Happy Trail-ers

Remember the days before the internet when you could actually see a trailer for the first time in theaters? That magical moment where you get your first glimpse of a new movie and those butterflies that erupted in your tummy. These days, trailers are posted to the internet almost simultaneously or even weeks before they are attached to film, totally negating the experience of taking in a film's first unveiling on the sexy silver screen.

Admittedly, I watch most trailers for the first time online so I don't have that opportunity to take it in on a big screen. Now you may ask, "Well, why don't you just wait until you see the trailer in theatres?" to which I'd reply "That would require self-discipline, which my ample thighs can corroborate I have none." But in any case, I'm happy to say that we are in a golden age of trailers. You may have some clunkers here and there, but the Inception teaser is evidence alone of a trailer done right. Sure it’s easy to throw a deep voice across some killer shots and lace it with an epic soundtrack. Still, there is that precarious balance a trailer seeks between showing too much or showing too little. Like a woman's skirt, it should be short enough to arouse interest but long enough to cover the essentials. A good trailer captures the tone and gives you a taste of what to expect from the movie. So let me unveil 5 of what I think are the most enticing trailers in the last couple of years.

5. Cloverfield (2008)

In one of the most entertaining viral campaigns in ages, Cloverfield's trailer gave us what is truly a rarity these days, a surprise. Originally entitled 1-18-08, the trailer debuted in front of Transformers to a big "huh?" to everyone who saw it. J.J. Abrams and crew did an awesome job of keeping this trailer under wraps in a time where it is increasingly difficult to keep a movie secret with the 24-hour news cycle. This trailer kinda simmers for the first 30 seconds, establishing the hero at his going away party. Things are pretty ordinary; that is until the lights go out and the sky falls. For the element of surprise and seeing the Statue of Liberty's head torn off and thrown into a Manhattan neighborhood, you've got to give it up to Cloverfield for sparking some serious interest. 

4. Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

Featuring the song "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire, this trailer surely upped the amount of itunes downloads as soon as it debuted.  It's such a delight to see movies that find a song that really "gets" what they are talking about. And the trailer uses the song beautifully. In first couple seconds where Max rides the back of Carol, you're immediately transported into another world. And those graphic cuts at 1:29 just provide the short with a new life going so perfectly to the song. It has this sort of jaunty, upbeat feel that really calls up feelings of being a kid. The trailer certainly taps into the feelings of nostalgeia we all had in reading this book and the trailer takes advantage, not in a sleazy way though.

3. The Incredibles (2005)

Pixar does something pretty awesome with their trailers. They usually make footage expressly for their teaser and release it before the preceding movie; so you always have something to look forward to for next year. This teaser is a little one note, but expressly captures the themes the film deals with. Nostalgeia. Feeling over-the hill. Recapturing youth. They meld it all into this funny little short, where Mr. Incredible receives a call to defeat the evil-doers of the world. But first he has to get on his belt. Again, Pixar I tip my hat.

2. The Dark Knight (2008)

So The Dark Knight. Yep. Yes it is a modern classic. The trailer perfectly primes you for the main attraction of the film, Heath Ledger's Joker. By the time this trailer was released, people were fiending for a taste of his performance. And they were not disappointed. I can't tell you how many times I watched it in the 14 billion months it took for it to come out. Supported by his lip-smacking voice-over, the reveal at :33 is just an excellent to show The Joker in all his creepiness.

1. Up in the Air (2009)

I don't have much to say about this one. The silhouettes. The overhead shots of lonely cities. The cloudy long shots. And George Clooney's voice over provides an introspective introduction to the film's ideas about lonleiness and human contact. The song "Genova" just sets this mellow, yet gloomy rhythm. Again, it just kinda works. The movie is awesome too by the way.

Honorable mentions go out to The Social Network, Watchmen, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Happy Trails...