Best Trailers of the Decade: Cloverfield - Teaser (2007)

Paramount really took a risk with this concept, which was basically a viral video as a teaser. It offered no stars & no title. Only a date. The risk payed off handsomely.

I have to admit I am quite fond of this movie because it delivered on the promise; unlike the majority of the micro-budget/high-concept movies. This and District 9 being the exceptions to the rule. More on D-9 in a later post.

Best Trailers of the Decade: Little Children (2006)

This trailer did away with traditional conventions and created a truly unique work of audio/visual art. It not only stays with you, but begs you to watch it again & again. Simply stunning.

Best Trailers of the Decade: Sin City (2005)

I don't know what I can say about this trailer other than it perfectly captures the gritty tone of the source material whilst simultaneously making it look like a kick-ass must see movie. Maybe Robert Rodriguez helped prove to James Cameron that you didn't need sets to create a world.

Best Trailers of the Decade: Spider-man 2 - Trailer (2004)

I am no fan of the 'Spider-man' movie franchise, but the sequel is the a decent effort (mostly because Alfred Molina's performance as Doc Oc). However, I believe this trailer is one of the best I have ever seen. Great dialogue selection and spot on music choices really give this trailer an emotional drive and a truly epic feel.

Best Trailers of the Decade: Kill Bill - Teaser (2003)

It took Quentin Tarantino 6 years after 'Jackie Brown' to deliver 'Kill Bill'. So needless to say expectations for his spin on the spaghetti western were running pretty hot. And hoo-boy does this teaser show us that we are in for a treat. 'Kill Bill' became so epic that it had to be split into two halves, rendering this teaser's promise that "In 2003, Uma Thurman will Kill Bill" inaccurate. But we can let that slide because the teaser did not lead us falsely. 'Kill Bill' was a saga worth waiting for.

Don't Fall Asleeeep . . . !

Michael Bay might not create the most intellectual films of our time, but he definitely knows how to entertain us. Next up on his horror sponsor list is NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (2010) - a horror remake with some class. You can always count on a little girl's voice to scare the shit out of you, and this trailer executes it with gravitas. Oh Michael - how do you do (remake) that horror that you do so well?

Best Trailers of the Decade: Catch Me If You Can (2002)

I, like many folks, am a sucker for true stories adapted to the big screen. But I don't just hand over my hard earned cash for any "based on a true story" captured on celluloid (e.g. every Disney-branded live-action sports movie). The sell has to be a damn good one and they don't get much more alluring than the trailer for Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can. The movie tells the true story of teenage con-artist Frank Abagnale, Jr. played by an extremely charming Leonardo DiCaprio and the relentless pursuit of F.B.I. agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), to bring him to justice.

The trailer sets up DiCaprio's character as a smooth savant right off the bat as he charms a pretty bank teller (Elizabeth Banks!) with promises of grilled bovine; she gushes. We proceed to see DiCaprio as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer, which the copy tells us he's not qualified for because... he's still in high school!! The kid has ripped off millions of buckaroos by pulling stickers off of toy planes and putting them onto fake payroll checks. Easy money and hanging out with sexy stewardesses all day, gee the 60s were swell! We end on a cat & mouse chase carried by Bobby Darin's version of "Don't Rain On My Parade". The trailer really makes the movie look fun and interesting. And Hanks and DiCaprio are used to perfection. I dig this trailer.

Best Trailers of the Decade: Pearl Harbor - Teaser (2001)

Please excuse the redundancy, but compiling my list of the best trailers of the decade will require me to retread on some previously spotlighted material.

As seen here, I heaped heavy praise upon the teaser for Michael Bay's Titanic-wannabe, Pearl Harbor. And it is my choice for best trailer for the year 2001.

Best Trailers of the Decade - Requiem For A Dream - Pt.2

I've already expressed my love for the Requiem For A Dream trailer. Here is an alternate trailer cut by the same editor, which is equally impressive, if not more so. This version is a bit more of an artistic/stylistic effort. Pay attention, folks because this type of work is paramount.

"The Movie Where Megan Fox Gets Almost Naked and Makes Out With Another Chick"

As far as horror movie trailers go, this isn't at the top of my list.  But maybe that's because it's also supposed to be a comedy.  Or a parody.  Or a vehicle for Megan Fox to get partially nude and kiss Amanda Seyfried.  In all fairness I think Diablo has created some good campy fun, but aside from the word "fucking" and some cleavage, I don't think the red band has done the movie justice.

Jennifer's Body trailer
by mcrucq

Best Trailers of the Decade - Requiem For A Dream (2000)

I just realized that the first decade of the 21st century is rapidly approaching its end. So I felt compelled to initiate a series of posts highlighting trailers I fancied most for each of the past ten years. I will trickle these out over the remaining weeks of this year, culminating with the my favorite trailer of 2009 and of the decade overall in January 2010. Let us begin.



Full disclosure, I personally know the editor who created this trailer. I certainly would not be where I am today without his guidance, tutelage and friendship. However I do not think I am being biased here because I admired this trailer well before I met the man who edited it.

Opening in a whiteout with a slowly revealed quote from the film's source material by Hubert Selby Jr. is a simple & beautiful message. As messed up as the film may be, it is at it's core a love story. Love between a couple. Love between mothers & sons. And love between friends. Set to "Everloving" by Moby from the album Play, which eventually became the go-to album for many ad campaigns in the early 2000s, the trailer quickly escalates from setting up the characters into chaos with a frightening plea of "help us!" from Marlon Wayon's character Tyrone. The montage encompasses director Darren Aronofsky's visual styling that made the film a standout release that year and provided further evidence that Aronofsky was a rising talent. The trailer ends on the memorable image of Marion standing at the end of the pier that recurs throughout the film, which fades again to whiteout and the main title reveal. Nearly ten years later, this trailer remains as fresh and hauntingly beautiful as ever.

The Suckiest of Them All

The Matrix Reloaded/Revolutions - Teaser (2002)



Worst. Sequels. Ever. And this coming from the guy who loved Speed Racer. There I said it. This teaser put dips to black on the map. Kudos to that editor. Alright I'm done. Peace out...

Brilliant Trailers for Less Than Stellar Movies

Even before I was making trailers for a living, I had the uncanny ability of being able to gauge when a movie was going to be a stinker just by watching the previews. But once in a while I get duped into paying to see a movie because of an exceptionally kick ass trailer. I have the utmost respect for the trailer editors who weave feature length crap into 2 1/2 minutes (or less) of pure gold. Here are a few examples of this phenomenon.

#1) Pearl Harbor (2001)



Here is a perfect example of how choosing the right music cue can take visuals to the next level. Hans Zimmer's "Journey To The Line" from The Thin Red Line is one of the best pieces of film score ever. If hearing it doesn't move you, check your pulse because I think you might be deceased. Anyways, I was so blown away by this teaser and the subsequent full length trailer, that upon seeing it in the theater I said, "just give them the Oscar® now." I was so convinced that Pearl Harbor was going to be a masterpiece. Obviously, this turned out not to be the case and immediately after the credits started rolling in the theater I felt like I'd been mugged.

#2) Minority Report (2002)



As a child of the 80's I grew up worshiping Steve Spielberg. There's no doubt his movies are responsible for my love of all things cinema. When I heard Spielberg was teaming up with Tom Cruise for a new sci-fi film based on a Philip K. Dick story to say I was psyched would be a gross understatement. The teaser for Minority Report is short, but it has great copy and enough exciting imagery for a proper tease, but again I was hugely let down with the end result. It's ok, Steven, you're still my hebrew homeboy.

#3 & 4)Pineapple Express (2008) & Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)



There was serious web buzz for Pineapple Express well over a year before it was released. The Apatow train was blazing at an unstoppable rate and I was all aboard. The use of M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" in this trailer was a stroke of genius. It did everything a song should for a campaign. It was catchy, fresh and created an identity for the film. I just wish the film could have lived up to the hype. This movie was especially disappointing due to the talent involved, James Franco, Seth Rogan, Danny McBride and director David Gordon Green. I believe the problem lies in the film's inability to find an identity, and the fact that its just too long. See also: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (which I did NOT pay to see in theaters). Another overly-long comedy in need of editorial trimming. Although I think it might be John C. Reilly's best performance after Boogie Nights.



#5) Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)



There are probably bigger Star Wars nerds than me, but I'm pretty smitten with the series. So much so that I bought tickets for Meet Joe Black just to catch a first glimpse of this teaser on the big screen. Great copy, dialogue bites and John Williams' exceptional score drive this one home and it made fanboys everywhere giddy with anticipation. I am sure the sparse use Jar Jar Binks helped keep expectations in check. While Episode I is pretty terrible, it is not without its cool moments, such as the podrace scene and final lightsabre duel featured here. The Star Wars prequels had some of my favorite advertising materials, which I will be sure to talk about in future posts.

Harry Potter takes his Texas Chainsaw Across the Universe

The best way to watch a movie trailer is definitely on the silver screen - when it's BIG and when it's LOUD.  You know it's a good trailer if when you watch it, you have a strong emotional reaction to it.  My top 3 favorite trailers could not be more diverse -  One terrifies me to the core but also makes me feel a bit like going on a road trip; one reconfirms my love for british rock stars and also makes me wish my life could be lived to a soundtrack; and the last makes me feel magical - and a littttle bit like Christmas.

I'm gonna go fondle my sweaters.

Continuing our "summer" theme... here's the trailer for the brilliant Wet Hot American Summer (2001). Please excuse the less than stellar quality, but its the least I could find in a pinch.

Anyways, I heart this film so very much. So dang many awesome lines to quote, the trailer just can not do it justice, but I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and guess they probably had a less than substantial advertising budget. Who knew Law & Order: SVU's Christopher Meloni was a comedic genius. His epic scene with the talking soup can is one of my all time favorites. There's no question this movie ignited my man-crush on Paul Rudd, who is pretty much amazing in everything that he does.

If you haven't seen it, Netflix it ASAP. "You taste like a hamburger. I don't like you anymore."

Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
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This is NOT a love story . . .

Since Sunday was the official first day of Summer, we thought we'd kick it off with an awesome trailer that has "Summer" in the title .  Not only does the teaser trailer for 500 DAYS OF SUMMER expose one of those great bands you never thought you knew about (Temper Trap), but it also feels so French New Wave is will give you the chills.  It will also make you want to take a quick jog through your local ikea . . .