Top ten trailers:
Trailers: Like short movies without boring bits? Or junk food without plot resolutions or story arcs?
I must say, it's hard to judge between a good trailer and a good movie. Now, I know for a fact I've forgotten some - I may have even forgotten one better than the current number 1, so please: Correct me.
I've added four criteria - each out of ten. These have no bearings on their ranking, just what I think of them.
~# Success is success at what the trailer is trying to achieve. Usually either increasing anticipation, stirring curiosity or the main one: Getting me to pay money for a ticket.
~# Correct atmosphere is how well are they preparing you for the movie. How many liberties are they taking between the trailer and the actual film - Sometimes heaps!
~# Music and visuals are self explanatory - but intertwined. If one isn't good, the other usually suffers. Some movies have one of these so killer that it doesn't matter though.
10.
Chronicles of Narnia
Just because something is aimed at kids, doesn't mean it has to be 'kiddy'. This perfectly reacreated that old-school adventure feel which I think is just what kids are looking for and missing out on.
Success: 10
Correct atmosphere: 10
Music: 8
Visuals: 8
9.
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
More successful, but only because the ball was already rolling so fast.
Success: 10
Correct atmosphere: 10
Music: 10
Visuals: 9
8.
King Kong
This trailer had to be good enough to make people forget Lord of the Rings and just concentrate on the story.
It was.
Success: 9
Correct atmosphere: 8 (It was bloody long and bloody emotional rather than just bloody)
Music: 9
Visuals: 10
7.
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
I always remembered the Return of the King trailer as the best, but I think that was just because of the increased excitement.
Success: 9
Correct atmosphere: 10
Music: 9
Visuals: 10
6.
Children of men
When I first saw this trailer, I was stunned.
Success: 8 (I think it may have turned one or two people away with its honesty)
Correct atmosphere: 10
Music: 10
Visuals: 9
5.
Halo
~# Trailer 1
~# Trailer 2
A game? Am I allowed to do that? Yes. Yes I am.
I never really got into Halo 2, but this has made me psyched for 3... even though there's nothing really 'new' about it! There's two trailers here, but I couldn't really decide which one was better or more 'official'.
Success: 9 (A fluid mix of nostalgia and anticipation)
Correct atmosphere: (It hasn't even been finished yet)
Music: 10 (Finish the Fight - Martin O'Donnel... the Fanfare is awesome!)
Visuals: 6 (However, it used IN GAME GRAPHICS!)
4.
Syriana
"Syriana?" I hear you say. "I don't remember the movie, let alone the trailer."
I know, I know. It's a good trailer, it does make me want to see it. But the best thing about it is the fact that the actual movie is boring as hell. Whoever made this trailer is a genius. Seriously, it's just as good as all those re-cuts you see from time to time.
Success: 11 (If ten is what's possible)
Correct atmosphere: 3
Music: 8
Visuals: 9 (Nice, but not wowing - a bit of a give away)
3.
The Matrix:Reloaded
I'm sure many would expect this to be on the top of the list - and hey! It deserves much recognition. An excellent trailer that managed to charm the weak of will into the Matrix sequels, only to stab in the back in the dark of the cinema, and steal their hope.
But seriously, a trailer that has probably done just as much to form the new standard of trailers as advertising for it's movie... probably more. This one has really become the benchmark.
Success: 9
Correct atmosphere: 9
Music: 9
Visuals: 9
2.
300
If you have any objections, they better be pretty good. If you have any substitutions, they better be freakin' PHENOMENAL.
I rated it lower for success, because to be honest it doesn't particularly make me want to watch the movie. I'd rather press play again then be bothered ordering tickets - it was almost too good, I just knew the movie couldn't live up to it. Two out of the three reviews for the movie I read said they would have enjoyed to movie more if the trailer hadn't raised their hopes so high.
This trailer is simply masterful filmmaking in it's own right.
Success: 7 (I haven't seen it yet)
Correct atmosphere: N/A (I haven't seen it yet)
Music: 10 (Just like you Imagined - Nine Inch Nails)
Visuals: 10
1.
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
You probably forgot about this one, am I right? Don't believe it should be up here? Watch again. It's not a rare thing for a trailer to be better than the movie it's previewing (in fact it's normal), but this is just extreme.
Consciously? I know I didn't really like the movie, but every time I watch this trailer, I want to watch it again. That is why Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is currently number one on my list even though, some of the other trailers have 'scored' better.
Success: 10 (It's like it's own awesome sketch)
Correct atmosphere: 9
Music: 7 (It was good, but it didn't make me open Lime-wire)
Visuals: 9
Blood Diamond was a close eleventh in case you were wondering.
Special mentions to the trailers for The Comedian and Wall-E (they were only teasers) and Bee-Movie (for most original teaser).
Of course, everyone has seen the Mother of all Trailers, but if you like trailers, then you should love this.
Nice list! But 300?! C'mon, I dunno... that trailer left me somewhat indifferent.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes! At first I was shocked The Matrix Reloaded wasn't number one, but I stand corrected. The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy trailer wins. Big time.
Great idea for an entry. Perhaps I should so a "coming soon" list on my blog. I've got trailers for all the best movies coming out soon...
The 300?!?! Come on! That trailer stank of stagnant, overdone medievil action, like tom cruise in a remake of gladiator.
ReplyDeleteBut gotta agree on halo 3 trailer. The music for that is by far the greatest theme for a game that has ever been created! There's nothing out there like it - what other game uses an 80 piece orchestra?
But hitchhiker's should win on comic genius alone. I was very disapointed the dvd didn't come with it. In some ways, looking back, it was probably better than the film...
So here's my top 3: hitchhikers, halo3 and matrix. Never saw the blood diamond one, but if I did, it must have been very forgetable, 'cause i've forgotten it.
300 was the best! King Kohl is so right! This post wasn't by me
ReplyDeleteI stand by my decision of 300. Maybe none of you saw it, but it started a craze. Almost every online comic was parodying 'the kick' and it created more hype than any movie for quite a while (That didn't already have a fan base like Fantastic Four)
ReplyDeleteYeah, but I don't remember much being around at the time.
ReplyDeleteWow, a simple kick! Hold me back!
I stand by my comparison - tom cruise in a gladiator film. With the sunglasses. And the smile.
The rock music didn't work to the setting, the actor was as annoying as Eric Banna's accent in Black Hawk Down, and did little more that make me think "yay, another violent medievil movie! I'll check that out if I remember".
And yes, I know that medievil was more 16th century as oposed to the first, but it's similar enough for you to get the idea.
Yeah, I agree with that dead guy! He's awsome! Everyone should listen to his briliant wisdom!
ReplyDelete*agreed with the poster above* YES! HE IS ALWAYS RIGHT! Except when it comes to anything Mac related. :P
ReplyDeleteThe 300 trailer felt too try-hard cool. You know, instead of being actually cool. Too many overly cheesy lines and over the top action shots. I'd say the Stardust trailer is pretty awesom too...
Yeah, it was okay. I guess it's always going to be a bit personal but not only was I underwhelmed by the trailer that gave away too much for this fairly straight forward fantasy - but it's not really been talked about at all.
ReplyDelete300 was a movie that was starting from scratch; no fanbase, no predecessor. But weeks before the release date everyone I saw had an opinion - usually extremely positive. What other trailer has so many parodies?
Maybe I just saw a lot more of the hype. I'm sure you've met at least one or two guys who have been obsessed by the trailer. I've seen heaps.
I still stand by my decision.
For those who don't think it was a successful trailer, look at this collection of Internet Memes:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efJbS0gB2y8
NO!
ReplyDeleteWow, I feel as if I could feel the brain cells dying away as I watched it.
ReplyDeleteThere is no way a couple of very poor youtube vids are an indicator of a successful trailer. It just means that some bogan somewhere knows how to use the interwebz.
" and here came the opening chords of 'Positron Premonition'."
ReplyDelete-Idoru
I wish I had the time to argue that point Dead meat. It says a lot more than you think - just as the 'star wars kid' proved Star Wars to be popular, so does this collection.
ReplyDeleteAlso: Nodal Point? I don't understand any part of your post,save for the letters.
Dude, it rocked. Everyone at school was talking about it. The music was oooooh, the visuals were oooooh, and the general awesomeness was ooooh,
ReplyDeleteKinda like an "oooohhh, what's that awful smell?"
ReplyDelete*snap*
By the way, is there a new post comming or what?
Yeah! WE DEMAND A NEW POST!!!
ReplyDelete