How Does ‘The Cloverfield Paradox’ Fit With the Other Two ‘Cloverfield’ Movies?
The final shot of the movie might make you think that question is easy to answer, but it is not
Phil Owen | February 5, 2018 @ 5:32 AM
Last Updated: February 6, 2018 @ 8:54 AM
Netflix
(Major spoilers ahead for “The Cloverfield Paradox”)
One of the bigger developments of Super Bowl Sunday, aside from the game itself being outstanding, was the news that “The Cloverfield Paradox” (previously known as “The God Particle”) would be surprise dropping on Netflix right after the game. It was a genius move from a marketing standpoint — the number of folks who watched the movie Sunday night probably far exceeded what the movie would have done at the box office. But now that we’ve seen it, it’s left a bunch of us scratching our heads.
“Cloverfield” is a strange, nontraditional franchise. The first two movies, “Cloverfield” and “10 Cloverfield Lane,” had no apparent connection to each other whatsoever. The hope was that “The Cloverfield Paradox” would bring the whole thing together. And it certainly seems to do that, with a final shot that includes what looks an awful lot like the monster that rampaged through Manhattan in the original film.
But the answer to the question of how this movie fits with the others is way more complicated than that, and even that last shot doesn’t quite provide the concrete connection that it feels like it does at first glance.
First of all, that’s actually probably not the original “Cloverfield” monster at the end of “The Cloverfield Paradox.” While it has a head that looks pretty much the same, it’s significantly larger than the original monster. In that first film, the monster was as tall as a skyscraper — and this one’s head sticks up above the clouds. So they’re the same species, but probably not the same monster. So what does that mean?
It seems likely the key to figuring this thing out comes pretty early in the movie. The crew of the Cloverfield space station is hanging out in the rec room when a man named Mark Stambler (Donal Logue) appears on TV and starts talking about the dangers of what they’re doing up there. In case you forgot: the Cloverfield station has a particle accelerator on it intended to create a stable source of energy for the people of Earth.
“Right this minute, they are testing a particle accelerator up there, so we can learn how to make unlimited energy down here. But those who have accepted that the Cloverfield Paradox is real know how dangerous that is,” Stambler says.
“Because that accelerator is a thousand times more powerful than any ever built, every time they test it, they risk ripping open the membrane of spacetime, smashing together multiple dimensions, shattering reality. And not just on that station. Everywhere. This experiment could unleash chaos the likes of which we have never seen. Monsters, demons, beasts from the sea… And not just here and now. In the past, in the future, in other dimensions. You have no idea how much I would love to be wrong about this. “
When the Cloverfield crew does manage to fire up the particle accelerator, some huge unforeseen consequences do occur — in the moment, it sends the entire station into another dimension and causes all sorts of weird stuff to happen, like the wall of the ship eating one character’s arm. And then, of course, at the end of the movie, it’s revealed that monsters have spawned on Earth at some point during the Cloverfield station’s adventures.
The prevailing thought among fans of the series at this point, and I agree, is that the firing of the particle accelerator did exactly what Stambler said it would: unleash terrible things upon the world and spark the events of both “Cloverfield” and “10 Cloverfield Lane.” The big question from there, though, is about the particulars. Did either of the first two movies take place on the main Earth from “The Cloverfield Paradox”? It feels like the answer is no — those movies take place on alternate Earths, and not necessarily even the alternate Earth we saw in this movie.
The reason I don’t think “Cloverfield” takes place on the main Earth here is because in “The Cloverfield Paradox” we see characters constantly use crazy future tech — this movie clearly takes place beyond 2018, and there’s nothing in the original “Cloverfield” to make me think it takes place at any time beyond the year it was released, 2008. I mean the found footage conceit of that movie involves the whole thing being filmed using a video camera that records on tape. And while Stambler says that the firing of the accelerator could affect the past, it doesn’t appear to have done so on this Earth because the dialogue at the end of the movie indicates that the monsters only just appeared. They didn’t retroactively show up 10+ years earlier. So it seems as though this Earth simply got its own array of monsters, including that particularly large beastie.
“10 Cloverfield Lane,” meanwhile, has a completely different set of monsters from the first movie. It’s possible that this Earth is where “10 Cloverfield Lane” takes place because the vibe outside the bunker in that film is very similar to the vibe of the world under attack in this movie. But we never see the approximately human-sized enemies from that film here; just large creatures.
So the prevailing thought right now is that each of these three films takes place in their own separate parallel universe, and the firing of the Cloverfield particle accelerator did exactly what Stambler predicted — unleash “monsters, demons and beasts from the sea… in the past, in the future, in other dimensions.” But the particulars of this cinematic universe remain unclear. If you’re looking to dig deeper into this, the best place to go for the moment would be the Cloververse subreddit, where every semi-plausible theory under the sun is being tossed around.
Last 28 Super Bowl Halftime Shows Ranked, From U2 to JLo and Shakira (Photos)
Before this show, young 'uns were celebrating the end of the halftime show being owned by the "retirement home." Afterwards, the old folks were smugly smirking. The Peas were absolutely abominable, with stiff choreography and mailed-in vocals that made The Who seem 40 years younger. The absolute worst moment came when Slash arrived to save the day, only for Fergie to commit a cardinal sin against rock by mangling "Sweet Child O' Mine." Later in 2011, the Peas' new album got panned, their motion-sensor video game bombed, and by year's end, they announced they were going on hiatus.
If you thought Katy Perry's shark was weird, get a load of this. Disney used this halftime show to promote its new Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland, and it featured Indy (not played by Harrison Ford) trying to steal a plastic Vince Lombardi trophy from a temple. Throw in a lip-synching Patti LaBelle and Tony Bennett, and you have a real stinker.
Let's make something clear: The Who are absolute legends. They are essential not just to rock, but to all of music. But unlike previous classic rock acts, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend really felt past their prime in this performance, and that's the worst thing you can do at a show like this. Some have speculated that since Roger and Pete had never seen an American football game before, they may not have realized just how big this gig was in American culture.
(1997) Another lineup that seemed great on paper and disappointed in reality. The Godfather of Soul was forced to blatantly lip-sync his greatest hits, and Jim Belushi cavorted around the stage doing a weak imitation of his brother John in his iconic role.
(2000) Wow! Look at that lineup! By all rights, that should be a smash show. But it ended up being a Disney-produced bore about the "Tapestry of Nations." Instead of thumping out Genesis songs, Collins got stuck doing one of the songs he wrote for "Tarzan." Iglesias and Aguilera did a duet called "Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand." Amazingly, Xtina would go on to hit a bigger low at the Super Bowl when she flubbed the National Anthem a decade later.
(2003) This one is just forgettable, particularly since after the game, Bon Jovi stole the spotlight by singing "It's My Life" just before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were awarded the trophy. Gwen Stefani teaming up with Sting to do "Message in a Bottle" almost saved this show. Almost.
(1994) Super Bowl XXVIII tapped country music stars for an ultimately unmemorable “Rockin’ Country Sunday” halftime show. Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and Wynonna Judd all performed a few of their hits, with Naomi Judd joining her daughter on stage for the finale, “Love Can Build a Bridge.”
The seemingly random lineup of Gloria Estefan, Stevie Wonder and swing revivalists Big Bad Voodoo Daddy combined to make 1999's halftime show a high-energy affair. There was even a cameo by E.T. (the extra-terrestrial) to help stump for Progressive auto insurance, who sponsored the show.
In celebration of Motown's 40th anniversary, Boyz II Men led the Super Bowl XXXII halftime show, with assists from legends like Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves and the Temptations. The 40 years of age come through in this one, though. While it's a fun set, it ultimately doesn't strike too lasting a chord.
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19. Justin Timberlake (2018)
Justin went through a serviceable run of his main hits, taking his show from a room inside the U.S. Bank Stadium up into the Super Bowl LII crowd. But the audio was garbled to start off the show, and some didn't appreciate the Prince tribute and the use of "Rock Your Body," the song that triggered the Wardrobe Malfunction.
18. Maroon 5, Travis Scott and Big Boi(2019)
They were Maroon Fine. Y'know? Lots of people slammed Maroon 5 as too safe or bland for a halftime show. The band was an odd fit in the rap mecca of Atlanta, but many artists weren't interested in performing because of the NFL's treatment of Colin Kaepernick. Adam Levine and friends got some solid assists from Travis Scott, ATLien Big Boi, and SPONGEBOB, but they probably didn't win any new fans with a play-it-safe run-through of their greatest hits.
Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones took a break from the world tour supporting their 24th studio album "A Bigger Bang" in 2006 to perform at the halftime show for Super Bowl XL. The Stones turned in a lot of energy, but the NFL snipped a few of Mick's racier lyrics in the pre-recorded tape, leaving Mick a bit miffed.
More concerned with performance than spectacle, Tom Petty opened the Super Bowl XLII halftime show with crowd favorites "American Girl" and "I Won't Back Down." Petty's performance didn't blow any doors off, but it nailed all the hits and gave everyone a solid show.
Gaga kicked it off by jumping off the roof of Reliant Stadium, which was incredibly awesome. Everything that came after, by comparison, seemed rather mundane, with no guests artists or anything particularly surprising happening. It was a solid Lady Gaga show, to be sure -- but for the the Super Bowl we need something more.
Following Beyonce at the Super Bowl must have been a daunting prospect, but Bruno Mars still managed to put on a good show with a little help from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Unfortunately, it came out later the band wasn't actually playing its own instruments, which marred the whole show a bit.
Madonna's halftime show wound up being a bit chaotic. It featured a slew of guests, including Nicki Minaj and Cee Lo Green, and went all-in on being an over-the-top spectacle. Through it all, the most memorable moment may have been M.I.A. flipping the bird on live TV. NFL sued over the move, in fact, but wound up settling.
Ah, yes. Maybe this isn't the best, but it was definitely the most memorable. Janet and Justin were doing a rendition of "Rock Your Body" that was absolutely smoking ... until the smoke turned into a PTC wildfire. In hindsight, the wardrobe malfunction might have saved this show. Does anyone even remember that Nelly, Diddy, and Kid Rock also performed that night?
The halftime show went through some growing pains in the 1990s, but Diana Ross' soulful performance at Super Bowl XXX was definitely a high point. Her dramatic exit via helicopter was a precursor for the larger-than-life moments that later performers would pick up.
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10. Paul McCartney (2005) Sir Paul's show marked the beginning of the six-year classic rock era of halftime shows following the backlash from Janet Jackson's notorious wardrobe malfunction in 2004, and what a breath of fresh air it was. McCartney knew exactly what songs from his catalog would fill up a football stadium. Starting with "Drive My Car," pumping through with "Live And Let Die," and finishing with the crowd pleaser "Hey Jude," this show showed how sometimes the old ways are the best.
This is a halftime show that we'll look back at as emblematic of its time. Katy's show was loud, weird, and specifically tailored to the Internet's tendency to latch onto viral moments and meme the fajezzus out of them. But in terms of actual musical performances, the real star was Missy Elliott, who strutted out in a surprise appearance and blew the crowd away. She didn't steal the spotlight. She commandeered it.
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8. Shakira and Jennifer Lopez (2020) -- While some badly hidden lip-syncing knocked this down a few spots, this was the most high-energy spectacle the Super Bowl had in years, centered around two Latinas who had the looks and dancing of pop stars half their age. JLo showed off a little bit of her pole-dancing moves from "Hustlers" while Shakira's trademark hip shaking proved it definitely isn't 2004 anymore. The highlight, however, was Lopez's cloak with the U.S. flag on one side and the Puerto Rican flag on the other, brought out while Lopez's daughter Emme sang Springsteen's "Born in the USA." Fitting for an election year.
Super Bowl XLI took place under a torrential Florida downpour, but that played right into Prince's hands. His performance of "Purple Rain" amid raindrops turned purple by stage lights was breathtaking, as was his take on Bob Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower."
Of course she's high on this list. It's BEYONCE, for crying out loud. She has a stage presence that is unrivaled by any musician of her generation. But what really made her show unique wasn't just the surprise Destiny's Child reunion. It was also the fact that she actually paid respect to the event by starting her show with a soundbite from legendary football coach Vince Lombardi.
Wasn't Super Bowl XLIII amazing? Not only did it have one of the most dramatic championship games ever between the Steelers and Cardinals, but it also had a performance from The Boss that was the apex of the classic rock era. From his order to "put the chicken fingers DOOOOWN" to his knee-slide right into the camera, Springsteen was on a mission to get everyone out of their seats. Mission accomplished, sir.
Okay, okay. Some older readers might be annoyed that a show with "Bye Bye Bye" and Britney Spears got ranked above one with "Born to Run" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out," but back in 2001 this lineup was a big deal. After struggling through the '90s, the NFL gave control of the halftime show to MTV, who responded by gathering the biggest Top 40 heavyweights that could be found. The sight of Aerosmith performing "Walk This Way" with Spears, Nelly, Mary J. Blige and the biggest boy band of all time in 'N Sync was the kind of show the NFL had been dreaming of for years.
Coldplay was the official act, but they turned their show into a tribute to all the halftimes that came before. Bruno returned with "Uptown Funk" under his belt, while Beyonce began her domination of 2016 with a tribute to the Black Panthers. Coldplay, meanwhile, turned out "Viva La Vida" complete with a kid orchestra led by maestro Gustavo Dudamel and a colorful crowd card stunt that showed Up With People how its done.
The one that started it all. MJ's reign as the King of Pop was coming to an end at this time ... and the beginning of his creeper reputation began later that year with the first wave of sexual abuse allegations. But he still had enough star power to make the halftime show a must-watch event for the first time ever. The children's choir performance of "We Are the World," followed by Jackson's dramatic finale performance of "Heal the World," became a defining moment of his career, one that would be reenacted 16 years later at his memorial service at the Staples Center.
There will likely never be a halftime show bigger than this one. Mounted just four months after 9/11, U2's show was a perfect mix of poignant remembrance and breathtaking musicianship. In a beautiful tribute, U2 performed "Where the Streets Have No Name" in front of a scrolling list of those who perished in the terror attack. To this day, the show still draws tears.
Before this show, young 'uns were celebrating the end of the halftime show being owned by the "retirement home." Afterwards, the old folks were smugly smirking. The Peas were absolutely abominable, with stiff choreography and mailed-in vocals that made The Who seem 40 years younger. The absolute worst moment came when Slash arrived to save the day, only for Fergie to commit a cardinal sin against rock by mangling "Sweet Child O' Mine." Later in 2011, the Peas' new album got panned, their motion-sensor video game bombed, and by year's end, they announced they were going on hiatus.
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