Tag Archives: movie trailers

‘Super Bowl 50’ commercial & movie trailer round-up inside

I’ll just come out and say it: this year’s Super Bowl, commercials and all, was a snoozer. The Big Game, which pitted the Carolina Panthers against the Denver Broncos, was not a very exciting matchup to begin with and unfortunately the players on the field couldn’t manage to muster any memorable moments. Peyton Manning, backed by an impressive defensive unit, ended up beating Cam Newton and the Panthers, 24-10.

The hype, however, remained omnipresent throughout the game. Lady Gaga started things off on the right note with a strikingly beautiful rendition of our National Anthem (watch it here). At halftime, Coldplay stormed the field to play some tunes (new and old), with much needed assistance by Beyoncè and Bruno Mars. Don’t get me wrong–I’m a massive Coldplay fan; they simply didn’t own the night as Queen Bey and her “Formation” ladies and Mars and his “Uptown Funk” gang stole the spotlight. I was looking for Left Shark to make a reprise; turns out he did. Wah wahh.

Despite the relatively boring game and equally lackadaisical commercials (more on those in a moment), a whopping 111.9 million people tuned into the Super Bowl last night. As big as that number is, it’s not a record-breaker. Last year’s SB, in which the New England Patriots triumphed over the Seattle Seahawks, attracted 114.4 million and that game remains the most watched telecast in U.S. history.

Super Bowl 50 also couldn’t live up to last year’s Super Bowl ads. Instead of being funny and relevant, they were trying too hard to “go viral.” A prime example is the bizarre “puppymonkeybaby” as featured in Mountain Dew’s commercial that aired early in the game. It went instantly viral (it remained a top trending topic on Twitter all night), but ultimately failed to capture my imagination–it was just plain stupid. Across the board, this year’s ads simply did not live up to last year’s actually funny, emotional, and sometimes poignant clips. Nevertheless, let’s take a look at my favorite spots all the while keeping in mind that these companies paid $5 million for 30 seconds of fame! Continue reading ‘Super Bowl 50’ commercial & movie trailer round-up inside

Michael Fassbender embodies ‘Steve Jobs’ in full-length trailer; plus, Michael B. Jordan reignites ‘Rocky’ franchise in ‘Creed’ spinoff

Apple aficionados, brace yourselves, because this extended look at the upcoming Steve Jobs film from screenwriter Aaron Sorkin and director Danny Boyle is completely engaging and pedal-to-the-metal from start to finish. It builds on the previously released teaser trailer and gives an even broader glimpse into the pursuit for perfection that Steve embodied during his tenure as the head and face of Apple. Michael Fassbender fully embraces the late CEO’s eccentricities and ultimate passion for advancing society with technological sensations. His supporting cast including Seth Rogen as Steve Wozniack, Jeff Daniels as John Sculley, and Kate Winslet as Joanna Hoffman are also in it to win it; with such a stellar cast and high-ranking auspices behind the script and lens, I’ll say it again: this isn’t your Ashton Kutcher’s Steve Jobs. Opens October 9.

Jump after the break to see Michael B. Jordan in Rocky boxing spinoff Creed. Continue reading Michael Fassbender embodies ‘Steve Jobs’ in full-length trailer; plus, Michael B. Jordan reignites ‘Rocky’ franchise in ‘Creed’ spinoff

Movie trailer round-up: Ryan Reynolds in sci-fi thriller ‘Self/Less’ & Disney’s ‘Tomorrowland’

Are you a fan of psychological science fiction thrillers? Self/Less should whet your appetite plenty. Ben Kingsley (Iron Man 3) stars as an extremely wealthy man dying from cancer. He doesn’t want his life to terminate earlier than expected, so he undergoes a radical medical procedure that transfers his consciousness into the body of a healthy young man, played by Ryan Reynolds (Green Lantern). It works, but it doesn’t take long for the dangerous side effects to kick in: Kingsley’s younger self starts to see glimpses of a life he does not know, experiences originating from Reynolds’ body.

It’s a very cool idea and it brings to mind the always interesting and up-for-debate conversation about who we are and what happens after death. Are we a soul and our bodies a receptacle for it? If so, do our souls move on to new bodies after dying? And do those new bodies having any sort of recollection of the soul’s past lives? I could go on and on… I’m hoping the movie explores these intriguing topics in a fun and entertaining way. We’ll find out when Self/Less hits theatres July 31.

Jump after the break for a new look at Disney’s Tomorrowland. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: Ryan Reynolds in sci-fi thriller ‘Self/Less’ & Disney’s ‘Tomorrowland’

Movie trailer round-up: Disney’s ‘Into the Woods,’ ‘Night at the Museum 3,’ ‘SpongeBob Movie 2’ & ‘Interstellar’

Disney is adapting the Tony-winning original musical Into the Woods into a movie. Like the Broadway musical before it, the theatrical adaptation is inspired by classic Brothers Grimm fairytales such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel. The film is directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) and composer Stephen Sondheim provides the music and lyrics. Its synopsis and stars follow:

“Into the Woods” is a modern twist on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests. This humorous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), Jack and the Beanstalk (Daniel Huttlestone), and Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy)—all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife (James Corden & Emily Blunt), their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch (Meryl Streep) who has put a curse on them.

Into the Woods hits theatres December 25.

Jump after the break to view more trailers. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: Disney’s ‘Into the Woods,’ ‘Night at the Museum 3,’ ‘SpongeBob Movie 2’ & ‘Interstellar’

Movie trailer round-up: ‘I Origins,’ ‘Boyhood’ & ‘Days of Future Past’

Producer, writer, director Mike Cahill (Another Earth) returns with a sci-fi romance film I Origins.

[It] tells the story of Dr. Ian Gray (Michael Pitt), a molecular biologist studying the evolution of the eye. He finds his work permeating his life after a brief encounter with an exotic young woman (Astrid Bergès-Frisbey) who slips away from him. As his research continues years later with his lab partner Karen (Brit Marling), they make a stunning scientific discovery that has far reaching implications and complicates both his scientific and spiritual beliefs. Traveling half way around the world, he risks everything he has ever known to validate his theory.

The incredibly intriguing and spiritual flick comes into theatres July 18.

Jump after the break to view more trailers. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: ‘I Origins,’ ‘Boyhood’ & ‘Days of Future Past’

Movie trailer round-up: ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’, ‘Peanuts,’ ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ & more

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are coming back to the big screen in a live action/CGI film produced by Michael Bay (Transformers) and directed by Jonathan Liebesman (Wrath of the Titans). Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello are back and bigger than ever before–these CG turtles are massive in terms of sheer size. The big bad Shredder is played here by William Fichner and the TMNT will be battling his Foot Clan in New York City. Megan Fox also stars as April O’Neil, the famed fearless reporter who jarringly isn’t sporting red hair and a yellow raincoat for the reboot. The TMNT canon is being altered for this movie; the teaser reveals that Shredder and April’s father conspired to scientifically create heroes and thus were born the Turtles. Our heroes look strange but the action sequences look fun–it may not be the TMNT rebirth we were all expecting but that doesn’t mean you won’t go and see it.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cowabunga into theatres August 8.

Jump after the break to view more trailers. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’, ‘Peanuts,’ ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ & more

Super Bowl XLVIII: the commercials and the trailers

It was a blowout today as the Seattle Seahawks crushed the Denver Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII. And now that it’s over let’s check out my favorite commercials that aired during the telecast–it’s tradition after all and it’s all after the break. Alternatively, you can view all the spots on YouTube.

Update: The data is in and whaddya know–this year’s Super Bowl is another record breaker becoming the most-watched U.S. telecast of all time. A grand total of 111.5 million people tuned into the football matchup just beating the previous record-holding telecast that was the 2012 Super Bowl; that one attracted 111.34 million viewers. Continue reading Super Bowl XLVIII: the commercials and the trailers

Movie trailer round-up: ‘A Million Ways to Die in the West,’ ‘Lust for Love’ & ‘Maleficent’

From the makers of Ted comes A Million Ways to Die in the West. In addition to producing, co-writing, and directing the comedy, Seth MacFarlane stars alongside Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried, Giovanni Ribisi, Sarah Silverman, and Neil Patrick Harris. This looks like a riot; let’s hope the extended red-band trailer doesn’t spoil the comedic punch. In theatres May 30. A synopsis:

Seth MacFarlane directs, produces, co-writes and plays the role of the cowardly sheep farmer Albert in A Million Ways to Die in the West. After Albert backs out of a gunfight, his fickle girlfriend leaves him for another man. When a mysterious and beautiful woman rides into town, she helps him find his courage and they begin to fall in love. But when her husband, a notorious outlaw, arrives seeking revenge, the farmer must put his newfound courage to the test.

Jump after the break to view more trailers. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: ‘A Million Ways to Die in the West,’ ‘Lust for Love’ & ‘Maleficent’

Movie trailer round-up: Disney’s ‘Maleficent’ & Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Noah’

Angelina Jolie is Maleficent, the iconic villain from the 1959 Disney animated classic Sleeping Beauty. And boy can she play the part; the proof is in the pudding so watch the teaser trailer embedded above. Here’s the synopsis:

From Disney comes “Maleficent”—the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain from the 1959 classic “Sleeping Beauty.” A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land’s fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal—an act that begins to turn her pure heart to stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the invading king’s successor and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom—and perhaps to Maleficent’s true happiness as well.

Special effects artist Robert Stromberg (Avatar, Alice in Wonderland) directs Elle Fanning as Princess Aurora, Brenton Thwaites as Prince Phillip, Sharlto Copley as King Stefan, and Juno Temple as Thistlewit. Maleficent releases May 30, 2014.

After the break, one epic trailer. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: Disney’s ‘Maleficent’ & Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Noah’

Movie trailer round-up: ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past,’ ‘The Hobbit 2,’ ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’ ‘Robocop,’ ‘The LEGO Movie’ & ‘Anchorman 2’

Bryan Singer returns to the X-Men franchise to direct X-Men: Days of Future Past, a time travel story that pits together nearly all of the X-Men heroes and villains from the movies made thus far.

The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. The beloved characters from the original “X-Men” film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from the past, “X-Men: First Class,” in order to change a major historical event and fight in an epic battle that could save our future.

The trailer is pretty damn incredible; it sits above and you’ll likely feel inclined to watch it more than once.

Days of Future Past, with Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, Ellen Page, Peter Dinklage, Patrick Stewart, and Ian McKellen, opens May 23.

Jump after the break to view more trailers. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past,’ ‘The Hobbit 2,’ ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’ ‘Robocop,’ ‘The LEGO Movie’ & ‘Anchorman 2’

Movie trailer round-up: ‘RoboCop’, ‘Neighbors’ & ‘Gravity’

Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 sci-fi classic is getting an action-packed and explosive remake. Brazilian director José Padilha helms the new RoboCop with The Killing‘s Joel Kinnaman as police officer turned cyborg Alex Murphy. Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, Abbie Cornish, Jackie Earle Haley, Michael K. Williams, Jennifer Ehle, Jay Baruchel, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and Samuel L. Jackson round out this surprisingly star-studded cast. The new RoboCop looks like good fun, but I’m not so sure it will capture the same satiric essence that the original did. If the trailer is any indication, this will be your run-of-the-mill popcorn flick set in a dystopian future; been there, done that. Padilha, surprise me. It’s out February 7, 2014. Synopsis below:

In RoboCop, the year is 2028 and multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the center of robot technology. Overseas, their drones have been used by the military for years – and it’s meant billions for OmniCorp’s bottom line. Now OmniCorp wants to bring their controversial technology to the home front, and they see a golden opportunity to do it. When Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) – a loving husband, father and good cop doing his best to stem the tide of crime and corruption in Detroit – is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp sees their chance for a part-man, part-robot police officer. OmniCorp envisions a RoboCop in every city and even more billions for their shareholders, but they never counted on one thing: there is still a man inside the machine pursuing justice.

Jump after the break to view more trailers. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: ‘RoboCop’, ‘Neighbors’ & ‘Gravity’

Movie trailer round-up: Spike Jonze’s ‘Her,’ ‘Muppets Most Wanted,’ ‘Jobs,’ ‘Thor: The Dark World’ & ‘Captain Phillips’

HER is set in Los Angeles, in the near future and follows Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a complex, soulful man who makes his living writing touching, personal letters for other people. Heartbroken after the end of a long relationship, he becomes intrigued with a new, advanced operating system, which promises to be an intuitive and unique entity in its own right. Upon initiating it, he is delighted to meet “Samantha,” a bright, female voice (Scarlett Johansson), who is insightful, sensitive and surprisingly funny. As her needs and desires grow in tandem with his own, their friendship deepens into an eventual love for each other. HER is an original love story that explores the evolving nature—and the risks—of intimacy in the modern world.

Spike Jonze, who is no stranger to android romance, directs. A melancholic tone permeates the trailer and yet it is spiritually uplifting in nature. A man falls for artificial intelligence; might he learn a thing or two about true love along the way? Her releases November 20.

Jump after the break to view more trailers. Continue reading Movie trailer round-up: Spike Jonze’s ‘Her,’ ‘Muppets Most Wanted,’ ‘Jobs,’ ‘Thor: The Dark World’ & ‘Captain Phillips’