Janet CollinsWhy I Hate Movie Trailers
March 1st 2009 20:57
There was a time some years ago when I watched movies at the cinema far more often than I do these days. At the time, many film critics began to give far too detailed reviews on movies and I swore off reading them. It seemed to spoil the whole cinema going experience.
The same can be said of movie trailers. I would think they are supposed to tantalise us enough to want to see a movie but yesterday I was reminded how movie trailers can do exactly the opposite and here I will explain why.
If anyone intends to see the recently released film “Last Chance Harvey” starring Dustin Hoffman, you may not want to read on because it will ruin it all for you just as the trailer did for me.
The trailer told the whole damn story. Dustin Hoffman plays Harvey, who is divorced, has trouble getting onto a flight to go to his daughter’s wedding, loses his job, his daughter tells him she has invited her stepfather to give her away and during all this he meets Kate, played by Emma Thompson, who is having personal problems of her own, asks her to accompany him to the wedding (after a rough start) and a new relationship begins. We even see the both of them shopping for a dress for Kate to wear to the wedding.
Why, oh why would I now want to pay $16 or more to go and see this movie? Often, I have been so disappointed in a movie because I have seen all the best bits on the trailer but this one took the cake. I can hardly think what would be revealed to me if I bothered going along to see it.
Oh, and there was another one. It was about a young lady who was a shopaholic so pads out her resume to get a better paying job to keep up with her spending, starts a new career as a journalist and (you guessed it) she's advising her readers on how to manage their money. Meanwhile, debt collectors from everywhere are trying to track her down.
This isn’t my type of movie anyway but to me, this type of movie marketing seems rather ridiculous to say the least.
I know there are just so many movies that we don’t really want to waste our money and time going to see something we haven’t heard anything about, but if we know the whole story why would we go and see the movie anyway?
Beats me!
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Comment by Michelle Sweeney
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Comment by Janet Collins
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Maybe we all like to get something different out of a movie and for sure I have seen some movies more than once and thoroughly enjoyed them th second time around.
All the same, I would rather see a story unfold myself when I see it for the first time rather than have bits that are far into the movie shown to me before I get around to seeing it.
Thanks for the visit.
Comment by Teresa Ralton
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READ THIS
SISTERS IN CRIME
Comment by Janet Collins
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As you can tell, I think so too.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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You're right though.
But Janet - something that beats trailers hands down is the person in the seat next to you (or behind you) that offers commentary all the way through a movie with such memorable quips as "oh - you'll love the next bit" or "watch this next scene when yaddah yaddah . . ." or better still - the infamous "it's so sad when (insert character name here) dies at the end.
Hmmmmm
Comment by Janet Collins
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Comment by Jason King
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Trailers can totally piss me off - I have been talking about them today. They can either show you all the best bits of a film and then leave you with something to watch that leaves you with absolutely nothing to enjoy or give away the key plot reveal of a film.
But for me the trailer is truly the one thing that makes me decide whether I will watch a film or not.
I also get laughed at by one of my closest friends Sam who thinks it hysterical that I will cry watching a trailer. I have done it for years - hell, I have even cried i a Telstra ad. No laughing!
This week I watched a film, The Unborn that had the most amazing horror trailer I had seen for years, the actual film was the worst film I have seen in over a year. Every single cool thing about the film was in the trailer and the rest was pure pooh.
But, I also really want to see Last Chance Harvey because I love the two actors and just want to see them together onscreen.
Good article - thanks
Comment by Spike 2
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One of the best film shocks I ever had was from Event Horizon. The trailer I'd seen showed it as a simple SF flick - man, I got a surprise when I watched it late at night, alone. Scared the willies out of me. If the trailer had been more 'complete', I wouldn't have watched it.
Comment by Janet Collins
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You are just a big loveable SNAG.
Not all trailers are like this and I do agree, some can really make me go and see the movie. I love Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson and that is what made me so angry. I'll need to wait and see it much later on and I may have forgotten the trailer.
Many of the independent films don't seem to do this. More of a mainstream movie thing I think.
Glad you dropped by.
Comment by Janet Collins
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Yes, sometimes we can be all too surprised by movies we expected to be something else but I would rather be surprised than totally disappointed that there was little left to see in the movie than what I had seen in the trailer.
Thanks for the visit.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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they selectively pick out a few jokes and try to market them as "silly" screw-ball comedies, when really the romantic and humourous elements are secondary to sophisticated issues like child abuse, depression, suicide, grief, identity, gender, and even the meaning of life
i guess someone at the studios decides comedy/romance sells better than the real darker themes, but i think it actually deters many people who are seeking an "adult" think-piece films
Comment by Janet Collins
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Sometimes I have been really motivated to see a movie BECAUSE iI have seen the trailer. This has usually been because the trailer gives a few clues, and a few clues only.
I can remember seeing Pretty Woman when it first opened and when I was watching another movie, the trailer even incorporated the last scene! I was glad I hadn't seen this trailer BEFORE I had seen the movie.
Independent films tend to be a bit more clever with the marketing of them. But sometimes, I like seeing mainstream stuff too. I just wish the trailers wouldn't spoil it for me.
Thanks for the comment. Its always appreciated.
Comment by Lilla
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you have hit on a pet hate of mine here, trailers... i loathe them. BY the time the bloomin* film starts, I have forgotten what I have come to see becuase my mood has been altered and splashed all over the screen in a million shattered fragments of times to come ..
A recent marketing ploy comes to mind too in that Drew Barrymore was shown as being a rather major part of He*s just not that into you... and thanks to Jason (and your post), I was spared not actually going to see it and wasting my money. Cheap tuesday DVD hire will do, if she is only a cameo.
I CAN imagine a world without them, happily!
Lilla ...
Comment by Janet Collins
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I have been caught out on that one too - the one where you think one actor is a main one and only appears for a few seconds. It's almost like they have done a director or producer friend a favour.
Just as some others have commented, I sometimes have gone to see a movie because of the trailer...and I probably wouldn't have seen it otherwise but the ones I saw this last weekend, I can do without.
Thanks.