Coming Attractions

I love a good movie preview.  I am one of those people who feels like I am missing out on part of the movie-going experience if I arrive in the theatre after the trailers have started.  Let alone the whole stumbling around in the dark theatre trying to secure a decent seat at that point.  Don’t get me wrong, I will lament with the rest of you when there are 20 minutes of trailers before a movie (& don’t get me started on the actual commercials that have started popping up before movies…like I want to pay money to see a Coke ad), but I somehow feel like I wouldn’t be getting my money’s worth if I didn’t see those all important trailers.  Weird, I know.

Now I know that it may be hard to think about summer right now (what’s the temp right now where you live?!?), but we are starting to see a lot of big summer releases (& even some far off fall & Holiday season ones) advertised in the theatres.  It’s been a while since I brought you some movies to look forward to, so I thought I’d run down the movies (& trailers for that matter) that are getting the most buzz.  So grab your popcorn & dim the lights (okay maybe not that far…your kids may wonder why you’re sitting in the dark in front of the computer) & enjoy the Coming Attractions.  And just think, it won’t cost you $12 to see any of these trailers.

For Some Action

Star Trek XI (December 25, 2008)

Okay, we don’t even know the name of this upcoming J.J. Abrams reinvention, but I for one am totally jazzed about it!  J.J. (of Alias, Lost, & Cloverfield fame) is just a genius, especially when it comes to character examinations, so this return to the early days of Spock & Kirk promises to be a good mix of action & emotion.  Leonard Nemoy is definitely in, with William Shatner’s status not yet confirmed (not due to the actor, apparently he would love to star in the new movie….shocking, Shatner wanting more face time….never).

The Dark Knight (July 18, 2008)

The Batman Begins sequel starring Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, & Heath Ledger (among a ton of other big names), has taken on a rather sombre note due to Ledger’s death.  His performance is apparently quite disturbing, but now seems to take on an almost haunting tone as people try to dissect what may have gone wrong.  Apparently he was finished all of his scenes, but with big action movies often times looping (re-recording of dialogue) has to be done because microphones on set don’t always pick up clear dialogue.  No word yet on whether this will cause any problems or delays with the final cut.  One big upgrade from the first movie (as far as I am concerned) is Maggie Gyllenhaal stepping in for Katie Holmes in the role of Rachel Dawes.  Even from the previews, Maggie seems to command the screen so much more than Mrs. Crazy….I mean, Cruise.

Wanted (June 27, 2008)

I guess I get action star Angelina (what’s new, frankly) & I even get Morgan Freeman, but James McAvoy?!?  Our wonderful, yet tragic Robbie Turner from Atonement, or the naive & idealistic Dr. Garrigan from The Last King of Scotland?!?  Those I buy, but I’m not quite sure about this incarnation.  Seems like a bit of a Matrix knock-off, but no doubt the action is definitely there.  We’ll see if audiences buy it come June.

For A Cry

Stop Loss (March 28, 2008)

I saw this preview before Juno & just couldn’t stop sobbing.  I’m not quite sure why it got to me, as Ryan Phillippe is not one of my favs (sooo in Reese’s corner here), & his over-the-top accent harkens back to another blond pretty-boy, James Van Der Beek, trying to sound less blue-blood in Varsity Blues (I mean who can forget "I don’t waaant your life").  I’m not quite sure if its because I have a cousin in Afghanistan, or if it is because just looking at pics of the kids over there who seem like such little babies, barely out of high school, is so disturbing to me.  I don’t even know if they are trying to make a political statement one way or another, I mean it is an MTV Films production.  So, it could be an interesting social commentary, or just another movie to give studios an excuse to have young good-looking guys walk around with no shirts on.  I’m hoping for the former (although a little bit of the latter ain’t all bad….he he).

The Life Before Her Eyes (April 18, 2008)

This movie premiered this fall at the Toronto International Film Festival, to generally good reviews.  I’m not quite sure if the trailer helps it all that much, but Uma’s return to the screen, after some seriously questionable choices (My Super Ex-Girlfriend, anyone?!?), looks to be a solid one.  The general storyline is that Uma’s character is haunted by choices she made as a teenager, as the 15-year anniversary of a school shooting in her suburban town approaches.

For A Laugh

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (April 18, 2008)

Judd Apatow (The 40 Year Old Virgin & Knocked Up) brings us his latest poor schlep movie, about a guy who is dumped by his girlfriend, & in hopes of forgetting her goes on vacation to Hawaii where, shockingly, she happens to be vacationing too, with the new boyfriend.  I just love Jason Segel, & can hardly wait to see his turn as the star in one of Apatow’s movies.  Granted, his movies tend to be rude & a bit crude (you can check out the restricted trailer here), but if you have seen any of them you know that the "hero" truly has a good heart, even if he makes some crazy & disastrous decisions along the way.

Smart People (April 11, 2008)

Love the casting of everyone (Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, & Thomas Hayden Church) in this romantic comedy/drama, but I have to admit that what I can hardly wait for is Ellen Page’s follow-up to Juno.  I think we are honestly witnessing the birth of a legendary actress.  And I loooove that she plays an uptight, "Alex P. Keaton", young-Republican.  Genius casting.  I’m gonna be huge preggers trotting myself out to the theatre in early April to see this one, hopefully it’s worth it!!

Get Smart (June 20, 2008)

This movie could go either way: great update ala the first Mission Impossible movie, or disaster like Charlie’s Angels, The Mod Squad, & so many other TV-rehashings.  I’m optimistic about this one as the cast looks amazing (Steve Carrell, Anne Hathaway, Alan Arkin).  The best casting though, to me, is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Agent 23.  I know, I know, he was a wrestler, but he has some serious comedic chops & can carry off the superstar-spy role really well too.

For the Kids

WALL-E (June 27, 2008)

I’m not quite sure how Pixar does it, first they made us like a rat in Ratatouille, & now we can’t help but love a pile of metal with a set of binoculars for eyes.  Honestly, they are geniuses over there at Pixar.  Frankly, I think I might line up for this one without the kids.

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl Mystery (July 2, 2008)

I’m sure a few of you (who am I kidding, a few?!?) have heard about American Girls.  I even know a set of Grandparents who had to make a special trip to the L.A. American Girl store, on their most recent trip from Canada (you know who you are…he he).  The cast seems quite good (Abigail Breslin, Chris O’Donnell, Julia Ormond, Wallace Shawn), & it certainly would be a wonderful Mother/Daughter outing.

Of course, 2 of the biggest movies of 2008 (the newest installments in the Harry Potter & Indiana Jones Series’s), don’t have trailers yet, but I’ll make sure I bring them to you as soon as I get word about them.  We can expect Indy sometime next week (premiering before The Spiderwick Chronicles & the following day on line) & hopefully a sneak peak of The Half-Blood Prince will arrive by early Summer.

So, hopefully you’ve enjoyed your sneak-peak at what’s coming soon to the theatres.  Please, let me know what you think about any of the movies I’ve mentioned here or any other ones you’re looking forward to, in the comments section below.