Welcome to the Weekly Trailer Roundup, where we count down the top five trailers released in the past week, “top” being defined any way we want to at the moment…exciting, ridiculous, best, worst…
These are the trailers that, for one reason or another, you should be paying attention to.
What a week. This week’s list is dominated by trailers released during Comic-Con and its immediate aftermath, but a few indie pictures managed to sneak in as well. There was a sharp delineation between what was considered for this week’s top five and what wasn’t, but the final choices ended up being quite difficult. Be sure to glance at the full list following the countdown.
Honorable Mention – The Turning
It can’t quite force its way into a crowded top five, but this trailer for The Turning deserves a look because it’s everything that a trailer often isn’t. It’s slightly longer and more revealing than a true teaser, but well shorter than your average movie trailer. It’s poetic and leaves me wanting more instead of dragging on half a minute or more too long.
#5 – Metallica: Through the Never 3D Official Trailer #2
This falls solidly into the “WTF is going on?” category. From the title you’d think this was a concert pic. But then rising star Dane Dehaan shows up. And then all hell breaks loose. To a soundtrack of Metallica. Yes.
#4 – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Official Theatrical Trailer
The first Hunger Games movie would charitably be described as a bit of a letdown. Sure, it raked in the cash, but it will never live down flaws like the tracker jacker exposition. If you’ve seen the movie, you know what I’m talking about. That said, the sequel does look much better. And it has to be. There’s a lot more going on in Catching Fire, and it bears major responsibility for setting up the third, ahem, third and fourth movies.
#3 – Inch’Allah Official Trailer #1
The Israeli/Palestinian conflict is beyond complex, and by the look of it this film pulls no punches. It’s not trying to solve the conflict, but hopefully speaks powerfully to the abounding difficulty that the people there go through regularly. This is another film that doesn’t have U.S. distribution yet, and is still riding the festival circuit. If we get lucky, it’ll be coming to VOD soon.
#2 – Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Official Trailer #1
Nelson Mandela exists in the zeitgeist as a statesman, and rightly so, but seeing him as more than the president who guided South Africa out of Apartheid is incredibly compelling. Idris Elba looks in fine form, as does the movie as a whole.
#1 – Gravity Extended Trailer
This is actually an amalgamation of three shorter trailers (plus a little bonus footage at the end), any one of which would have taken the top spot this week. This movie looks very, very good.
The rest of this week’s field:
Riddick Official Red Band Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdUw_69VahU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdUw_69VahU
Veronica Mars Official Comic-Con Sneak Peek – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTqIpXh0IAI
47 Ronin Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8cKdDkkIYY
A Single Shot Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M8KJ7E_yWs
Snowpiercer International Trailer #3 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEgLkI3vbBk
The Unspeakable Act Trailer – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qd9kfkfe7M
The Dirties Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJbR_ase5fY
Blue Exorcist The Movie Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eOytniKelk
When Comedy Went to School Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8TNDB1wEB4
Lazarus Official Teaser Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkS69x4uH7M
STAG Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI50TF3ad2Y
A Night for Dying Tigers Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzbXH6WeOiU
Gebo and the Shadow Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tMQBL-XTnU
The Apostle Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DIBqglmJ3s
The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0ZjsfTmT_w
The Conspiracy Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oVWcT6mVYQ
StreetDance Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lewq1sJSXdU
100 Bloody Acres Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukVETY6ptJM
Half of a Yellow Sun Trailer – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wF4wU6HuUk
Una Noche Official Trailer #1 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKLXDk4NFrA&feature=c4-overview&list=UULyYEq4ODlw3OD9qhGqwimw