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.
When I’m in a small plane as a passenger, and it’s bumpy, it really helps to tip my head all the way back so my face is towards the ceiling. My flight instructor told me years ago that when we’re in turbulence, and our heads are bouncing up and down facing forward, the inner ear movement in that direction causes nausea. But if your face is moving forward and back, as happens when your head is tipped back, it doesn’t trigger the same reaction.
I am also a big fan of the ReliefBand (not the acupressure kind - the kind with conductive gel and a small zap).
I have to take issue with some of this post.
If a giant monster thing started attacking a city, not many people would say I’m going to go home and change my clothes before I flee.
If your cell phone died while the love of your life was begging for help, wouldn’t you steal another battery to find out if she’s still alive?
Why would they look for weapons? They’ve just seen that tanks and M-16’s aren’t doing any good, they kniow they aren’t going to take the moster out with a baseball bat.
They just wanted to get their friend and get out. That was all.
Well, the girl in question was his best friend and he’d been in love with her for years. They just wanted to get Beth and get out of the city.
Rob never cried in that movie over Beth or his brother or the fact he and Beth were going to die. I don’t think he cried when Hud died either. In the scene where his mom calls and he has to tell her Jason is dead, watch the acting, it was excellent. Rob acted the same way people do after a death, slightly numb, and focusing on other things as a way to not deal with pain.
I didn’t feel nauseated at all. It’s 1 hour 24 minutes long, and that seemed to be about the right length for this kind of movie.
My only criticism was that they chose to show the face of the monster near the end. IMO they should have left it unseen.
Blair Witch Project 2?
Or is it 3?
There were little monsters in the movie too. And the weapons are good against humans as well as little monsters. Anything would be better than bare hands. A golf club, a garbage can lid...anything. The stupid women in high heels should have been looking for better shoes, in the very least. A fanny pack, a small back pack, a flashlight. Stuff some crackers and a couple of water bottles in those fanny packs and grab some running shoes.
You obviously didn’t see the movie, or else you are a dumb as the kids in the movie.
Well, that WAS the best scene.
I was waiting for this picture for awhile now until the ads and the trailer already told me what the movie was all about. I didn’t feel the urgency to see it anymore. I’ll wait until a buddy rents it and I’ll see it at his house.
If you want to see a really good movie, rent an Irish import that’s at the rentals right now. It’s called “Once”. It’s an incredible experience. Now here is a strange experiment. I mentioned this movie to ten people and not one has rented it so far. I think people don’t want to see really good movies. They want to sit in front of eye candy so they don’t have to think about it after a hard days work.
I disliked “Blair Witch Project” for the same reason. IMHO the jittery camera effect just doesn’t cut it.
Everything I see from hollyweird of late makes me puke as well..........
Once ?
I will check it out per your recommendation in the AM !
.....thanks for the suggestion !
Stay safe !
I ended up buying the movie [Once] and the soundtrack. I didn’t even wait until I could buy a previously used copy. I paid full price and I suppose I could even burned another copy off the rental and didn’t.
The movie was made for 130,000 dollars and they spend 4000 dollars to get the view for the ending. It was made in 17 days.
They finished one days shooting at 7:00 at night and the director told them he needed one more song. They stayed up that night and produced one of the better songs on the soundtrack.
Only after you see the movie, I’ll tell you want the girl tells the guy at the seashore on the motorcycle trip. Freepmail me.
It all started before Blair Witch. First time I saw it used was in THE EVIL DEAD. Despised it then also. But it didn’t give me a headache for several days like WITCH did. Dear God, I hated that movie. On my top ten worst of all time.
I’ll wait for NetFlix on this one then.
A few moments later, a single un-soldierly looking 'soldier' appears in a mocked up US Army uniform saying something along the lines of "Hi. I'm Dave ...from the Army". He's the only 'army guy' who appears in the film.
Like 'Plan Nine From Outer Space' kind of bad.
Well, first of all, you HEARD wrong. Whoever told you that scene was lying to you, probably to make you look foolish because they thought youd tell someone else.
I’ll lighten up when hollywood stops turning out garbage (never, probably). Sure enough, Hasbro is getting a ton of fanboy money for advance orders on that toy monster.
Have you seen the film?
Why do you think I’m so pissed? One of the few I’ve demanded my money back on. First one since Blair Witch. Actually, I’m one of the few in the world that walked out on the Godfather and got my money back on. Those had to be the most over-rated films in the history of cinema, bar none. The first one gave me a headache without a shaky camera. I’m in my 60s, been a movie afficianado since I was about six, and I’ve seen thousands of films, including foreign. At one time, I’d watch any POS as long as it was a movie. I’m becoming more and more selective as the years go on.
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