Trailer Park: The Super Trailers
This past weekend’s Super Bowl was basically a big preview event for Summer 09 with trailers for Transformers 2, Land of the Lost, GI Joe and Star Trek. What’s our take on these trailers, read on.
Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen
video://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SmqcJf5MZM
Zach: First Transformers movie was great (even without Stan Bush) and this one is looking good too. It’s got a pretty downer tone with Optimus getting his face punched in and Sam getting attacked by some unknown transformer. Also excited to see what has to be Ravage and I’m hoping that this means that Soundwave will finally make his live action debut. The big baddie throughout the trailer looks cool but what is up with that unicycle he’s on? Michael Bay almost always delivers a big, explosion filled, fun ride so this will probably continue the trend.
Brian: Nothing from this trailer makes me not want to see this movie. That aside, nothing from this trailer really made my mouth drop compared to the first trailer to first movie. Maybe because I’m used to it? Or maybe because I could barely make out what was going on. Either way you look at it, minor quibbles. I’ll be seeing this movie next summer.
GI Joe: Rise of Cobra
video://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqpz2qRwrcI
Zach: This is looking better than I thought it would be. Stephen Sommers is sort of a mixed bag in terms of movies, The Mummy was fun but Van Helsing and The Mummy Returns were pretty bad. A lot of flashy shots in the trailer like the Eiffel Tower getting melted by slime, Snake Eyes flipping over cars, Baroness looking hot and dudes jumping through elevated trains. If I didn’t know better I would say Michael Bay was directing this one too. I’m more excited than I was but hopefully we get a full trailer soon to give us some more information. Also I echo the sentiment of some others on the internet that they definitely need a PSA at the end.
Brian: The more I think about a G.I. Joe movie the more of a bad idea it seems. Seeing this trailer doesn’t necessarily make me feel better. The action is going to have to be tight and the ridiculousness toned down. Judging from this trailer, it seems like they’re going to a more serious approach. Can’t decide if that’s good or not.
Land of the Lost
video://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCxQ7GJw9bI
Zach: I’m kinda on the fence on this one because on the one hand you have Will Ferrell and Danny McBride and on the other hand it’s looking similar to Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D from last year. There’s lots about the show that is easy to make fun of and they’ve got Sleestaks, Chaka and dinosaurs thrown in there. I’m hoping that it’s more toward the Step Brothers/Anchorman end of the Will Ferrell funny meter but we’ll have to see.
Brian: Funny actors (underrated McBride, take-him-or-leave-him Ferrell) plus fantasy worlds is an interesting combo. The trailer looks like it’s a fun little romp; more goofy than the stupid Center of the Earth movie. (At least we don’t have to see Brenden Fraser attempt to emote.) Like with G.I. Joe, a good approach to a movie a sign of success and this trailer gives off some good vibes.
Star Trek
video://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wXAFio-LLw
Zach: I’m not a Trekkie but I gotta say that this movie is looking good. Big space battles, intergalactic sky diving, giant monsters, what else can you possibly put in there? J.J. Abrams gave us the terrific Mission Impossible 3 and Cloverfield and also Alias and Lost so he has a strong track record for awesome stuff. It’s got a good cast too with Chris Pine as Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock, Karl Urban as McCoy and Simon Pegg as Scotty. The recent reboots of Bond and Batman have been great so hopefully Star Trek can follow suit.
Brian: When some online story about Star Wars playing to the tween “hottie” crowd was posted, I had a little laugh. Now as each trailer comes up, it becomes obvious that J.J. Abrams is appealing more to teenagers rather than the strict Trekkie crowd. It makes sense – you appeal to the biggest audience you can get. Will the movie suffer? I doubt it. The trailers have been pretty damn good, I will admit.