Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Cloverfield DVD Buyers Guide

Here is a first hand look at some of the Cloverfield DVD Editions. Hopefully this will clear up some rumors.









First up is the Suncoast/F.Y.E./HMV SteelBook edition. The case is very cool, and the smashed effect is embossed into the steel cover. Inside the SteelBook cover is a clear plastic liner, which underneath is an extra-wide Statue Of Liberty NY skyline shot. The actual DVD inside is exactly that same as in all the other versions, including all the special features mentioned in my DVD review, it just doesn't come with any "extras", aside from the cool cover. The marked price was $26.99, but it rang up at $21.59 plus there is a $5.00 rebate, which will bring the total price to $16.59! If you don't care about extras, this is the one to get. Grade: A










The Target "Deluxe" edition is a little bit of a trick.

I don't appreciate your ruse, ma'am.
I beg your pardon?
Your ruse. Your cunning attempt to trick me.

The exclusive "cover" is really just a piece cardboard shrinkwrapped the the front of a standard Cloverfield DVD. Shrinkwrapped to the back is the "Rob's Goin' to Japan Party Mix" CD. Considering the $22.99 price, your are basically paying $8.00 for nine songs. Mark sent in this photo of the inside of the CD case, with the faux-handwritten label, which I'll admit is pretty cool. Grade: B-

Last up is the Best Buy edition, with the exclusive 30 minute TJ Miller DVD. The Cloverfield DVD is standard issue, with the bonus disc in a plain white paper sleeve shrinkwrapped to the back. Not all of the DVDs at Best Buy have this, so make sure you check the back, or look for the "Bonus Disc" sticker on the front. These are usually placed in the middle of the store on a seperate display, so ask for it specifically when you go. Unlike Target, there is no additional charge for the bonus edition, but these are very limited, so don't wait until the weekend to get one. I haven't watched the bonus disc yet, but based on the preview clip and the $15.99 price, I think this would also be a good choice. Grade B+

UPDATE:
Jason Sharman sent in these pictures from the Canadian Best Buy version. A cardboard sleeve fits over the TJ Miller edition seen above. I'm not sure why they didn't do this in the US, but it is probably a-boot needing everything in English and French. The price is $22.99 CAN, which is only $3.00 more than the standard version.



I almost forgot that Kmart/Sears is giving away a free Cloverfield Ringtone with purchase. I'm not sure why anyone would get this over any of the other extras, when there are some many other places to get Cloverfield ringtones for free, including:

• The Slusho WAP website
• The CloverfieldClues Slusho! Ringtones post
• Free monster sounds from WhenCloverfieldHit.com

If anyone did buy this version, please email me what the back of the sticker says. Thanks!

Borders has a "30 page book with production stuff and a lot of cool pictures", according to Flea, who sent in these pictures. The Borders edition will run you $21.









Lawsae Aquino sent in these additional photos from the Borders website.


37 comments:

  1. I agree with your assessment completely. Steelbook = winner. I haven't got a chance to see the Hud stuff yet, but for 30 minutes worth of content, I can definitely say that it wouldn't be worth foregoing the Steelbook.

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  2. I'll take content over spiffy boxes any day! Best Buy FTW!

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  3. So wait...the FYE does not have any special features? Is it just the movie?

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  4. Just FYI: My DVD at FYE was $19.99, and that also came with a $5 rebate ticket.

    (I live in Maryland.)

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  5. Bunni Rabbit said... So wait...the FYE does not have any special features? Is it just the movie?

    The actual DVD inside is exactly that same as in all the other versions, including all the special features mentioned in my DVD review, it just doesn't come with any "extras", aside from the cool cover.

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  6. i'm definitely gonna buy the steelbox, it looks aweseome. but im gonna buy a second one fore sure too, just dunno which one yet.

    mhh i really love the steel case..

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  7. Oh dude, if it has the special features, steel cover FTW! I actually have one of the original Robs Party Mix cds. And a thousand bucks says I can find TJ Millers stuff you youtube in the next week.

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  8. I ordered mine from Barnes and Noble online to get it cheap with a coupon, but my boyfriend is going to be getting one from Best Buy asap (so I can have the TJ Miller dvd). If they have any cool POS's set up, I'll get some pics for you.

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  9. I just got my Best Buy Version after school. I've been watching the special features since i got home. My favorites are "clover fun" and "visual effects"

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  10. Ok so i was looking around about if there was any 2disc dvds out and i found one but not sure what is on the second disc anyone know anything about this? its only in the uk tho.
    http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=1000;-1;-1;-1&sku=687776&WT.ac=A_WEBSITE_HOME_PAGE_MAG-PBODY-Frontdoor_DVD_4wide-687776

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  11. Check out the one at Barnes and Nobels too, it has a "special booket revealing Cloverfield Secrets", but I didn't buy it. Also, has anyone heard the ringtone yet at Sears?

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  12. Mike... I don't think their website is accurate. Besides, their release date is over a month away, so what do they know. I think they are just trying to cover their bases. They also had a HD-DVD version until recently.

    So far, there are NO "2-disc sets". The Best Buy and Target edition come with a bonus CD / DVD, but I wouldn't consider that a "2-disc set" (despite what Target says on their packaging), since it doesn't come IN the case - it is just shrink-wrapped on.

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  13. Ok if you havent bought the dvd yet BUY THE BEST BUY ONE!!! yea the Steel Case looks good but it doesent come with any EXTRA FEATURES WTF! why the hell would they make a special case with no Extra features , unlike the Best buy version it comes with an extra dvd "T.J. Millers Video Diary" a funny video about T.J. taking us behind the scenes through out the production , I guess you can say this is probably this is the only Cloverfield dvd thats two disc , Denis I think you should reconsider the Grade you gave it from a B+ to a A or A+

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  14. Dennis and mike - if you look at the 1 Disc UK DVD, it doesn't have all the extras, whereas the 2 Disc does. I think that's just the UK-US difference.

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  15. Just bought mine from Circuit City. WOO!

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  16. i think the best buy one is technacly the 2 disc set

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  17. OK so i just got home and put it on WHYY WHYY WHYY dont they talk about what falls in the water OMG im so mad

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  18. Wait, did anyone check the one at Borders? I meant Borders before...that one comes with a special booklet of "secrets".

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  19. So... Noone say's anything about the "Swords" on our DVDS?

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  20. I just got home from my Cloverfield shopping spree. I ended up buying 3
    versions of the movie. FYE, Best Buy and one you didn't mention. Borders. It
    came with a 30 page book with production stuff and a lot of cool pictures
    from the movie. It's listed at $30 but was on sale for $21. I had a coupon
    for 40% off list price, so it was like $17. Here are a couple pictures:

    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/TSFlea/DSC06855.jpg
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/TSFlea/DSC06856.jpg
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/TSFlea/DSC06857.jpg
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/TSFlea/DSC06858.jpg

    -Flea

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  21. sporkeh said... So... Noone say's anything about the "Swords" on our DVDS?

    Yes, this was talked about here: http://cloverfieldclues.blogspot.com/2008/04/cloverfield-dvd-review.html

    We still don't know what it means yet.

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  22. I really enjoyed the commentary by Matt Reeves, and the little inside joke they put in at the end. Remember, in the teaser, Mr. Reeves puts in "I saw it, it's alive, it's huge!" Some one thought it said "I saw it, it's a lion, it's huge!" Fast forward to the secret backwards message (also seemingly Mr. Reeves voice) "It's still alive." Which isn't far from, "It's still a lion." Haha I love it! These guys are good. But I had thought it was Rob Hawkins saying it's still alive, but if it is only Matt Reeves, then perhaps reports of poor Robert's demise haven't been so greatly exaggerated...

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  23. PS - FYE will offer $5.00 rebates for the next week. I assume that the DVD is also on sale right now for $19.99. After the following week it will go up to at least $22.99, possibly higher. They might sell a special edition but will probably hold off for a while, and if they do it will probably not have anything FYE/TransWorld exclusive, it will also probably be around 27.99 or higher.

    Do not purchase your Cloverfield DVD from FYE or any TransWorld retailer unless you want a bare bones standard issue for the cheapest price and you're going to buy it within the next week.

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  24. I have something that could be just dumb mistake but on my order from Amazon the sticker is one way and on my Target copy the sticker is the other way.The strange sword is on the back of the dvd on the Amazon, and the sword is on the front of the dvd box. I can't attach the pictures but just something i noticed.

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  25. Mine is from Amazon (should be here in a few days) and I bought it through the link you can find at the top right from each page of this site. It was very important to me to buy it through Dennis link because I think that Dennis is making a fantastic job with his website which has been part of my Cloverfield experience since the beginning. =)

    So it's my little way to say thank you Dennis and keep up the excellent work!

    Terry

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  26. are the sounds on whencloverfieldhit.com still on? i cant find them...

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  27. best buy version is best buy. hehe get it!!!


    i know im dumb

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  28. "Do not purchase your Cloverfield DVD from FYE or any TransWorld retailer unless you want a bare bones standard issue for the cheapest price and you're going to buy it within the next week."

    The FYE edition is the same as the standard edition, only with an excellent Steelbook. DO buy it from FYE unless you're particularly impressed by 30 minutes of features that will be on YouTube in the next few days anyway.

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  29. so i'm the worst cloverfield fan for saying this... i haven't bought my dvd yet... i will, but i'm going to coachella this weekend... plus i'm waiting for the toy instead...

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  30. best buy was definitely worth it for the bonus disc. i just wish they would have gotten serious with this and included all of the viral marketing. the dvd is watered down, at least all of the railers and teasers would have been nice.

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  31. I'm completely underwhelmed with the commentary track. I watched the party (with Jamie's brief appearance), the first sighting of the monster, the first sighting of the creatures, and the idea of using the newscasts to give a brief 3rd person view of the situation, and all I heard was endlessly babbling about the camera techniques and equipment. Not one word about what they were thinking or how this ties in with some of the viral marketing stuff.

    I've got to say, I'm beginning to be swayed by the people who were so angry about this. They have this enormous buildup with practically no payoff for the on-line stuff in the movie, which pisses off a large portion of the people who watched it in the theater. Now they have the DVD and have every chance to let us in on some of this stuff, but instead we get an extended lecture about video equipment? Bite me guys.

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  32. Can you buy the Borders book separately, or does it come with the DVD??

    The Best Buy bonus disk was awesome!!!

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  33. While I'm a bit dissappointed that there is not official "2-Disc" edition, I'm still very happy that there are so many extras on the dvd. A lot fo times with these big movies they screw you on the dvd by adding absolutely no special features, but not Cloverfield!!!

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  34. Why does the picture on Rob's Party Mix say "1/13/2008"?

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  35. Jon said... Why does the picture on Rob's Party Mix say "1/13/2008"?

    Where do you see the date anywhere?

    I see a date on the We'll Miss You Rob" photo, but that's the same photo from 1-18-08.com, which is dated 1-18-08 12:01 AM.

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  36. The date of that photo should coincide with the date of the party not the date of the film release. BTW my-bad on the date - I said it was 1/13/2008.

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