New AVATAR trailer

Add comment October 29th, 2009

A lot more detail, a lot more plot specifics and, in general, a much better idea of just what the heck this movie is going to be about. I’m still not sure if it’s going to be good or not — let alone the mind-bending adventure the hype is promising — but we definitely now have more to go on.

Click here to watch it in Hi-Def.

Aroooooooooooo!

Add comment October 26th, 2009

Here’s the trailer for the new WOLFMAN movie, starring Benecio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt and Hugo Weaving…

As a fan of classic horror movies, it does my heart good to see that this is a “Universal Picture.” Universal, of course, is the studio that released all the legendary horror films of the 1930s and 1940s, like DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN, THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN and the original WOLF MAN.

Here’s that original trailer, in case you’re curious…

It’s pretty dated, sure, but there’s something undeniably powerful about the silhouette of the Wolf Man howling in the graveyard.

Friday Afternoon Videos: A trio of trailers

1 comment October 23rd, 2009

Things have been busy here at the News Tower today, so I apologize for the lack of postings. But here, to make up for it, are some great horror-themed (well, sort of) trailers.

First, Mel Brooks’ YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN…

Next, Francis Ford Coppola’s BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA, which was supposedly pulled because it was too bloody and scary for unsuspecting audiences…

And finally, George A. Romero’s DAWN OF THE DEAD, which is still pretty intense even though it hides that movie’s landmaking blood and gore…

He’s not happy. Not at all.

3 comments October 15th, 2009

Ever since I watched clips from MAD MAX in the (excellent) Ozploitation documentary NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD*, I’ve been aching to see Mel Gibson return to a role where he straddles the line between sane and crazy (and no, his arrest for drunk driving doesn’t count). Well, it looks like I might get my wish…

Solid premise, strong cast, good director and the man who was Max getting mad. Could be good. And how about that last line?

* Check out my NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD review here. Then rent it — it’s great!

New trailer for THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX

Add comment October 14th, 2009

Amid all the hubbub about what happened between director Wes Anderson and his crew, a new trailer for his animated movie has been released, and to no one’s surprise, it looks great. This version showcases more of Anderson’s personality, which seems to be coming across loud and clear even though the actors are animated.

Remember RAIDERS in 1951? Or GUMP in 1949?

2 comments September 15th, 2009

Here, courtesy of a link over at Cinematical.com, are the vintage trailers for the original RAIDERS OF THE LOST ART (starring Charlton Heston) and FORREST GUMP (starring the Tom Hanks of his day, Jimmy Stewart). Watch ‘em, then rent the films down at your local video store. Be sure to specify the original, black-and-white versions. I’m sure the clerk will be happy to find them for you.

Friday Afternoon Videos: BLACK DYNAMITE trailer

Add comment September 11th, 2009

Here’s the trailer for BLACK DYNAMITE, a faux-blaxploitation movie that looks like it nails the genre more accurately than anything I’ve ever seen, from the frenzied voice-over to the kung fu to the list of (fake) actors’ names at the end. (The actual trailer it most resembles is the hard-to-believe-it’s-real promo for Rudy Ray Moore’s oddball masterpiece, DOLEMITE.)

It opens Oct. 16, and as a fan of crazed ’70s cinema, I can’t wait to see it. Here’s one of the posters which, like the trailer, nails the time-period perfectly. (For more, check out the official site.)

THE DEFENDOR trailer

2 comments September 3rd, 2009

Woody Harrelson’s new movie, THE DEFENDOR, is slated to screen at the upcoming Toronto Film Festival. Here’s the plot description, courtesy of Twitchfilm.net….

Reality intersects with delusion in the mind of Arthur Poppington (Woody Harrelson), a regular man who adopts a superhero persona known as Defendor, and combs the city streets at night in search of his arch-enemy, Captain Industry.  In his attempts to combat crime and bring down Captain Industry, a drug and weapons dealer who he mistakenly blames for the death of his mother, Defendor ends up befriending a young prostitute, Katerina Debrofkowitz (Kat Dennings).  Armed with unconventional weapons of mass confusion, aided by his new friend, and putting his life on the line, Defendor proves that everyone is capable of making a difference.

I’m a sucker for amateur super-hero movies (SPECIAL, MYSTERY MEN), and this one has been building some solid buzz. Here’s the trailer…

THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS trailer

Add comment August 28th, 2009

Here’s the trailer for George Clooney’s upcoming film, THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS. Besides being based on a fascinating book by Jon Ronson (I highly recommend it), GOATS has a heck of a cast — Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey, among others.

Plus, it’s funny to hear someone tell McGregor about being a Jedi, considering he played Ben Kenobi himself in those STAR WARS prequels.

GOATS opens Nov. 16.

Here it is …. the AVATAR trailer

2 comments August 20th, 2009

Apple is apparently still working out some kinks in presenting the trailer for James Cameron’s AVATAR, but in the meantime, you can see the French version by clicking here. (Don’t worry — there’s only one line of dialogue.) I think this is the same thing that will be attached to INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS this weekend (well, in English, of course).

It’s visually impressive, to be sure — and looks to include the next generation of the space Marines we saw in Cameron’s ALIENS more than 20 years ago.

Is it the next leap in movie technology? Well, t don’t know about that — but I’ll bet it looks damned good in 3-D.

And, assuming Apple corrects its glitches, you can see the English version here.