The Cloverfield Paradox

Well, about 30 minutes in and you realize why Paramount decided to release via Netflix. I don't think anyone who loved cloverfield will be particularly taken by this film. And to those people who felt cloverfield lane was a bait and switch, they will really feel betrayed by this film. The acting in this film is respectable. The effects, set and the like are fine. But the dull plot is not overcome by having a single character to care about.

When this movie got released it got bad review let, right, and center. Even I was not expecting a Cloverfield sequel to be a groundbreaking film. So I also ignored the film after putting it on watchlist.

Today I just put it on and watched it with below zero expectations and it turned out much better. It surprised me.

Firstly what I liked about this movie is the Lovecraftian vibe it had. Space, Madness, Insanity, Existential dread, horrors from other dimension (none shown in this film but discussed).

It had some pacing issues, and editing issues just overlook them (coz it is not a masterpiece. Watch it to enjoy the sci-fi). I am glad I gave it a try.

If you're after a film with only big scary monsters, set in space, this is not that film.

This is a film that requires you to think and to get out of your comfort zone.

Simply put, this is a film that is based on the premise of a paradox - leading to a conclusion that seems, to many, logically unacceptable and/or self contradictory.

If you can accept this premise, become absorbed in it, and leave your mind open to something that is not logical or linear, you will enjoy this film.

When I originally watched it, my expectation was more of "Cloverfield" (2008) and "10 Cloverfield Lane" 2016. Whilst it may be set in this universe, it is anything but part of a trilogy, but it is. Is that illogical? Yes - but it's Paradox.

For some, you need to watch it more than once. When I rediscovered this film, I loved it.

The cast is fabulous and the acting is very good. The story is intriguing and the more it unfolds, the more intriguing it becomes.

This is definitely worth a watch, or three.

I love sci-fi. I LOVE it. So I've seen dozens of these average forgettable sci-fi b-movies. With this one it looks like they followed some sort of "generic sci-fi b-movie checklist". Let's get to the point:

-Generic b-movie plot.

-Generic physics mambo jambo that makes no sense.

-Generic crew. Generic characters making obvious mistakes (I mean, if a magnet is strongly and dangerously attracting metal objects, would you get close to look at the magnet? or would you look behind you for metal objects coming through??)

-Generic "we move power from system A to system B and that would fix everything!" plans.

-Generic "ok, to fix this part of the ship, someone has to die... I'll sacrifice myself for you guys, go! save yourselves!" altruism moments.

-Almost no character development. They try SO HARD (failing) to make us care about the main character, that when a generic crew member dies, you just don't even care.

-Has almost nothing to do with Cloverfield. And the "explanation" of why cloverfield happened it's just bland... I wish Cloverfield's explanation would still be a mistery.

I really wanted to like this, I really did. I loved Cloverfield and even 10 Cloverfield Lane, but this is just a flop.

Nonsensical utter garbage in space. The people behind this story should be forbidden to go near a keyboard because a plot like this is borderline criminal.