movie trailers | At Home with Tech

August 23, 2015

Coming Soon… A Movie Trailer You’ve Already Seen

Before this Marvel movie hit the streets, did you know who Ant-Man was? It’s a fundamental question that’s key to any movie’s success. And that’s what movie trailers are for. But the criteria for when and how you’re supposed to consume your movie previews has been upended…

Remember when the movie theater lights would dim, and you’d prepare yourself to get excited over a few movie trailers? Most of the previews you’d probably never seen before, unless you were experiencing the back half of a double feature. (Remember those?)

And what about the thrill you felt when that one amazing movie trailer hit you from out of nowhere? What an experience!

Whenever I bathed in that super glow of movie ‘geekiness,’ I would feel like I didn’t even need to stay for the main feature anymore. How could it get any better than the previous two minutes?

Of course the current availability of online movie trailers has ruined all that. And while I’ve got to admit that the sport of watching and collecting online trailers at home is fun, the experience pales to the purity of in-theater viewing…

No Surprises
Another byproduct of the proliferation of online movie trailers is you don’t need to show up to the movie theater on time.

I used to refuse to walk in even two minutes late…for fear of missing the first preview.
(Often a big one)

Today, I think it’s safe to say I’ve already seen every ‘major’ movie trailer they throw at me. Yes, it can still be more compelling to see it on the big screen, but the crazy urgency I used to feel on the whole matter has gradually evaporated.
(Yes, occasionally, a new movie trailer is first released on ‘day one’ in the theaters and then goes online immediately after… but that’s rare and something of a stunt.)

Movie Roulette
Now, all you’ve really got to do is skip the fifteen minutes of previews and commercials, (yuck) seat yourself just in time for the opening scene, and you’re golden.

Of course, if you play that game, you risk not finding a decent seat….

Plus if you lose, and show up a couple minutes into the flick’s opening sequence, then you become a major pain the butt for all the people sitting behind you.

And that’s really not cool. Nobody wants to miss the first scene of the movie, because you messed up your ‘movie roulette.’

I say it should be more like when you go to a theater to see a play. If you show up late there, you often can’t get to your seat until intermission.
Bravo!

The Rise of the Post-Credit Movie Scene
One type of movie preview experience that thankfully has remained intact (and in fact is becoming ever more popular) is the post-credit ‘surprise’ scene.
Most everybody has already left the theater…
(Who really wants to watch five minutes of credits?)
And then suddenly another scene pops up!

Often it’s something of a throwaway sequence, but sometimes it’s a significant moment that hints at a future film. Occasionally, it is a clip from the next related film!

A perfect example is the credit sequence from the well-reviewed
“Marvel’s Ant-Man.”
(Which I also really enjoyed…. Good talent. Great sense of humor. A story with heart. And a movie that enjoys living in the Marvel super-hero universe, but stands on it’s own. In fact, it was my favorite summer flick!)

“Ant-Man” actually has two separate scenes buried in the credits. The first one points to the evolution of one of the characters. The second appears to be from the next Captain America film- “Captain America: Civil War.”
(There’s no time like the present to begin seeding your future ticket purchase!)

Creating the Cliffhanger Moment
So it’s interesting how the placement of impactful movie-previews has taken something of a 180 and found a new favorite home at the end of the flick you’re watching…. instead of at the beginning.

And in the age of movie blockbusters built on a model of an ongoing story over multiple installments, it’s important to set the stage for the next sequel…

And that’s something of a nod to the cliffhanger model used in the old action and sci-fi movie serials like 1939’s “Buck Rogers”.

Yes…what’s old is new again…

April 26, 2015

The Fate of the Summer Movie Blockbuster Hopefuls

The summer movie season is almost here, but the truth is already out there. Start clicking on some movie trailers to find out the fate of the summertime box office…

A long time ago in what now seems like a galaxy far, far away, I used to review movies. Today, as a family man, I’m lucky if I can even get to a flick, let alone find the time to review one.

Fortunately, one aspect of ‘the cinema’ I especially enjoy is simply checking out movie previews online. Last week, I shared my joy with the new “Star Wars” teaser trailer.

For me, a great movie trailer is worth the price of a full ticket. The way it can get your heart pumping in under three minutes. I’ve also got to admit it’s quite the efficient use of your time…. Like who doesn’t have a couple minutes?

If you haven’t noticed, the official start of the summer movie season is almost here. I say it’s never too soon to decide what movies you intend to see. And what better way to make your decision than simply watching the trailers?

Movie Trailers 101
Here are Barrett’s basic rules on movie previews:

If it’s a must-see trailer, the movie has a really strong chance of being solid.
If it’s only a good trailer, the flick has a 50/50 chance of getting it done.
If it’s a bad trailer, this movie is really in trouble.
(Because if you can’t find two good minutes to edit together, that’s saying a lot.)

Some trailers suffer from telling you too much about the story.
(Then, you feel like you’ve seen the entire movie.)

Other previews leave you confused as to what the film is about.
(Also a bad sign)

So based on these vastly oversimplified rules, I offer you my predictions for the summer’s best movies based on their most recent trailers.

My Summer Movie Picks Based on Ten Trailers

Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron
This trailer is good. Not great. So you might want to be worried. But this is Director Joss Whedon we’re talking about. I have faith he will deliver.
Go.

Jurassic World
There’s a new genetically engineered dinosaur that’s the monster du jour? Yawn.
Haven’t we really seen this movie three times before?
Pass.

Terminator Genisys
It’s supposed to be somehow set in an ‘alternate’ reality, which allows the filmmakers to ‘reimagine’ the series. Honestly, there doesn’t seem to be anything that new here. And it’s hard to spell the title. But Arnold’s baaack!
So go.

Ant Man
This movie seems to have a genuine sense of humor. I’ve got high hopes this could actually be fun.
Go.

Mad Max: Road Fury
This crazy trailer makes the original trilogy look like Barney the Dinosaur.
Go fast. Very fast.

Fantastic Four
I read they wanted to make this a ‘dark’ origins reboot. The setup looks interesting, but I’m not feeling much connection to any of the characters or their ‘mission.’
Pass.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
This movie is trying so hard to be ‘60’s cool and clever. And fun. The problem is the trailer isn’t. At all.
Pass.

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
Another one?!
Yes, please.
This series still appears fresh and enjoyable.
Go.

San Andreas
The Rock Vs. the fault line.
California gets destroyed. Again?
Pass.

Tomorrowland
George Clooney. Cool concept. But I’m a little confused.
Pass.
No wait… George Clooney.
Go…

Wait for the Reviews?
How fair is it to assess a movie’s potential, based solely on a finely buffed marketing effort?

Well, it’s never going to get any better for most of these flicks after they’re released and the reviews come out. This is the honeymoon period.

If a trailer can’t get it done today, it’s unlikely the film will end up being a hit tomorrow.

That said, let’s see how these flicks actually handle themselves, and I’ll review my scorecard at the end of the summer…

June 2, 2013

Apple Took My QuickTime Movie Trailers Away

If you like downloading your movie trailers, you’re in big trouble.
Apple is quietly removing this functionality from iTunes Movie Trailers.
Now, it’s streaming only!

I really like movie trailers.
A lot.

A well-crafted movie trailer can capture the essence of a really great movie.

I’ve got a little folder in my iMac with all my favorite movie trailers from the past few years. Plus, they live in smaller form in iTunes so I can watch them on my iPhone.

Sometimes I just like watching my trove of trailers on the train during my daily commute as a Road Warrior.
(call me wacky)

So yes, I like having my little collection of movie trailers, thank you very much.
But I’ve paid nothing for the privilege.

And once you download the trailer, you essentially own the file.

I suspect there are a bunch of Hollywood folks out there intent on killing my joy, because they feel they’ve left some money on the table.

And I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve been having a few lunches with Apple lately.

Now You See It… Now You Don’t!
Depending how you look at it, May 22 in history has not been a fabulous day:

334 BC – Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia
1931 – Canned rattlesnake meat goes on sale in Florida
1992 – Johnny Carson leaves the Tonight Show
2013 – Apple quietly eliminates QuickTime movie trailer downloads in iTunes

What?!

Suddenly, every new QuickTime movie trailer posted after May 22 is no longer downloadable…

And it’s just a matter of time until Apple’s older downloadable inventory is erased from existence as the newer trailers replace them!

It’s a slow, but sure downgrade.

This is bad.

(pause)

But it gets worse.

Before, you could download a trailer in glorious 1080p.
Not anymore.
And guess what? You can’t stream it in 1080p either!
Because 720p is the largest streaming size Apple has ever served up.

So you can kiss your entire 1080p movie trailer viewing experience goodbye.
(at least via iTunes Movie Trailers)

If you’re starting to hyperventilate, I recommend you go to the phone and call
1-800-I’m a Nerd.

I’ve done the research, and I’m estimating there are about seventeen other people who seem to care about this dastardly secret I’ve uncovered.
(Actually, MacRumors broke the story.)

Everyone else can go happily about your life.

1080p Is So Yesterday?
Streaming your movie trailers might be fine as long as you have a strong Internet connection.
Without one, you’re going to have to wait a while before watching anything!

But if streaming is now the new norm for watching your trailers, you’d feel a bit better if you had the consolation prize to at least stream your movie trailers in 1080p.

Other websites are streaming 1080p…
(like YouTube)
What’s up with Apple?

In an ever evolving 1080p/3D/4K world of more pixels, Apple has inexplicably ceded a leadership position and taken a step in the opposite direction, settling comfortably back to the ‘HD light’ flavor of 720p.

You know, I think it’s time to write a letter…

Dear Apple…
I don’t really know why you’ve chosen to forsake the movie trailer lovers of the world.
(in fact, nobody seems to)

Yes, maybe you’ve been getting pressure from the movie moguls, but you’ve been quietly reacting without public comment.

Please know that we’d really like the download option back, please.
(including those 1080p files)

I can guess being in the movie trailer distribution business has probably not been a profitable venture for you.
(It’s been a free QuickTime service up until now…)

And Hollywood is probably giving you some pressure.

So if this is about money… that’s okay.

Please come up with some new ‘i-Service’ that includes the movie trailer downloads, and I’ll send over more money.
(I’m already happily paying significant green to maintain my own ‘i-Life.‘
A few more dollars won’t matter.)

Just, please… restore my little joy.

Your friend,

-Barrett

(sigh)

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