Cloverfield DVD Review: The Best Buy Edition

Paramount Home Video's Cloverfield DVD packs a lot into a single disc, and is easily a "must buy" for your home theater collection. The film, released in theaters in January, is best described as a first person account of a monster attack on New York City. Others have described it as a update on the "Blair Witch Project" concept, and while the filmmakers admit to its influence, it doesn't do the movie justice. Cloverfield delivers in every way where Blair Witch did not, while using the hand-held video camera to show just enough to keep a sense of wonder and mystery intact and build the suspense through the final scene.

The film begins with a Manhattan loft going away party for Rob, who is moving to Japan. Suddenly, a large, reptilian monster attacks the city, and Rob and friends make their way across the island on a rescue mission. Of course, their paths cross with the monster more than a few times. The chaos is all caught on tape by a character named Hud, who decides to document what is happening in case they don't make it.

The video quality in Cloverfield is amazing, which is no surprise considering the movie is filmed on a high-def camera. Some of the video appears grainy, shaky, or out of focus, but it is all part of the deliberate presentation. The sound is a character by itself, and will give any surround system a workout. Menus, set up as part of a government file, are clever and easily navigable.

The extras are plentiful and satisfying. Rather than making the extras an afterthought like many studios do (by the way, a trailer and cheesy promotional featurette do not a special edition make), the features here go into many facets of the making of the film. Be sure not to watch any special features before you watch the film, however. They assume you've seen it and know how it ends. There are alternate endings, bloopers, and plenty of interviews with the cast and crew. A special effects feature is not only informative, it will amaze you how many effects were used in the making of the film. There is also a link to a new website, http://www.cloverfieldfiles.com, with even more behind-the-scenes clips. Even if you don't buy the disc, you can still access the site. The Best Buy version includes a 24 minute bonus disc, featuring actor T.J. Miller (Hud), who finally gets some face time on screen by chronicling the making of Cloverfield over several months. It is definitely worth making your purchase at Best Buy.

Like many productions from producer J.J. Abrams, the film has some secrets, and in that vein, the DVD includes an Easter egg (a hidden special feature). Under the Set Up Menu, highlight "Spanish" under subtitles, and then push right on your remote. A helicopter will light up above the headless Statue of Liberty. Hit enter to see a very funny clip of the cast and crew acting like soldiers and using military catchphrases.