Film Reviews,

2011 First quarter trailer reviews

Tuesday, December 14, 2010 Craig Grobler 0 Comments

2011 First quarter trailer reviewsLast Saturday I was invited to the first ShowFilmFirst Online Opinion Formers Showcase held at the marvelous Empire cinema in Leicester Square. The event was promised to be a mixture of panel discussions, mystery screenings and showcase the next quarter’s trailers.

ShowFilmFirst Online Opinion Former's Showcase
The schedule for the day was as follows:

8.45 - Intro
9:00 - Part 1: showreel of the next quarter’s trailers
9.30 – The Next 3 Days preview
11.30 - Panel discussion 'Building an online film audience' led by Charles Gant (Heat, Guardian and Variety)
12.10 - Q&A opportunity
12.30 - Break
1.00 - Part 2: showreel of the next quarter’s trailers
1.30 - An important Film issue Q&A
2.00 – Tron: Legacy
4.00 - End

Empire’s Moviecon has proved to be invaluable as insight gained from the talks, QAs, presentations, trailers and early footage has made my viewing experience over the last months more informed and enjoyable. Time poor I didn’t get to blog about the entire 2 and half days of Moviecon. So was quite keen to see what the ShowFilmFirst Online Opinion Formers Showcase had to offer.

I had previously heard of ShowFilmFirst but could find any information about them even their website was a little mysterious and offered very little information. Anyway I decided to pop along and see what the day held. I should add that at the event I managed to catch up with one of the organizers and had a chat with them about the history of ShowFilmFirst, although we never got to finish our conversation I really do hope to see ShowFilmFirst go from strength to strength.

The snowy weather had thrown Christmas season London into near end of world state of chaos as a result the day started off a little late and foggy. The first session was Part 1: Showreel of the next quarter’s trailers. Some of the trailers are available online but nothing beats seeing them up on big screen been supported by the Empire’s superb sound system. So here is my breakdown of next quarter’s trailers that we got to see:

Gulliver's Travels (2010) - 3 Stars
Travel writer Lemuel Gulliver takes an assignment in Bermuda, but ends up on the island of Liliput, where he towers over its tiny citizens.

Looks absolutely hilarious. Even though it has a top notch cast including almost every famous face in Britain, being such a big personality - Gulliver's Travels is going to hinge on Jack Black's performance. Either you love him or you don’t. Audiences from a recent screening were divided. But I'm a Jack Black fan and can't wait for can't wait for the energy he is going to bring to Gulliver's Travels.

Director: Rob Letterman
Stars: Jack Black, Emily Blunt, Jason Segel, Amanda Peet, Billy Connolly, Chris O'Dowd, James Corden, Catherine Tate

UK Release date: 26 December 2010
http://www.gulliverstravelsmovie.co.uk/


Blue Valentine - 2.5 Stars
The film centers on a contemporary married couple, charting their evolution over a span of years by cross-cutting between time periods.

Blue Valentine has been given love at every festival it has been shown at including the London Film Festival. Both Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams are quality performers, so we can expect an emotionally charged tale based around characters. I can’t help but think Blue Valentine is going to be a tearjerker of note.

Director: Derek Cianfrance
Stars: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams and John Doman

UK Release date: 21 January 2011
http://www.bluevalentinemovie.com/


Never Let Me Go - 4 Stars
As children, Ruth, Kathy and Tommy, spend their childhood at a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. As they grow into young adults, they find that they have to come to terms with the strength of the love they feel for each other, while preparing themselves for the haunting reality that awaits them.

You can read my thoughts about Never Let Me Go in a previous post about Moviecon over here

All I can add to the above is that, after viewing the trailer Andrew Garfield is getting better and better every time I see the trailer. He was criminally underused in The Social Network and I felt that his character was a bit stereo typical so I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing him shine in Never Let Me Go.

Director: Mark Romanek
Stars: Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield

UK Release date: 11 February 2011
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/neverletmego/


How do you know - 3 Stars
Feeling a bit past her prime at 27, former athlete Lisa Jorgenson finds herself in the middle of a love triangle, as a corporate guy in crisis competes with Lisa's current, baseball-playing beau.


James L. Brooks knows what he’s doing and specialises in adult comedy with a bittersweet twist and The Simpsons. I’m always hoping for more of the brilliant As good as it gets and I’m unsure if How do you know is even an attempt to get there. Given the cast and the premise it looks like it could be any of Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson’s films but now with added Jack Nicholson.

Although it would be interesting to Paul Rudd’s everyman go up against Owen Wilson quirky honest guy for the girl. I’m hoping that Jack Nicholson steers away from the bizarre self parodying comedy of Anger Management. Could go either way and be incredibly bland or another touching portrayal of lives afflicted by the modern malaise.

Director: James L. Brooks
Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson and Jack Nicholson

UK Release date: 28 January 2011
http://www.howdoyouknow-movie.com/


Burlesque - 2.5 Stars
Ali (Christina Aguilera) is a small-town girl with a big voice who escapes hardship and an uncertain future to follow her dreams to LA. After stumbling upon The Burlesque Lounge, a majestic but ailing theatre that is home to an inspired musical revue, Ali lands a job as a cocktail waitress from Tess (Cher), the club’s proprietor and headliner. Burlesque’s outrageous costumes and bold choreography enrapture the young ingenue, who vows to perform there one day. Soon enough, Ali builds a friendship with a featured dancer (Julianne Hough), finds an enemy in a troubled, jealous performer (Kristen Bell), and garners the affection of Jack (Cam Gigandet), a bartender and fellow musician. With the help of a sharp-witted stage manager (Stanley Tucci) and gender-bending host (Alan Cumming), Ali makes her way from the bar to the stage. Her spectacular voice restores The Burlesque Lounge to its former glory, though not before a charismatic entrepreneur (Eric Dane) arrives with an enticing proposal…




I would forgive you if the trailer made it seem like Burlesque was the well made sequel to Showgirls. And certainly this type of film (Flashdance, Dirty Dancing, Coyoye Ugly, Showgirls, etc.) is not my type of thing the whole premise of will Christina Aguilera’s small town dreams of being a star be realised has no real tension for me. But early buzz is that Burlesque is awesome and I quote “Wow, just wow!” and given the talent involved I would be surprised if it is less than very entertaining.

Director: Steve Antin
Stars: Cher, Christina Aguilera, Stanley Tucci and Alan Cumming

UK Release date: 17 December 2010
http://www.burlesque-movie.com/


Chatroom - 2 Stars
A group of teenagers encourage each other's bad behavior.

A Brit feature from Director Hideo Nakata – he is the guy that made amongst other films the seriously creepy and terrifying Ring & Dark Water. Both remade and copied many times since. Starring Kick-Ass aka Aaron Johnson and the gorgeous Imogen Poots leading the Antithesis of The Social Network experience - this certainly has me interested. And given it’s pedigree I’m surprised to not be seeing more about it splashed all over the internet. Too be honest the trailer doesn’t really do it justice and belies the interesting concept – (I’m unsure if this is a spoiler, given that the trailer doesn’t really make this clear) my understanding is that all though all characters are sitting at their computers typing but it’s filmed as if all of them are actually psychically in real world Chatroom. Expect the unexpected and heavy doses of creepy.

I’m sad to have passed on a screening of Chatroom and QA with the stars, yes Imogen Poots was there. But it was on the same evening as the spellbinding Epson Ultimate Home Cinema Experience which I was very keen to be part of. A full review of which you can expect to be up here soon.

Scratch that last night I got to see an early online preview. Full review up at some point but the long & short of it is – It could have been the just passable non full screen video streaming but it seemed to be a just OK British teen thriller, a disappointing turn from Director Hideo Nakata bear in mind I’m biased and think his earlier works were innovative and possibly the creepiest films in the last 10 years. However the remainder of the online seemed very active in the chatroom and seemed quite taken by the film.

Director: Hideo Nakata
Stars: Aaron Johnson, Imogen Poots and Matthew Beard

UK Release date: 22 December 2010
http://www.chatroomfilm.com/


True Grit - 4 Stars
A tough U.S. Marshal helps a stubborn young woman track down her father's murderer.


Nothing I say about True Grit is going to change anything. Expect to be swept away by the sheer awesomeness of the Coen’s remake of the John Wayne classic. If they gave out Oscars for film Trailers True Grit would be leading the nominations just ahead of Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours trailer. It’s a bit sad that the Coen’s remade True Grit it was always synonymous with Western legend John Wayne for me, sort of his last real cowboy hurrah. The remake will in effect relegate John Wayne to the retirement home of film late night and daytime TV.

Having said that the trailer was astounding and I can’t wait. Jeff Bridges as a cranky cowboy, solid supporting cast and the Coen brothers. Days later and Johnny Cash’s God’s gonna cut you down is still ringing in my ears. Class. Will a Rooster Cogburn remake finish the Coen’s Western trilogy?

Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Writers: Joel Coen (screenplay), Ethan Coen (screenplay)
Stars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld
UK Release date: 14 January 2011
http://www.truegritmovie.com/


Black Swan - 2.5 Stars
A thriller that zeros in on the relationship between a veteran ballet dancer and a rival.

I loved Pi. It was the creative antidote to Hollywood’s by the numbers mediocrity. Too be honest thought Darren Aronofsky would be making the films Christopher Nolan makes today. But Aronofsky had his own deeper path to carve out.

His films are character driven pieces, original, have unplumbed depths and always to his mantra but the subject matter leaves me cold. Black Swan seems to be a further study of a performer amidst a crisis. Early buzz is that it tackles similar issues to The Wrestler but more psychological.
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Stars: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel

UK Release date: 21 January 2011
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/blackswan/


Morning Glory - 2.5 Stars
An upstart television producer accepts the challenge of reviving a struggling morning show program with warring co-hosts.

Typically I don’t watch this genre of film, young woman rites of passage (Devil wears Prada, etc.) but Morning Glory looks damn good. I was engaged throughout. Harrison Ford as the cranky jaded newscaster steals the show though and the banter between him and Dian Keaton looks solid gold.

Director: Roger Michell
Stars: Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton

UK Release date: 21 January 2011
http://www.morningglorymovie.com/


The Fighter - 3 Stars
A look at the early years of boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him before going pro in the mid 1980s.

Wow! I intentionally haven’t seen any of The Fighter marketing as I want to be surprised by what seems to be a fairly linear story. At the crux of it the performances are key to The Fighter’s success. With Christian Bale and Marky Mark on board I would be very surprised if the acting didn’t go all the way to 11 on the intensity meter. I’m curious to know what working on the set was like as both Bale and director David O. Russell are both known for their working intensity.

Based on the trailer this is the role that Mark Wahlberg was born to play. Classic underdog going against the odds. And Christian Bale as his drug dependant trainer & brother reminds us why he should rather be working on smaller, independent creative pieces that allow his intensity free reign.

Director: David O. Russell
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams

UK Release date: 4 February 2011
http://www.thefightermovie.com/


Gnomeo & Juliet - 2.5 Stars
Garden gnomes Gnomeo (voice of McAvoy) and Juliet (voice of Blunt) have as many obstacles to overcome as their quasi namesakes when they are caught up in a feud between neighbors...

I had heard of Gnomeo & Juliet previously but this was the first time I saw any visuals. I gave the previe It looks good, almost to good in a way that British visuals are sometimes too clean and polished. No grittiness. I start with strong criticism because I care, having seen the talent involved (Jason Statham, Emily Blunt, James McAvoy, Maggie Smith, Michael Caine, Julie Walters, Patrick Stewart, Jim Cummings, Matt Lucas, Dolly Parton , Hulk Hogan, Ozzy Osbourne, Stephen Merchant).

A big joint UK – US production I guess Disney and the UK film industry have a lot riding on it . Looks like it may be the biggest Possibly the biggest animation film to come out of the UK yet (Sorry Wallace & Gromit) – think the British Toy Story or Shrek or you get the idea. Even though I’m wary of stock trailers voiceovers that say “.. as you’ve never seen it before..” this really looks like some fun and I’m hoping for something really entertaining. C’mon Statham, Caine and Osbourne in the same film that has to count for something. Will this signal a shift in big name UK animated features?

Director: Kelly Asbury
Stars: James McAvoy, Emily Blunt and Maggie Smith

UK Release date: 11 February 2011
http://gnomeoandjuliet.com/


I Am Number Four - 2.5 Stars
In the beginning they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who left their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorian. Nine aliens who scattered on Earth. Nine aliens who look like ordinary teenagers living ordinary lives, but who have extraordinary, paranormal skills. Nine aliens who might be sitting next to you now. – http://iamnumberfourfans.com

Extraordinary teen John Smith (Pettyfer) is a fugitive on the run from ruthless enemies sent to destroy him. Changing his identity, moving from town to town with his guardian Henri (Olyphant), John is always the new kid with no ties to his past. In the small Ohio town he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life-changing events-his first love (Agron), powerful new abilities and a connection to the others who share his incredible destiny. - Walt Disney Pictures

With both Harry Potter and the Twilight money spinning series coming to an end despite breaking the final stories into two to eek every Penny out of the franchise. Studios are looking for the next big thing to fill the forth coming void. I w as surprised to see there is currently only one book – so I guess they’ll be written based on the success of each previous adaptation. Expect long winded scenes replacing story like in Harry Potter and the Twilight series as they try slow down revelations and plot till the last 15 mins in the build up to the next film.

Having said that the trailer for I Am Number Four looks promising I would be surprised if the feature can maintain the energy promised by the trailer. Feels like Roswell, Smallville, Push, Jumper and Twilight all mashed up. Alfred Gough who adapted it has a long history of super heroes and TV this could be his opus.

Director: D.J. Caruso
Writers: Alfred Gough (screenplay), Miles Millar (screenplay)
Stars: Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant and Dianna Agron
UK Release date: 18 February 2011
http://www.iamnumberfour.co.uk


Chalet Girl - 2 Stars
Pretty tomboy Kim Matthews, 19, used to be a champion skateboarder – but now she’s stuck in a dead end job trying to support her Dad.

Opportunity comes knocking in the form of a catering job in the one of the most exclusive chalets in the Alps.

At first, Kim’s baffled by this bizarre new world of posh people, champagne and skiing – but then she discovers snowboarding, and the chance to win some much-needed prize money at the big end-of-season competition.

But before she can become a champion again, Kim’s going to have to dig deep to overcome her fears. Hard enough, without the complicating factor of Jonny, her handsome – though spoken for – boss…

A light Bridget Jones coming of age style romp aimed squarely at the teen market. Not really my thing but looks like a decent production albeit a predictable but enduring tale that we have seen before.

Director: Phil Traill
Stars: Bill Nighy, Sophia Bush and Ed Westwick

UK Release date: 18 February 2011
http://chaletgirlfilm.wordpress.com/


The Adjustment Bureau - 3 Stars
The affair between a politician and a ballerina is affected by mysterious forces keeping the lovers apart.

Do we control our destiny, or do unseen forces manipulate us? Matt Damon stars in the thriller The Adjustment Bureau as a man who glimpses the future Fate has planned for him and realizes he wants something else. To get it, he must pursue the only woman he's ever loved across, under and through the streets of modern-day New York. On the brink of winning a seat in the U.S. Senate, ambitious politician David Norris (Damon) meets beautiful contemporary ballet dancer Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt)-a woman like none he's ever known. But just as he realizes he's falling for her, mysterious men conspire to keep the two apart. David learns he is up against the agents of Fate itself-the men of The Adjustment Bureau-who will do everything in their considerable power to prevent David and Elise from being together. In the face of overwhelming odds, he must either let her go and accept a predetermined path - Universal Pictures

The big screen trailer really puts the online one I saw previously into the shade and really brings the film to life. Phillip K Dick’s adaptations have reliable track record apart from some misses. Combined with Matt Damon and my current talent crush Emily Blunt I’m hoping for something really good. The trailer comes across as a slick Dark City or less fantastic Inception. Digging the hat Matt.

Director: George Nolfi
Writers: George Nolfi (screenplay), Philip K. Dick (short story "Adjustment Team")
Stars: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt and John Slattery

UK Release date: 4 March 2011
http://www.theadjustmentbureau.com/


Battle: Los Angeles - 3 Stars
For years, there have been documented cases of UFO sightings around the world -- Buenos Aires, Seoul, France, Germany, China. But in 2011, what were once just sightings will become a terrifying reality when Earth is attacked by unknown forces. As people everywhere watch the world's great cities fall, Los Angeles becomes the last stand for mankind in a battle no one expected. It's up to a Marine staff sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) and his new platoon to draw a line in the sand as they take on an enemy unlike any they've ever encountered before.


Again way back in August I got to see an extended clip of Battle Earth. It follows a platoon of I guess Marines playing cat and mouse with some nasty invading aliens. They were a little unsure of exactly what the enemy may be. Most of the action took place in a running battle on a street that moves to a house, where aliens start revealing themselves. We didn’t really get to see full view of the aliens.

The whole idea is growing on me. Initially I was a bit wary of another alien invasion ala (Cloverfield, D9, Monsters, etc.) but the subsequent trailers have swayed me and it looks like a mash up of Halo/ Call of Duty/Saving Private Ryan if it was made by the D9 team. In fact we saw some early Skyline footage which made Battle: Los Angeles seem positively Shakespearean.

Director: Jonathan Liebesman
Stars: Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez and Bridget Moynahan

UK Release date: 25 March 2011
http://www.reportthreats.co.uk/


Source Code - 3 Stars
Another trailer that viewed on the big screen changed expectations for me. The smaller on your computer version doesn’t do it justice. Action thriller centered on a soldier who wakes up in the body of an unknown man and discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train.


I’ve been waiting for Source Code since Duncan Jones announced that rather than pursue Mute or Escape From the Deep he was going to be making Source Code. I’m hoping for all the good elements of Moon refined with his learnings. Looks like a taut tale.

Director: Duncan Jones
Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan and Vera Farmiga

UK Release date: 11 March 2011
http://www.enterthesourcecode.com/


Rango - 3 Stars
A chameleon that aspires to be a swashbuckling hero finds himself in a Western town plagued by bandits and is forced to literally play the role in order to protect it.


Looks like a fun and fairly interesting animated kids tale. Having Johnny Depp involved is sure to mean that it’s going to be off the wall fun & quirky. Some of the visuals in the montage sequence look tastefully surreal including a cameo by Hunter S Thomson.

I recently spent some time in the Bahamas near Johnny Depp’s island and the place has loads of iguanas all over the place. Having spent some time with them I’m pretty sure that Johnny Depp must have studied them to the get their reptilian movements and mannerisms right.

Director: Gore Verbinski
Stars: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher and Timothy Olyphant

UK Release date: 4 March 2011
http://www.rangomovie.com/


The Lincoln Lawyer - 2 Stars
A lawyer conducts business from the back of his Lincoln town car while representing a high-profile client in Beverly Hills.

I wasn’t overly impressed by the trailer. Very slick and a little too smug Matthew McConaugheys a down on his luck defence lawyer, who lands an even smugger and slicker property developer. Feels similar to the brilliant 80s TV show Murder One. Is he or isn’t he guilty twists till ¾s of the way through the film when McConaughey has a crisis of conscience (see: Two for the Money) and does the right thing but at the last minute we find out the developer wasn’t the killer it was his mother/butler, all along or similar twist.

All right I made all of that up but wouldn’t be surprised if that’s how it plays out.

Director: Brad Furman
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei and Ryan Phillippe
UK Release date: 18 March 2011
http://www.thelincolnlawyermovie.com/


Red Riding Hood - 2.5 Stars
Valerie (Seyfried) is a beautiful young woman torn between two men. She is in love with a brooding outsider, Peter (Fernandez), but her parents have arranged for her to marry the wealthy Henry (Irons). Unwilling to lose each other, Valerie and Peter are planning to run away together when they learn that Valerie's older sister has been killed by the werewolf that prowls the dark forest surrounding their village. For years, the people have maintained an uneasy truce with the beast, offering the creature a monthly animal sacrifice. But under a blood red moon, the wolf has upped the stakes by taking a human life. Hungry for revenge, the people call on famed werewolf hunter, Father Solomon (Oldman), to help them kill the wolf. But Solomon's arrival brings unintended consequences as he warns that the wolf, who takes human form by day, could be any one of them. As the death toll rises with each moon – Warner Bros

I have to say this was the biggest surprise of the day for me. This was the first time I had seen anything from Red Riding Hood and I believe that we got to see the trailer the same day it was released online.


From Catherine Hardwicke the director of Twilight I should mention I’m not a Twilight fan, haven’t read the books but thought Twilight film was passable as far as predictable, schmaltzy, adapted from a novel for teen girls into a film for teen girls goes. Let’s be honest where the girls go the boys can’t be far behind.

I do remember way back that Catherine Hardwicke had a falling out with Twilight producers/author about how the sequels should play out and in the end said she would rather make her fantasy film. I guess this is it. It did remind me a bit of a slicker Americann PG version of Neil Jordan's The Company of Wolves.

The camera work looked pretty impressive, some really stylish shots. Too early to tell about the acting and story but I’m interested enough to let it go through to the next round.

Director: Catherine Hardwicke
Stars: Amanda Seyfried, Lukas Haas and Gary Oldman

UK Release date: 15 April 2011
http://redridinghood.warnerbros.com/


Cowboys & Aliens - 4 Stars
In Silver City, Arizona, Apache Indians and Western settlers must lay their differences aside when an alien spaceship crash lands in their city.


I have been called out about not banging on about Cowboys & Aliens. Well now the trailer is all over the web. But back in August I got to see two clips which at that point had only been seen at San Diego Comic Con. And I loved them. Now a lot of those and newer footage has been added to the trailers.

Jon Favreau has mined a fairly niche comic and turned it into no doubt one of the biggest film of 2011

Here are my thoughts on been blown away by the clips back then:

Paramount Presentation
Cowboys & Aliens.
After the applause died down it was the turn of Paramount to introduce some of their upcoming offerings. We got to see two extended clips from Jon Favreau’s Cowboys & Aliens.

I have to say Jon Favreau is delivering in spades. I’m not familiar with the Cowboys & Aliens comic as the art work didn’t really engage me. Again I think this may work in my favour as I know very little about the film apart it involves Cowboys & Aliens (I paged through issue #1).

Cowboys & Aliens clip description
The first clip showed a stoic Daniel Craig riding into a backwater western town. He seems real banged up. He unmounts his horse, finds an empty shack, turns on a tap fills a basin/bowl with water.

Starts cleaning up, we get a look at a large metallic bracelet on his hand. It looks like half a set of futuristic hand cuffs. He then removes his shirt revealing an open wound in his rib area. Someone sneaks up behind him with a shotgun and tells him to raise his hands.

I think this was a slightly older paunchy Kurgan I mean Clancy Brown or the guy that was the headmaster/school principal in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Jeffrey Jones.

He goes onto say something like “only two kinds of people get shot. Dead people and criminals. Which are you?”

I have to say I have felt a little dismissive of Daniel Craig after being let down by Quantum of Solace, allthough I have to say his acting wasn't the issue - but seeing him riding into town as a cowboy I got excited again.

The next clip was more revealing.

We are in a old school western gaol which looks empty apart from Craig in a barred cell and Paul Dano in another. Dano is mouthing off something to the effect that his dad is coming for him and he [Daniel Craig’s character] is going to be sorry and various threats. Craig walks over to him, reaches through the bars and pulls Dano into the bars, hard!

Then a lot of law men come into the gaol (similar in feel to security guarding Hannibal Lecture) and tell Craig that he’s been transported somewhere for some reason and will be there by some time.

Now we are outside the gaol, there is a secure prison wagon the “Sheriff” is saying something about Craig being transported and ends with “a travel safe now”, opening the wagon door revealing a Dano with a cut lip. He’s obviously freaking out and saying you can’t be serious. Craig gets into the wagon.

The wagon’s about to pull out but a posse of riders pulls into town. They are led by Harrison Ford. Who seems to be a grizzled frontier character similar to Gene Hackman’s character in “The Quick and the Dead”. Dano says “I knew you would come paw” and he responds with a “Shout up!”

In between belittling his right hamd man he tells the Sherriff that he has come for his son. At this point he sees Craig peering through he prison wagon bars.

Ford: “He’s the one who stole my bullion. I want him out of there now.
Sherriff: “He’s going to … and will be tried in court”
Ford:”No, he worth more to me alive than hanging at the end of a rope”
Sherriff: “I want him out now or some threat”
Dano: “Paw, get me out of here”
Ford: “I told you to shut up junior”

By now some of the town folk have gathered to watch the hoo ha the street. Including Olivia Wilde.

Some lights appear in the distant sky, the lights are glowing and wavering slightly. This is very reminiscent of Close Encounters as the lights get closer to the town the light s start strafing the town with laser blasts. We can’t really make out the detail of the UFO as they are moving fairly quickly through the dark. They are tearing up the town. The prison wagon is blown up. Throwing Craig and Dano out.

While everyone is trying to find shelter, or saving kids trapped/frozen with fear under some rubble. Craig walks over to his hat, puts it back on and walks into the middle of the street, the bracelet has started to light up and a piece of it has popped up. All hell is breaking loose in the town.

The ship is getting nearer and the lasers are getting closer to Craig. He “aims” the bracelet at the ship and it looks like its engaging, he fires hits the ship, it crashes into the main street.

We end with all the towns folk gawking at Craig and his magical bracelet.

Whew! That’s the good stuff. I’m not conveying the detail of feel of the clips but Cowboys & Aliens looks the business and Favreau fast becoming a master of the medium.

Cowboys & Aliens is currently scheduled for a 12 August 2011 UK release

Director: Jon Favreau
Stars: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde

UK Release date: 12 August 2011
http://www.cowboysandaliensmovie.com/


Unfortunately I had to leave early so I didn’t get to see Part 2: Showreel of the next quarter’s trailers. My review of Tron:Legacy can be found here. This was my second screening of The Next 3 Days and I’ll have a review up soon. But when I get a chance I’ll post some thoughts from the “Building an online audience” Panel moderated by Charles Gant from Heat magazine, with Ex Rotten Tomatoes (and good egg) Joe Utichi, Film4.com's Catherine Bray and Ultra Culture's Charlie Lyne.

Any comments or thoughts would be appreciated.

2011 First quarter trailer reviews

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