Trailer Trash (7/1/11)

Volume 5: In Which Tom Cruise Dangles From Buildings

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

Dir: Brad Bird – Planned release date: December 16

Of all the action franchises in recent memory, the Mission: Impossible films have proven quite malleable to the style of whatever director is at the helm. Where the James Bond series often feels like one whole series rather than the work of individual artists (there are a few exceptions), each of the Mission: Impossible films thus far have been a showcase for the men behind the camera. So far, the likes of Brian DePalma, John Woo and J.J. Abrams have all had a crack at the Tom Cruise-led series, and the fourth installment, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (a title which seems to fear redundant colons), has been put in the hands of Pixar veteran Brad Bird.

This early trailer still seems to bear an unmistakable Abrams-esque stamp in that it’s going for the big popcorn thrills rather than slow-motion slickness. Yet the film advertised here seems to mess around even less with personal business than Abrams’ film, which focused a great deal on Cruise’s romantic relationship with Michelle Monaghan. Instead we will get even more shooting and explosions, which is more than fine. Even Simon Pegg looks like he gets more to do, which is never a bad thing. With Mission: Impossible III, the series seemed to hit a really nice stride, and Ghost Protocol seems like it’s not going to mess with that formula too much.

Those worried about Bird’s transition from animated films (The Iron Giant, The Incredibles) to live action shouldn’t think too much into it, as this is likely a more natural path than many would think. Animated films—The Incredibles in particular—are all about keeping the momentum and energy going. If I had to put my money on it, Ghost Protocol will be a movie that gets going early and doesn’t stop until the credits roll. Still, I’ll agree with most that the trailer doesn’t feature the series’ signature theme nearly enough.

War Horse

Dir: Steven Spielberg – Planned release date: December 28

Anyone who thinks the story of an English boy and his horse doesn’t lend itself to Spielbergian grandeur is proven wrong within the first few seconds of this early trailer for War Horse. The film—which will be released just five days after his own The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn—suddenly seems as if it couldn’t have been made by anyone else. We audiences have had a weakness for horse stories since the very beginning. (Heck, maybe I’m just talking about myself, as I was kinder to Secretariat than anyone ever.) All you need to do is combine that with a war story, Janusz Kaminski cinematography and an especially sentimental John Williams score and you’re sure to have movie-goers across the country sobbing in their seats.

Let’s put it this way: this film seems to be a combination of everything Spielberg is good at. The plot description reads like a combination of Saving Private Ryan and E.T., and no, that’s not as ridiculous as it sounds. Just replace the alien with a horse—and throw the duo into the middle of World War I-era Europe—and that’s essentially what you’re looking at with War Horse, and don’t think for a minute that this is a criticism. It’s no secret Spielberg has spent many of his recent films exploring darker territory (and making Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull), so it’s interesting to see him go back to making an epic blockbuster that’s sure to tug at the heartstrings. You’ll believe a horse can fly. Or at least run really fast.

Brave

Dir: Mark Andrews/Brenda Chapman – Planned release date: June 22, 2012

Hate Cars 2 all you want (I haven’t seen it), but you have to admit that Pixar is being pretty genius about how they’re handling it. It may be the only film they’ve made to be dismissed by critics, but right now they’re just looking to make their (tons of) money and move on. And what are they moving on to, exactly? Brave. Now, this teaser—which was released with Cars 2—seems more like an apology than anything else. Yes, they realized a sequel to a movie about talking motor vehicles may not have been the brightest idea in the world, but the drubbing they get for this is only going to make the praise for Brave all the more fervent. They seem to be lowering expectations so they can properly blow us away come this time next year. And make no mistake: this movie will be great.

Yes, this trailer doesn’t show us much beside a look at the red-haired heroine (to be voiced by Kelly Macdonald) and some appropriately grandiose narration. But that doesn’t matter. If anything, this teaser just seems to be Pixar reminding us of something that Cars 2 may have made us forget: “Screw you. We’re Pixar.” We are all but their slaves.

Captain America: The First Avenger

Dir: Joe Johnston – Planned release date: July 22

Of late, there are some signs that the movie-going public may be experiencing superhero movie fatigue. The last two major comic book releases—X-Men: First Class and Green Lantern—both underwhelmed at the box office (the latter more than the former), and with Captain America: The First Avenger on the horizon the folks at Marvel are hoping the public will get over it awful quick. Perhaps because of this, they are approaching advertising in a rather unique way: the film is being sold less as a superhero origin film and more as the story of a puny young soldier who suddenly grows some muscles and happens upon a Captain America costume.

Yet perhaps this more period-appropriate/man-over-superman approach will work more than whatever these past superhero films have done to turn the public off. For sure, Captain America seems to be more unique than many of the superheroes we’ve seen onscreen this year. Another advantage is that he’s more iconic than a Green Lantern or a Thor. His name is Captain America, for God’s sake. In all likelihood, Marvel would like you to believe that if you don’t see Captain America: The First Avenger, you’re just un-American. (Speaking of which, how is this movie not being released on Independence Day weekend? That would seem like the appropriate choice.)

Killer Elite

Dir: Gary McKendry – Planned release date: September 23

To end this week’s post on an especially awesome note, I give you the trailer for Killer Elite. There’s not much to say about it except how frickin’ awesome it looks, and the fact that I am going to see it. Sure, it won’t be a good movie, but Jason Statham is able to take even the biggest piece of trash and render it watchable. (see: The Mechanic) Combine that with a gloriously mustachioed Clive Owen, a scruffy Robert DeNiro, the bogus “based on a true story” claim and the hilariously awful use of “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” and we’re sure to have a piece of wonderful, Statham-y trash. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. (Move over, The Tree of Life!)