Movie trailers and Super Bowl XLIII

For 10 years, I have reviewed films, so movie trailers are a big part of the reason why I watch Super Bowl commercials. Each year I wait to see what big films will be previewed, hoping for something I haven’t seen yet. This year, I was taken by surprise! Eleven different films aired ads during the Super Bowl!

I could delve into each of the movie trailers in detail, but I’ll keep this short for two reasons, 1) there’s already a zillion people on the Net commenting about the Super Bowl ads for 2009, and B) I only have my lunch hour to write this. So let’s hit the highlights!

• Land of the Lost – I loved this cheesy Saturday morning show. I was unsure about Will Farrell’s comedy take on it. This commercial sold me. The Sleestaks alone (see image) make me feel like a kid again. Must see.
• Monsters vs. Aliens – The 3D stunt may have worked against this ad. Even with my 3D glasses, it was difficult to watch. After the commercial (and the two that followed), I had a headache. I realize the film will utilize “real 3D,” which I assume means without the color-coded glasses. Even so, it’ll be a hard sell for me now.
• G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra – I had no idea this was airing during the Super Bowl, so I was pleasantly surprised. Awesome look and feel. I am so there.
• Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen – Could this one be a bigger blur of WTF? I was totally underwhelmed.
• Angels & Demons – Considering how much buzz The da Vinci Code created, this one couldn’t be less buzz-worthy. Nothing in the ad excited me. No sense of awe. And what, exactly is being explored? Took two viewings before I caught the “Illuminati” reference.
• Star Trek – Why spend millions of dollars to air an ad for Star Trek when the first one debuted a little over a month ago? This new, second trailer offered nothing new to make me think it was better than the first one. No new “wow” moment. I can’t wait for the film, but I feel this was poor marketing.
• Up – As with Star Trek, I’m curious as to why this is being released now. I saw a longer version of this trailer months ago. Why repeat it now (and without new material)? Still, it’s Disney/PIXAR, so it’s a given I’ll see it.
• Race to Witch Mountain – I hate to say it, but this actually looks good. I hate remakes and “re-imaginings” (thanks, Tim Burton, for adding that word to my lexicon). Based on the 1970s Disney classics Escape to Witch Mountain and Return from Witch Mountain, this special effects-laden remake with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson looks promising.
• Fast & Furious – Saw this film the first time two times it was made (I skipped the third version). No amount of advertising can make me want to see this. Note even the promise of seeing Jordana Brewster. Taking out the article “the” from the title doesn’t help.
• Year One – Jack Black and Michael Cera give us a slacker history lesson. No. Just… no.
• Duplicity – Super spies Julia Roberts and Clive Owens seduce each other. Not really a Super Bowl caliber commercial. Amid all the rest, this one was utterly forgettable.

That’s my wrap-up of this year’s movie trailers from Super Bowl XLIII. Tune in next year!