sign on. And this headline : "'Transformers' Audiences get peek at new disaster pic" caught my eye. A new movie by J.J. Abrams? Written by Drew Goddard (of Lost fame)? The Bad Robot logo before the film? The trailer was *not* available on the internet yet; apparently Paramount pulled the few ones that had sneaked onto YouTube. But I was determined. My wired brain demanded that I find this thing before I settled into sleep. And find it, I did.I did some google searches and video after video turned up fruitless. I would hit that "play" button only to be told that the video was removed. Finally, through a horrible bootleg (where someone actually WALKS in front of the screen at the very beginning of the trailer) I saw my first glimpse of "Cloverfield" in the pitch dark of my room.
The scene opens with some handheld footage of a going-away party for someone named "Rob," the usual party-goers dancing, mugging it up for the camera, talking about how much they're going to miss Rob once he leaves for Japan. Suddenly a thunderous roar is heard over the audio of the party, then pitch black...and when the lights come back on a TV is being filmed, reporting the roar with the words "Earthquake" printed below the newscaster. Another roar, shaking of the camera; one of the on-lookers suggests the roof of the building for a better look at what is going on. Here is where the trailer becomes truly frightening as we see the skyline of New York City and the tallest buildings lit up by fire and explosion. Huge fiery shards of building hurl towards the camera as complete mayhem breaks out. Screaming, frenzied shots of running and destruction round out the barely 2-minute trailer with the final piece of NYC hitting the ground right by our cameraman is the head of Statue of Liberty. Then no title, just the credits of JJ Abrams (producer), Matt Reeves (director), and the ominous release date: 1-18-08.
Seriously, if you haven't seen this for yourself yet, the 1st thing you need to do is to stop reading, open up another window, and check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX8cpgLkj7U
The internet is now abuzz with fact and speculation and its hard to distinguish between the two. I've done as much research as one can do on this film without murdering my next of kin, and here is what I've been able to gather.
WHAT WE DO KNOW:
+There is not title to this project yet. The "fake" working title (per IMDB.com) is Cloverfield. IMDB has it titles "Untitled J.J. Abrams Project." It is also being referred to as 1-18-08 as per the end credits and the web site.
+While many people have pointed to http://www.ethanwasright.com/, http://www.parasitemovie.com/ as being related to the film, JJ Abrams has squashed these theories (at least for now) - by releasing a statement on Ain't It Cool News --http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33261
+Some virtual unknowns are heading up the cast including Michael Stahl David (The Black Donnellys), Odet Jasmin, Mike Vogel (Supercross) and Lizzy Caplan (The Class)
+The "hipsters of the internet" are saying that it might just be CTHULU and they have one thing going for them: the rights to HP Lovecraft's stories have gone into public domain. So those monsters are up for grabs. The mention of "Rob" going to Japan, could almost be a tongue-in-cheek reference to Godzilla, that other huge monster that is known to wreak havoc on large cities.
+The bare bones official website http://www.1-18.08.com/ which shows just 2 snapshots (nothing clickable but you are able to move the photos around the screen) apparently only had 1 photo a few weeks ago. I have not been able to confirm this but I will be checking back often to see if photos are added. Stay tuned.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW - (aka I dig Speculation)
+While Abrams has said that http://www.parasitemovie.com/ has nothing to do with the movie, it is rather odd that the trailer for the film is available on said site. I followed the link provided by the ??? that is at the bottom of the screen. This leads the browser to http://www.tossinggames.com/ which it a puzzle within itself. I browsed the message board, which has this very random post on it as well, by "Steve" who is admin for the forum:
Answers:Are Ethan Haas and such sites connected? Per JJA, no, not a bit (although you were lead to believe that they were!)
Why? In due time you will understand, but in the meantime I will tell you to google the word "buzz".
What does this site (http://www.TossingGames.com) and the host site (http://www.SledRiding.com) have to do with any of this?
If JJA hasn't said yet, then you will have to wait and see on 8-1-07. It sure beats waiting until 1-18-08.
Again, if JJA hasn't said yet, then you will have to wait and see on 8-1-07. I am not obligated to say.
Also it should be noted that the site talks about "MONSTER SIZED GAMES" and leads to other sites. Confused? Join the bloody club kittlings. I took the bait though and googled "BUZZ" but found nothing - probably just a joke because all this movie is right now is buzz.
+the Ethan Haas hubbub is supposedly the part of some ARG (Alternate Reality Gaming) that is coming out soon, as is this the web sites that branch from this. It is pretty strange that http://www.ethanhaas.org/ also has a link to Lost related Hanso Foundation. To add to the insanity, http://ethanhaaswaswrong.blogspot.com/ is written in an alphabet that is only decipherable if you have the key (I'm not going to give you everything guys).
DOES ANY OF THIS RELATE TO THIS MOVIE?
THE CONCLUSION -
JJ Abrams and Matt Reeves are chuckling right now at the insanity and buzz they have spawned with a little 2 minute trailer for a film that isn't even done yet. But here is what I believe: It is NOT Lovecraft, it is NOT Godzilla. The creators of this film have often borrowed small parts of other literature and myth (in both Lost and Alias) but never blatantly told someone else's story. Why would they start now? If anything they are only going to increase their own mythos by putting in small clues to the Hanso Foundation, etc. With Abrams track record of smart and exciting work I haven't a doubt in my mind that this viral internet craziness is only the tip of the iceberg for this film. Until August 1st when more information will be revealed - the speculation continues.
Do you have any theories?? Share'em in the COMMENTS section.
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Ze Brickthrower would like to thank M.Sean McManus for all of his help in research and compiling info for this story. Be sure to check out http://www.thelastsin.com/, the official site of McManus' comic book THE LAST SIN OF MARK GRIMM where you can check out the trailer, read previews, and buy the comic online.
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((PHOTO 1 - NYC gets blowed up ; PHOTO 2 - OH NOES! Poor Lady Liberty, the end of the Cloverfield Trailer)))
1 comment:
It's Mary Brickthrower, looks like if you go to ETHANHAAS.ORG right now, the only thing you can see is this ominous warning:
The great cycle, the beginning and the end, turns just as the plans of the gods turn once again to the world of men.
And they will come upon the earth only after the skies rain down fire and the very earth itself is made to shake and the great cities of men fall into ruins. Their plans are set and their purpose is clear; they come for war.
Weird.
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