Hello there! So if you're like me, you watch movie trailers on youtube all the live-long day. I re-watch movie trailers to get pumped for upcoming flicks (looking at you "Dark Knight Rises/Avengers/Spiderman/Prometheus/etc.), and watch old film trailers just to re-live the film in 2 minutes. That's what a good trailer should do: Give you the essence, tone, and mileu of the film without revealing too much. It should inform you of the narrative without spoiling anything that would ruin the film experience. I HATE when I see a clip of a scene in the trailer and I look for it in the film later. But that's the world we live in. I have to say though, some trailers really get me excited. Trailers truly have become somewhat of an artform. So I thought I would put together a list of my all-time favorites and supply you with the links to enjoy them yourselves. I didn't include some Hitchcock trailers (Psycho) or some Kubrick (The Shining/Clockwork Orange) but I do hope you will look those up as well because they are classics. Enjoy!
11. Cloverfield
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fCPoF6o5wA&feature=player_embedded
Although it is not my favorite movie by any means...the trailer is awesome. When I saw it in theater's it blew me away. Popularizing the "Found Footage" movement, this is the trailer that jumpstarted it all.
10. The Social Network
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lB95KLmpLR4
"Creep" as done by Scale & Kolcany Brothers fits really well here with this story of an outcast who would become a huge social-networking billionaire. I love the buildup from the "Facebook" shots to the film scenes.
9. The Departed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGWvwjZ0eDc
I remember going home after school in high school and watching this three times in a row.
8.Terminator Salvation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GmLfivKQL8
This completely changed my mind about a new Terminator film being made. Even though this would end up being my least favorite Terminator film, I LOVED this trailer. "The Day the Whole World Went Away" by Nine Inch Nails added with Christian Bale's fully realized raspy voice....oh man.
"We are dead! We are ALL DEAD!".
7. Spider-man (2002)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN3YaybNJ2s
They tell you the origin in 2 minutes. It's fantastic. "Pompeii" featured here would end up being a song over-used in sooo many trailers. It gets you crazy pumped.
6. The Dark Knight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jqq4j52Fb4
I remember waiting everyday for this trailer to come out. When it finally did, I was amazed. The epic reveal of Heath Ledger..."Evening, Commisioner". The Dark Knight Theme. It was just the perfect "Batman Vs. Joker" trailer for the Nolan universe.
TOP 5
5. Titanic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5gtS3pgA3Y
James Horners Music with all the epic-ness that is Titanic. That last shot at 2:12 is just NUTS.
4. Prometheus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHcHYisZFLU
This just came out and I feel it deserves to be regarded as one of the best trailers ever. It's homages to the original "Alien" trailer, with all the new CGI, Ridley Scott's amazing sci-fi vision, a notable cast, and music and cuts that will have you on the edge of your seat....I can't wait for this film!
3. Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo5PYJvAAMI&feature=player_embedded
This is one of the greatest trailers ever. What did it tell you? That "Star Wars" is back. Anakin and Obi-wan would meet. That Oscar Schindler was wielding a light-saber. That the pod-race looked nuts. And that there would be a DOUBLE-BLADED LIGHTSABER!?!?!?! Blew my 9 year old mind.
2.Inception
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66TuSJo4dZM
Introducing the Inception "BUUUUUUUUUUM" noise to the world. "Time" by Hans Zimmer is one of the best trailer tracks ever. The shot at 1:57 of Joseph Gordon-Levitt tying up the cast in mid-air was so mysterious and wild, I needed to know what that was all about.
1. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVLvMg62RPA
A clip-every-second trailer, this is the most impressive and enjoyable trailer I have ever laid eyes on. "Immigrant Song" covered by Trent Reznor and Karen O with this tone and story, this trailer shows you that the "Feel Bad Movie Of Christmas" was coming at you hard and it was going to be a crazy ride. Well done, Team Fincher.
Bonus Trailers:
1. Angels in the Outfield (1994)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCXiGeM9Lqw
I remember seeing this trailer at the beginning of a Disney VHS tape and this music with this famous Disney Narrator has gotten me to just never forget this video. Joseph Gordon Levitt was in some good trailers!
2. Alien
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEVY_lonKf4
Highly regarded as one of the greatest trailers of all-time. It really is. It was soooooo close to getting on my list but I wanted to focus more on modern trailers. CHECK THIS ONE OUT THOUGH. Especially as a reference to the new Prometheus trailer.
