Clover All Over - JJ's New Trick - Fak or Fik

How long has it been since we've been hung by our hose like this. Blair Witch for a few days?

TRANSFORMERS WASN'T REALLY MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE, BUT THE TRAILER THAT PRECEDED IT SURE WAS!

To follow is a comprehensive summary of what is known about Cloverfield.

So it's no surprise that Transformers made a gazillion dollars at the box office in it's opening weekend. It's hugely disappointing (I didn't care for the film that much) but hardly surprising. For me, the highlight of the Transformers screening came in the form of the kick ass teaser trailer that preceded it.

What makes the teaser so seductive is its amateur camera man POV. As the preview opens, we join a going-away party from the perspective of the party's host who happens to be videotaping the farewell revelry. Several twenty somethings are eating, drinking, dancing and making merry in a good-sized New York appartment - stopping only when it is their turn to offer up their fond farewell to the camcorder.

The joy of the get together is abruptly interrupted when a loud but mysterious roar is accomanied by tremors and the distant sound and subtle strobing of explosions on the curtains. These sudden and bizzare events leave the celebration dead in it's tracks as the sobered gang turn to mutual consolation, flimsy reassurances and rational speculation. Right away a news bulletin is shown broadcast on a TV - with an anchor just as confused by the sudden influx of reports of the explosions and tremors. Shortly thereafter, they scurry to the rooftop to scan the massive cityscape beneath them, arriving just in time to witness the explosion of a skyscraper close enough to threaten them with meteors of debris that streak the sky and rain down all around.

Terrified, the party attendees vault their way down the stairs and spill out into the pandemonium that has crowded the streets. Then, with little warning, we get...the money shot. One of those long lasting images that remains imbedded in your cortex. Remember the first time you saw the White House explode in the trailers for the overrated Independence Day? The final shot in this teaser is even cooler than that, and the fact that the entire tease is shot from the perspective of a camcorder (think Blair Witch Project) only heightens the intimacy and realism of the thing.

What truly makes this trailer exciting and unique, is it's severe lack of information. What we do know is that the film was produced by Lost co-creator J.J. Abrams and that it was directed by a guy named Matt Reeves (he's worked mostly on TV shows like Felicity). We also know that the film will be released 01/18/07 (as this date is the trailer's tag line). What we don't know, are little things like – "WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE DAMN MOVIE!" and "WHAT THE HELL IS TAKING SUCH BITES OUT OF THE BIG APPLE!"

Let the theories begin. Some are quick to point out that the teaser has visuals akin to Roland Emmerich's Godzilla. If you ask me, this looks a hell of a lot more exciting, and with Abrams' name at the forefront, it's safe to say that whatever this movie is, it will beat the ever loving shit out of that Godawful movie. There are others who think that perhaps this is the long-rumored Voltron movie we keep hearing about. That makes sense given Paramount decided to premiere this trailer with prints of Transformers. I think Voltron is highly unlikely though. Harry Knowles over at the venerable Aint-it-cool-news has been making mention of this teaser for quite sometime – they were referring to it as "Cloverfield." Harry has an interesting theory that he's put together based on fan speculation, endless conversations, and the numerous clues Paramount is leaving all over the web (clues like the web site EthanHaasWasrRight.com). He thinks that this film might be based on an H.P. Lovecraft tale of ancient Gods that threaten to destroy the planet. This is a strong possibility as Abrams is a professed Lovecraft fan (he also adores Stephen King and has even suggested that he might take on The Dark Tower series), but Knowles is quick to point out that his theory might be way off base. This flick could be anything. Who the hell knows!

Point being, Abrams and Paramount have the public and legions of movie geeks the world over, completely baffled. Something that, in the internet age, is damn near impossible. With this small little teaser, they've managed to bring back the kind of excitement we really don't see in movie promotion anymore. Whether Abrams and the studio can keep a lid on this project remains to be seen. There's still several months until it's scheduled release date. A long time for potential leakage and inevitable online spoilers. Abrams will be on hand for Comic-Con later this month, mostly to field questions about his upcoming Star Trek feature, but I doubt he'll get through a Q & A without this movie being brought up. I for one hope he doesn't answer too many questions about it. I think he should make us sweat for a little longer. However this film turns out, props are in order to Abrams and Paramount for a masterful promotion campaign.

On a final note, not only has Abrams and crew shrouded their recent project in secrecy, but they're releasing the film in Jan. (unless that's a fake date). What's the big deal with Jan.? Well, most film junkies will tell you that month #1 is usually a dumping slot for pictures the studios have no faith in. If this teaser is any indication, this flick should buck that age old tradition.

Here's a link to the trailer. If your one of the 14 people who haven't seen it yet, Check it out.
http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/11808/ If the full link doesn't work on your computer copy it and paste it in your address window.