4, 2008 9:26 AM

comment #23

Major Calloway says ...

Gasoline instead of acid? Organic web-shooters? Has a child with Barbara Hershey? Will Hollywood please stop messing with my superheroes!

Posted by Major Calloway at May 4, 2008 9:40 AM

comment #24

iamjoe says ...

It actually makes much more sense than acid....who has a pocketful of acid at just anytime (except Ann Coulter). Nolan is keeping the movie ground down into this hard reality and its going to pay off HUGE. Watching that trailer, seeing the scenes I saw first hand, and the cityscape I walk through every day...amazing. People here actually CHEERED after the trailer.

Posted by iamjoe at May 4, 2008 10:30 AM

comment #25