Most of us have probably heard of the ‘Kangaroo’ Court’, but have never actually seen it. Popular film critic Kim Newman describes the surreal experience of seeing ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ for the first time in a cinema:“It was absolutely bizarre. The atmosphere in the cinema is just so otherworldly, like something you’d imagine from a dream. Or a horror movie. And it’s fun to watch, but it’s so outside the realm of reality.”Theatrical trailers for films are a brilliant way for studios to show us images of what’s to come without giving too much away. Case in point: ‘Kung Fu Panda 3′. It’s a fantastic film, but why ruin the surprise of what happens next by revealing the story in advance? Instead, trailers do the unexpected and give us glimpses of the characters and worlds we’ve never experienced before.
The Artistry Of Pixar Animation
The team behind ‘Toy Story’ and ‘Monsters, Inc.’ are back at it again with ‘Inside Out’. This time around, we get to explore various aspects of the mind, as the main character, ‘Angie’, bounces from one emotion to another. The film looks incredible and the trailer gives us some wonderful insights into what is sure to be yet another masterful work from Pixar.
Awe-Inspiring Creatures
It is well-known that ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ was an inspiration for ‘Black Panther’. And, while there are quite a few similarities between the two films, there are also key differences. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ is a space adventure, while ‘Black Panther’ is more of a character-driven story. Nevertheless, both films have something special: the creatures. In ‘Black Panther’, King T’Challa and his fellow Avengers must protect the realm from an onslaught of strange and beautiful creatures. While our favorite space adventurers face off against the combined forces of the galaxy in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’. Suffice it to say, you’d better prepare yourself to be awe-inspired. The trailer doesn’t give us a lot, but what it does give is more than enough to fill the heart and mind with wonder.
New Monsters To Love
If you’ve been holding off from seeing ‘Monster Squad’ due to its poor reputation, then we have some good news for you. ‘Monster Squad’ is not only worth seeing, but they’re actually some of the most lovable characters you’ll ever meet. Director Michael Dougherty was kind enough to answer a few questions for us about his newest film. The monsters in ‘Monster Squad’ are inspired by real-life monsters, such as the Loch Ness Monster, the Yeti and the Mothman. Here’s what he had to say:
“That’s the great thing about monsters: they can be whatever you want them to be! The characters for this film were really important to me because they had to represent something different. I wanted to do something that nobody had ever really seen before. So, I drew on my own experiences as a child and combined them with the monsters I love and adore. I think it’s fair to say that I have a bit of a ‘monster’ fixation. So, it was great to be able to bring these creatures to life on the big screen. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!”
A Whole New World
‘Aladdin’ is the story of a street rat named Aladdin (Agrabah), who is magically given one wish by the Genie (Jafar), who happens to be his master, the evil witch Mother (Agrabah) and her seven dwarfs. After making his wish to be a prince, Aladdin finds himself in a magical world he never thought possible. The trailer for ‘Aladdin’ does an excellent job of showing us a whole new world, while still keeping the spirit of the original children’s novel. While watching the trailer, it is hard not to be swept away by the charm of Prince Aladdin and his charming ways. It’s hard to believe that this film is based on a kids’ book!
The Adventures Of Willy Ward
The ‘Willy Ward’ trailer is an example of a trailer that does an excellent job of being brief yet remaining utterly engrossing. The main character, Willy Ward, is a young boy whose hobby is exploring the nearby woods. One day, his hobby turns into an obsession and it isn’t long before he starts bringing home strange creatures he finds living in the forest. While Willy Ward documents his encounters with the strange creatures in his diary, it is up to us to figure out what role these creatures play in his life. A wonderful mix of “science fiction fantasy,” as screenwriter Max Anderson describes it, and some really creative creature effects, ‘Willy Ward’ may well be the most unique trailer of all time. And we can’t help but agree.
Something Different
‘The Hunchback Of Notre Dame’ is one of our all-time favorite movies. It’s truly one of the most unique and beloved films of all time. The trailer for ‘The Hunchback Of Notre Dame’ does an excellent job of capturing the imagination of moviegoers with its mixture of live-action and animated imagery. We get a nice look at the villains of the story, the hideous creatures known as the Yeomen, who are inspired by the Romans. While watching the trailer, it is difficult not to be transported back in time to when the film first came out, over forty years ago. ‘The Hunchback Of Notre Dame’ is a true masterpiece and we can’t wait to see it on the big screen again soon.
A Bittersweet Twist
Disney hasn’t made a trailer for ‘Saving Mr. Banks’. Nevertheless, it is easy to see the similarities between the two films: they’re both based on true stories, they both feature stars who were at one point or another in Hollywood’s biggest films, and most importantly, they both deal with depression and finding the will to live again. The movie trailers for ‘Saving Mr. Banks’ don’t reveal much, but what they do reveal is enough to make one feel truly sympathetic for the titular character, Mr. Banks. ‘Saving Mr. Banks’ is a poignant and moving tale about a man who finds the love and support he needs to get through a dark time. While the trailer for ‘Saving Mr. Banks’ doesn’t give us much, it does enough to make us want to see the film. We hope that Mr. Banks’ story will inspire others and give them the strength to find happiness.
An Impressive Cast
Speaking of strength, let’s not forget about the fantastic cast of ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’. As its name would suggest, the film is set in a world where King’smen (or Women) go around protecting the Kings (or Queens) of the realm. This time, Eggsy (Taron Egerton), an English soldier turned spy, must do battle with the American equivalent: Max (Hugh Grant). While the trailer is short, it manages to feature quite a bit, giving us an impression of an entirely different sort of story. Whether Grant’s portrayal of the American president or Egerton’s take on an English spy will leave you surprised, ‘Kingsman’ is an exciting film with an impressive cast.
An Epic Battle
‘Avengers: Infinity War’ is arguably the most ambitious film of all time. Not only does it manage to pack in an entire year of filming and a couple of years of production time, but it also manages to fill the screen. The trailer for ‘Infinity War’ gives us a glimpse of the epic battle that takes place between the Avengers and their counterparts, the the Thanos Imperative. It isn’t a lot to go on, but the battle is enough to make one feel as though they want to see this film as soon as possible. And, if you ask us, ‘Infinity War’ is one of the most inventive trailers of all time. With a little bit of clever framing and quick cuts, the trailer is able to pack in an entire year’s worth of movie moments in just a few minutes. While it may not give us much, the trailer for ‘Infinity War’ is enough to make us believe that this is going to be another epic battle between good and evil. Just like those in the comics!