For some movie enthusiasts, one of the most exciting elements of going to the movies is the chance to see trailers for upcoming film projects. Movie trailers, which are also known as previews, give audiences an initial glimpse at movies that have not yet been released. These previews are supposed to build excitement for films by quickly drawing you into the storyline; however, they could also be misleading. Since a great number of trailers advertise what are ultimately disappointing films, here is a list of the five things you can look for to determine if a previewed film is worth the hefty cost.
Pay Attention To The Cast
Many actors such as Michael Fassbender and George Clooney have a reputation for getting involved in great projects. Everybody knows Meryl Streep movies are good. Therefore, if she is starring in the film, it shouldn’t be disappointing to see it. Alternatively, actors such as Nicolas Cage, have a more suspect track record. If you have enjoyed the effort of a certain actor in the past, there’s a decent possibility you’ll enjoy their upcoming projects – particularly if they are Academy Award winners or nominees. Another hint that a movie is likely to be great is the casting of new actors in the lead role. Sometimes these actors have spectacular skill and achieve stellar performances.
Don’t Believe The Hype
The bottom line is, movie trailers are a marketing ploy for studios that have an objective to entice you to buy something that might not appeal to you otherwise. Studios implement many tactics to build anticipation about their films. If you see a previews for an action movie that consists mostly of explosions, car chases, and a loud soundtrack, it’s likely there’s not much else outstanding about the film. All motion pictures are should have some action, drama, and comedy. If the trailer doesn’t have one of these elements it’s unlikely the film will be able to live up to the hype. Your best bet will be to search for a combination of action, drama and comedy in every trailer.
Know Your Movie Directors
What first comes to mind when you see a film is directed by Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, James Cameron, or Stephen Spielberg? Most people would think, “That’s destined to be an excellent film.” If that’s what you’re thinking, most times, you’d be right. In the past ten years, these industry giants have nabbed seven of the Academy Nominations for Best Director. Scorsese tops this list with the highest number of nominations; four during the past decade – with a win for “The Departed” in 2006. Be on the lookout for other repeat nominees like Joel & Ethan Cohen (Best Director, 2007, No Country for Old Men) and David Fincher, or recent winners like Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist).
Avoid Sloppy Sequels
While some movie sequels are just as good if not better than the original – notably “Terminator 2,” “The Dark Knight,” or “Rocky IV” – many are an awful new addition to the earlier version. Quality usually decreases in follow up versions of a great movie because studios often race sequels to the theaters so they can exploit the hype generated by a hit movie. When the movie makers have actor contracts, production teams, together with other film making ingredients already set up, they often push these less expensive films through the pipeline in an effort to squeeze every dime out from a franchise. As a consequence, they will end up with lackluster flicks like “Matrix: Reloaded,” “Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows,” or “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.” If you ever wasted money on any of these films, you may be hesitant in the future to spend money on a sequel.
See What Film Critics Say
One of the most effective ways to avoid dishing out hard-earned cash for bad films may very well be to trust the movie critics over the movie trailer. The very function of a film critic, also known as a movie reviewer, is to advocate on behalf of the moviegoing consumer and inform audiences on what’s good out there. They identify the way a film relates to the social context of the day. For instance, a good movie critic would be able to convey to moviegoers, who grew up reading Marvel and DC comic books, playing with Transformers and G.I. Joes, or watching superhero cartoon characters on TV, how true a current movie adaptation remains to the original work’s storyline. There are plenty of reputable film critics, who write for newspapers, magazines, broadcast media, an internet-based publications, that can provide you with the scoop on which movies are worth the trip to the theater. Some well recognized examples are Roger Ebert & Richard Roeper (Chicago Sun-Times, At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper), Joel Siegel (Good Morning America), Elliott Stein (Village Voice), and Forest WV (Who Got The Role).
So, although there is no foolproof way to understand which trailer is advertising a bad movie, adhering to the five recommendations above may help you reduce the number of occasions you’re seriously dissatisfied at the theater. Now you should be better able to make Hollywood be the fool to pay the price for horrible movies promoted by good trailers.