Trailer Review and List Reactions
November 10th 2009 00:47
Watched The Lovely Bones trailer back in August. This was my reaction:
Very excited for this film, as it is one of my favorite books. However, what I feared after reading the book came true, in terms of the way the film is being marketed. Really, there is no way to promote this film. The subject matter is incredibly disturbing, especially since it contains a minor, but they need to gain a mainstream audience. And so, it is marketed very much the way Changling was marketed, playing it up as a 'thriller' rather than what it simply is: a disturbing drama. I'm sure Peter Jackson knew what he was doing and that the film does not unfold like a standard thriller. I truly believe the trailer was simply cut to highlight these aspects and the film will be very faithful to the book. This being said, the trailer looked great, the visuals are incredible, the cast seems to embody the essence of the book's characters and I eagerly await the film's release. You can view the trailer here.
Now I'm wondering, the closer we get to Oscar season, if we will see another trailer and whether or not that trailer will be tailored to the award season, ala the A Single Man trailers, which were perfectly broken down on Cinema Enthusiast's blog. If this does occur, I think we will finally see a straight up portrayal of the film's context, rather than a trailer attempting to manipulate the audience.
I eagerly await a second trailer and will of course review it here in comparison.
In other news, two british based websites have posted their decade top 100 lists. We (Cinema Enthusiast and myself) purposely did not do 100 because we wanted to make the lists more challenging for ourselves.
The list from Time UK, found here, is interesting to say the least. There Will Be Blood way too low at 63, in my opinion. Anchorman is a cool inclusion. I love the film, as that's why it made my favorite, but I don't believe it would have made my greatest even if I did 100. Many foreign representations which is always nice. The Incredibles should not have made the list. Capturing the Friedmans is an awesome inclusion.. I actually should have put that on my own list. Barf me with Sideways at #27. Most overrated film.
There have been many critiques at this list due to it's british-centric nature. The top 10 is rather questionable and although The Bourne Supremacy makes an awesome showing in it at number 2, to tie it with Bourne Ultimatum just because Greengrass directed them both (you know that's why) is silly. The Bourne Supremacy is far more superior. Grizzly Man: another film I left out. Damn. Sad to say I have not seen their number one. And the exclusions of Almost Famous and Mystic River is unforgivable in my opinion.
The next list is from the Telegraph UK. I'm not sure I can even take this list seriously as their number 100 is Avatar based upon a 15 minute sneak preview. Are you kidding me? I am so done with Avatar and I've been done with Cameron's pompous self since Titanic.
Number 99 is a Lukas Moodysson film, which creates a short digression on my part. How have I not seen this film? Or any of his films since Fucking Amal (Show me Love). Show me Love is one of my favorite films ever and one of the most underrated. Sometimes I lose track of directors.. Now I'm going to make every effort to see his other films, and I plan on watching the trailer for his new film, Mammoth, soon.
Number 31 is Pirates of the Caribbean. Seriously? The Bourne Supremacy made another fine showing at #21. Mamma Mia at #18? Are we joking? Before Sunset is one I sadly had to omit from my list.. but I may end up putting it on. #10 for Slumdog Millionaire is ridiculous. Amorres Perros surprising at #8. I'd pick 21 Grams over this though.#5 is Fellowship of the Ring.. I'd pick Two Towers over that. #4 is There Will Be Blood which I pleasing. #3 is The Incredibles which makes me want to barf. #2 is Brokeback Mountain. Very nice. #1 is Fahrenheit 9/11... do not agree at all. It wasn't even the greatest documentary made past decade. And again, the omissions of Almost Famous and Mystic River..
Will be interesting to see the other decade lists that will in inevitably be posted. I actually revised my own greatest list to take off some of the ones from this year that I put on. I want to wait until I've seen the rest of the films that are coming out before I prematurely state which ones should be included in the greatest of the decade. The only ones I'm absolutely sure will not leave the list are The Hurt Locker and Inglourious Basterds, which is why they made the cut.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
As for those lists linked, ridiculous for the most part.....many hated films getting far to high of a ranking, yours was better