1-18-08 Project Cloverfield - Warning! Spoilers

(via Variety) "Paramount's "Cloverfield" may have posted the biggest January opening of all time, but it's turning out to be more of a marketing win than a runaway crowd pleaser at the box office.

Pic plunged 68% in its second weekend at the domestic box office, putting "Cloverfield" in that category of films that rely on a huge opening weekend, akin to a much-hyped pay-per-view event.

But Par spent just $25 million to produce the movie, which has grossed $64.3 million in its first 10 days domestically, according to Rentrak. The film, still very early in its run abroad, has grossed $15 million internationally from only a few territories. Par, which likely spent as much marketing the movie as on the production budget, says the movie will easily be a financial success.

(via IESB) "On the eve of his departure for Japan, Rob (Michael Stahl-David) sees his going-away party as an opportunity to confess unresolved feelings and tie up loose ends. His agenda takes an unexpected turn when a jolt shakes the revelers. The crowd quiets down to watch news reports of an earthquake, then rushes to the roof to assess the damage. A fireball explodes on the distant horizon. A power failure follows. Confusion gives way to panic as the partygoers stumble through the blackout and into the streets.

Amid the human screams and one inhuman roar, Rob and his friends must traverse a landscape that has changed, overtaken by something otherworldly, terrifying, monstrous…

Paramount Pictures Presents A Bad Robot Production “Cloverfield” starring Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, T. J. Miller, Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel and Odette Yustman. The film is directed by Matt Reeves and written by Drew Goddard. The producers are J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk.

Click on the video thumbnails below to watch IESB's on set interviews with cast and crew plus get a look behind the scenes of CLOVERFIELD! And in case you missed any of them, we've got all the tv spots as well to share!

Plus, can't wait to see Cloverfield? Join a bunch of Cloverfield fans and enter to win a seat at the early IESB Flm Geekz screening in the Sacramento/Davis area! Check out the flyer below the clips for info on the Cloverfield PUB NIGHT being held on Wednesday January 16th! Attend for your chance see Cloverfield early on 1-17-08! Click here for more details!"

"We’re getting increasingly closer to that 01-18-08 release date that had everyone captivated a few months ago. Finally we’ll get to see what all the hype has been about as Cloverfield hits theaters. As you might expect, the movie’s commercials have continued to shroud much of the film in secrecy. Fans who were critical of Michael Bay unveiling the Transformers crew prior to the film’s release, after such a build up of anticipation, are the same people who are seeing every new commercial and whining that there’s no sign of the monster. Well, I’ve got news for you: get used to it.

Let me be frank: I don’t expect Cloverfield to deliver much in the way of a traditional “monster” movie, regardless of how much producer J.J. Abrams and writer/director Matt Reeves say their intent was to create that. And that’s what they’ve said: America lacked a true “monster movie” so they created one. ”We need our own Godzilla,” Abrams told MTV in July. But let’s look at what we know about the movie, and you’ll see an American Godzilla isnt’ what we’re getting.

First of all, take a look at the film’s premise, as promised by the studio: Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper decends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives.” That’s the text that appears on the “about the movie” description over at CloverfieldMovie.com, the official site for the film. Now, let’s break that down. (...continue)"

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