Friday 28 November 2014

Trailer Talk: Dinosaurs, Dresses and Droids

Seventh Son
Again, like the first trailer, they advertise the crew more than the director and actors. An interesting decision for this delayed film, and its attempts of promoting itself have gone halfheartedly. Poor show by Legendary and Universal.

The DUFF
Many are comparing this as the next generation's Mean Girls, and it's understandable why - following the group standards of the film and pursuing them further by modernising it. However, it also appears to be cliché, unfunny and incredibly predictable. Maybe it'll do as well as Mean Girls, but I'm not interested in seeing it,

Peanuts
I adored the first teaser released a few months ago, and it is a film I look forward to, but there is something a little off  about this newer trailer - namely the pop music. It starts off rather traditionally, and the appearance of the whole gang in the cinema was delightful, but the sudden change of tone was rather uncharacteristic for the series. Maybe it's just to appeal to new audiences, which makes sense, but it is an interesting decision to sell the film with modern elements when it's staying true to form,

Cinderella
Everyone knows the story of Cinderella. whether it be through Disney's animated classic or from the original fairy tale. But this new rendition by Kenneth Branagh doesn't shy away from telling the entire story anyway, with additional footage of Cinderella's first mother, and it does appear a bit naff. Aside from a strong performance by Cate Blanchett and possibly Lily James, there doesn't appear to be much sustenance to it, like fellow adaptations Alice in Wonderland and Maleficent, so it could be another disappointment for this new genre of film.

Pitch Perfect 2
I haven't seen the 2012 first installment to this surprise hit, but this sequel is taking the original gang, lead by Anna Kendrick, across the globe with a storyline which seems somewhat similar to the first (going by trailers and clips) except without the boy-v-girl scenario (boys are now the opposing countries). Not much to laugh at as someone not in the designated demographic, but it'll likely do big because of its global appeal - unless it pulls a Muppets Most Wanted and falters in comparison to the original,

Strange Magic
George Lucas is back directing Epic 2: Land of the Fairies! Seemingly. It looks a lot like 2013's Epic, but a bit more stylised and worse characters. It may look visually good in terms of designs, but everything else falls a little flat, such as the comedy and the overall story.

The Interview
Still not into this film. It could get Kim Jong Un off their backs, but apparently it hasn't.

Pan
This doesn't feel like Peter Pan. This feels more like a mix of Oliver Twist and a generic adventure, with an odd feel to it and some meh performances by the likes of Hugh Jackman. It doesn't seem right, which may be why the studios are going this, but it's not the best way to go with it.

Jurassic World
Pushed ahead to avoid a clash with a fellow sequel to a classic trilogy, Jurassic World brings the original park public in a big way in what looks like a very impressive film. It's great to see the idea John Hammond (the late Richard Attenborough) brought into fruition, and the new feel to the film is astonishing. There's been criticism about the CGI and the idea of the mutated dinosaur, but to me both are impressive enough to guarantee a viewing. Plus, Chris Pratt is on a roll with no sign of stopping.

Home
Dreamworks Animation is in a bit of a rut as of late. With the last few films failing to reach the expected praise and box office receivings, alongside failed attempts to be bought by the likes of Hasbro, they've been trying hard to pick themselves up. One example of this is the switch between this and Penguins of Madagascar, banking on the popularity of the Madagascar series to save them. With that up in the air, they still need to promote their next film, Home, which is barely appealing. Bad casting, poor humour and odd character designs, it doesn't shout "See me!" like it hopes it would. A pity.

Kingsman: The Secret Service
I am excited for this film. Yes, the special effects still have a lot of cleaning to do before its January/February release, but the comedy and performances look stellar and I'm still intrigued by the limbless henchman who appears in all the new posters. I am pumped.

Unfinished Business
Not at all appealing. I worry for the future of Vince Vaughn's career.

Shaun the Sheep: The Movie
The trailer you've all been waiting for! A very comedic feature-length escapade for the herd, with even more appeal for the film than the previous trailers. It could fail, but I really hope not.

Stars Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Oh yeah, this film is coming out. I've made it no secret that I'm not a fan of the Star Wars franchise or JJ Abrams, and the viral videos haven't captured my interest, but this does look genuinely good. For a tease of a film coming out in well over a year, it gives off the right amount of detail to keep anticipation rising, with the overall look looking far superior to the original trilogies whilst still feeling like a part of the series. Kudos to you Abrams, you've actually impressed me.

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