Posted on 01/24/2008 5:59:09 PM PST by My Favorite Headache
What's Behind ‘Cloverfield' Illness?
Wave of Nausea Hits Moviegoers
By Michael W. Smith WebMD Medical News
Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD Latest MedicineNet News
Jan. 22, 2008 -- Scan the news and blogs and not only do you see that Cloverfield had a record-breaking opening weekend, but there was an unforeseen side effect: nausea. And it didn't come from the popcorn, or the writing -- but the camerawork.
In Cloverfield, a giant monster attacks Manhattan. The problem -- at least for those prone to motion sickness -- is that it's all filmed through a very jerky handheld camera.
"I saw it this weekend and was so sick to my stomach that I had to leave the theater," says Sara Butler, a WebMD programming manager. "I have a friend who's an EMT in New Jersey, and she was called to several theaters this weekend to deal with people who were sick."
While motion sickness is usually caused by plane, boat, or car movement, bumpy camerawork could definitely do it, too. What Causes Motion Sickness?
Motion sickness occurs when the brain receives conflicting messages from the inner ear, the eyes, and other parts of the body.
While watching Cloverfield, viewers were sitting still in their seats, so their inner ear was telling their body they were motionless. But the bumpy camera movements -- and their eyes -- misled them into thinking they were moving around erratically.
These conflicting messages to the brain lead to symptoms of motion sickness, most notably nausea. Other symptoms include vomiting, headache, and sweating. What Is the Treatment for Motion Sickness?
Obviously, the best treatment is to avoid situations that make you sick. But if that's not possible, there are a few things you can try. Also, if you're prone to motion sickness, remember that prevention is best because once symptoms start, relief is tough to find until motion stops.
* If you love cruising but it doesn't love you, choose a center cabin where there is less movement. * On a boat or ship, stay on the deck and look at the horizon. * In an airplane, sit near the wings. * In a car, sit in the front seat and look through the window. Don't read or focus on an object inside the car. * Drive, don't ride. Drivers are less prone to motion sickness.
She had cold sweats, dizziness, pins and needles, and was flushed. She came back looking like she had been on a bad cruise for days.
I asked if she wanted to leave and she said she would just look away at the really shaky parts.
I have really bad vestibular problems myself and can not handle these kinds of movies either but I have learned with the YouTube style of seizure editing to handle it by how I sit and massaging my neck as well.
Reminded me of when I got really nauseated from watching Blair Witch Project the weekend that came out.
As for the movie? On a scale of 1-10 I give it a 5.8.
Funny. I just got really bored.
Thanks for the warning, I think we will skip this one in the theater. I have no wish to toss my cookies in public.
I saw signs posted at the theatre this past weekend when I was there. They were warning people about the filming techniques. I guess they were tired of giving refunds?
I think I will wait until it comes out on DVD to watch it, and besides it is unreal what they are charging for movies these days....$10.00 is a bit much to me and where I live, there’s not a cheap theatre anywhere near us...
I got really annoyed. I thought the movie was pathetic.
I got deathly ill when Iwent to see “Saving Private Ryan.” The landing scene was murder!
Really. Most boring, unfrightening movie ever. I kept waiting for it to get going and capture my interest, but what a dog of a film.
I heard that this movie is like drinking 9 beers and then getting on a roller coaster for like two hours. Well then, I’m seeing the movie Saturday afternoon and I’m drinking a six-pack before I go.
That’s what I told a LOT of people...
keep your $10 for the DVD. It’s ONLY 1 hour and 2 minutes long. Paris Hilton’s sex tape was longer than that and free to download.
I learned my lesson from “Blair Witch” I’ll wait until video.
I thought it was great! Very suspenseful.
LOL eewwwwwwww Paris Hilton
TV shows are also over using the split second editing, switching from scene to scene. I just change the channel.
My son went with some friends and one of his friends had to leave the theater to throw up. They’re saying if you must see it, and are prone to motion sickness, take a Dramamine before you go. (wouldn’t work for me, I’d be asleep through the movie.)
I have no problems with motion sickness, but the 25 minutes of the yuppie soap opera at the beginning had me impatiently waiting for their deaths. If that party had gone on any longer I would have begun actively rooting for the monster.
*** I would have begun actively rooting for the monster.***
That is what I did when I saw JAWS II years ago at the theater.
I'm probably one of them that wouldn't be able to sit through it in a theater. I can't even look at a map in a moving car without getting nauseated.
Mr. C4E and I went to see Blair Witch...I had to go to the lobby and sit for a minute and then went back to the movie only to stand in the side isle. I too had motion sickness and besides that Blair Witch was not that scary.
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