Since the DVD came on the market, the features included with the films have become more numerous and advanced. While originally special features barely consisted of little more then the movie trailer and brief actor profiles, now most DVD’s come complete with hours of features that detail many different aspects of the movie. A movie lover can see exactly what it took to make the movie come alive, from costume design to the creation of special effects. But despite there now being more features available to view, one feature is slowly being fazed out: the movie trailer.
A movie trailer is a specifically designed preview shown in theaters before the movie begins. While older trailers usually consisted of long drawn out scenes, today’s trailers have become very condensed and fast paced. A trailer usually consists of three parts. First there is the beginning, which lays out the ground work of the story. Then there is the middle, which drives the story further and usually consists of a plot revelation or reveal. Finally there is the climax, which is designed to make the end of the trailer as emotionally gripping as possible. Usually the climax of a trailer consists of several emotional images set to a piece of music. Movie trailers are only allowed to be a maximum of two and a half minutes long, although studios are allowed to release one trailer that exceeds the allotted length per year. While trailers aren’t rated per say, they are classed into two groups: green band trailers and red band trailers. A green band trailer is a trailer that can be viewed by anyone and does not have scenes that would be inappropriate for a minor to see. Therefore a minor can watch a trailer for an R rated movie even if they can not watch the movie itself. A red band trailer is a trailer that contains images that might be inappropriate for minors to see; which includes graphic violence, foul language, nudity, sex, and drug use. These trailers can only be shown before a movie that is rated R or NC-17.
As mentioned before, trailers used to be one of the only extra features included on DVDs. But in the last few years trailers have been included less on DVDs. While they have numerous features detailing the making of the movie they don’t include the trailer, which is usually what gets people to want to see a particular movie. What is even more unusual is that many times a DVD will contain trailers for other movies, but not the trailer for the movie being viewed.
Personally, I love movie trailers. To me they are individual stories, similar to the movie being advertised but at the same time distinctly different. They can be emotionally gripping and make my heart feel like it will leap out of my chest. Or they can be hilarious and make me feel happy all day long. Many times the trailer for a movie is in fact better then the movie itself is. One example that comes to mind is Jurassic Park 3. When I first heard a third Jurassic Park movie was being made I vowed I would never see it. Then I saw the trailer. It was both thrilling and action packed, and seemed to set up an interesting story. It was good enough for me to go against my better judgment and see the movie. As I left the theater I deeply regretted having wasted $10 and an hour and a half of my life. But I still have to commend the cutters of that trailer. They managed to get me to see the movie in spite of my previous feelings.
Movie trailers are an art form, one that is harder to do then people would think. A trailer cutter not only has to let the audience know what the movie is about, but they also have to make sure they don’t give away to much information or else people will already know everything and not want to see the movie. To make sure the trailer is shown at an appropriate time before the movie is released cutters use footage from dailies, which is the raw unedited footage shot during the making of a movie. It is obviously much harder for a trailer to be made from raw footage then from edited and perfectly synced up material. But that is exactly how they are made. Cutters also have to decide how the trailer will fit into the marketing campaign of the film and be able to obtain the right music that would best suit the trailer. They work extraordinarily hard to bring their proper vision to life, and should be rewarded by having their work be easily viewed by all.
I will say that it isn’t impossible to continually view movie trailers today. One only has to go on the web to find numerous sites that feature trailers. But in spite of this on-line option I still miss popping in a disk and being able to watch a trailer right before a movie. I only hope that this trend will stop and trailers will begin to reappear on DVD menus. As much as I love a ton of special features, I would trade them all in if it meant I would have the one feature that mattered the most to me.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
Ugly Betty: a dissapointing end to the season
Last Thursday I watched the season finale of the second season of Ugly Betty. While I usually enjoy most episodes of this quirky show, I found I was less then impressed with the last episode of the season. As I sat down to watch I thought of the many questions I hoped would be answered. Would Betty (America Ferrera) finally decide if she wanted to be in a relationship with Henry (Chris Gorham), the lovable accountant who moved to Tucson to care for his recently born son, or Gio (Freddy Rodriguez), a deli shop owner who is more thoughtful and caring then he initially lets on? Would Wilhelmina (Vanessa Williams) finally succeed in taking the coveted MODE editor-in-chief position away from Daniel Meade (Eric Mabius)? Would Amanda (Becki Newton) find a new lead in the search for her birth father? These were just a few of the things I hoped would be answered. By the end of the episode only one of these questions was answered, and it wasn’t even the most obvious of the three.
The episode began with Betty being informed that she has to take more risks in her life, in order to grow both professionally and personally. She resolves to stop always taking the safe route and to be more risky, which comes in handy when she is forced to make a potentially life changing decision. But more on that plot point later.
Although Betty is still the focus of the series, this episode features Daniel almost more so then it does Betty. After the events of the previous episode, in which Wilhelmina not only returned to MODE but also managed to get newly appointed CEO of Meade Publications Alexis Meade (Rebecca Romijn) to go against the family and give her back the title of creative director, Daniel struggles to prevent Wilhelmina from taking over his job. Just when things can not become any more complicated another bomb shell is revealed in the form of a son. A small French boy, who is also named Daniel, clams that he is a result of a liaison Daniel Sr. had with his recently deceased mother several years ago. At first Daniel thinks it’s a trick and refuses to acknowledge Daniel Jr. until concrete proof comes back. This proves to be his undoing as Wilhelmina uses the news to her advantage by leaking the story to the press and making Daniel out to be a degenerate parent. This couldn’t have come at a worse time, as MODE has just signed a client by claiming that their magazine loves children. Of course Wilhelmina swoops in and saves the account she herself threatened to lose. She then uses the incident to convince Alexis that Daniel isn’t the best candidate for the editor-in-chief position and before one can blink Daniel is out and Wilhelmina is the new editor-in-chief of MODE magazine.
This turn of events is another reason I’m not particularly fond of Alexis. To me she is way to cruel to her younger brother, especially since he continually has shown that he wants to put the past behind them and have the two work together as equals. Despite Daniel’s persistence in trying to form a true sibling bond, Alexis continues to betray her brother. One moment that left a particularly bad taste in my mouth was when Alexis tells Daniel he is taking a leave of absence after the son story is leaked. Daniel points out an incident that occurred earlier in the season, in which a major client told Daniel to fire his transsexual sister or else they would not do business with MODE. Although fully aware of the ramifications of his actions, he stood by his sister and turned the client away. When Daniel brings this up Alexis throws it back in his face, saying that she is “learning from his mistakes.” It’s upsetting that she would turn against her brother when he was willing to risk everything for her. Now Daniel is out of MODE and as a result Betty’s job is possibly in danger.
Which brings me back to Betty and the life changing choice she has to make. Although still pining for Henry, Betty can no longer hide the fact that she is developing feelings for Gio. This becomes more complicated when Gio asks her to spend a month in Rome with him. Then before she can even begin to think of an answer Henry returns with a ring, asking Betty to marry him and move to Tucson. Betty spends the episode asking everyone for advice and continually she is told that this is a decision she has to make on her own. And by the episode’s end she has made it. She packs a suitcase, steps out onto her front stoop, and the screen goes black. The question viewers most wanted to see answered is left without a known answer. The only thing worse then having to wait three months for the answer is that I’m 99% certain the mystery of the answer will be a major marketing ploy to promote the 3rd season. I predict that by the middle of July TV ads will air with the following slogan: “Last season Betty had to choose who she would end up with: Henry or Gio. This September, find out who she chose. The season premier of Ugly Betty, only on ABC.”
Thus ends my summery and feelings on the second season finale of Ugly Betty. I only hope that this week’s finale of Lost is much better, because I won’t be able to take another disappointing season finale.
The episode began with Betty being informed that she has to take more risks in her life, in order to grow both professionally and personally. She resolves to stop always taking the safe route and to be more risky, which comes in handy when she is forced to make a potentially life changing decision. But more on that plot point later.
Although Betty is still the focus of the series, this episode features Daniel almost more so then it does Betty. After the events of the previous episode, in which Wilhelmina not only returned to MODE but also managed to get newly appointed CEO of Meade Publications Alexis Meade (Rebecca Romijn) to go against the family and give her back the title of creative director, Daniel struggles to prevent Wilhelmina from taking over his job. Just when things can not become any more complicated another bomb shell is revealed in the form of a son. A small French boy, who is also named Daniel, clams that he is a result of a liaison Daniel Sr. had with his recently deceased mother several years ago. At first Daniel thinks it’s a trick and refuses to acknowledge Daniel Jr. until concrete proof comes back. This proves to be his undoing as Wilhelmina uses the news to her advantage by leaking the story to the press and making Daniel out to be a degenerate parent. This couldn’t have come at a worse time, as MODE has just signed a client by claiming that their magazine loves children. Of course Wilhelmina swoops in and saves the account she herself threatened to lose. She then uses the incident to convince Alexis that Daniel isn’t the best candidate for the editor-in-chief position and before one can blink Daniel is out and Wilhelmina is the new editor-in-chief of MODE magazine.
This turn of events is another reason I’m not particularly fond of Alexis. To me she is way to cruel to her younger brother, especially since he continually has shown that he wants to put the past behind them and have the two work together as equals. Despite Daniel’s persistence in trying to form a true sibling bond, Alexis continues to betray her brother. One moment that left a particularly bad taste in my mouth was when Alexis tells Daniel he is taking a leave of absence after the son story is leaked. Daniel points out an incident that occurred earlier in the season, in which a major client told Daniel to fire his transsexual sister or else they would not do business with MODE. Although fully aware of the ramifications of his actions, he stood by his sister and turned the client away. When Daniel brings this up Alexis throws it back in his face, saying that she is “learning from his mistakes.” It’s upsetting that she would turn against her brother when he was willing to risk everything for her. Now Daniel is out of MODE and as a result Betty’s job is possibly in danger.
Which brings me back to Betty and the life changing choice she has to make. Although still pining for Henry, Betty can no longer hide the fact that she is developing feelings for Gio. This becomes more complicated when Gio asks her to spend a month in Rome with him. Then before she can even begin to think of an answer Henry returns with a ring, asking Betty to marry him and move to Tucson. Betty spends the episode asking everyone for advice and continually she is told that this is a decision she has to make on her own. And by the episode’s end she has made it. She packs a suitcase, steps out onto her front stoop, and the screen goes black. The question viewers most wanted to see answered is left without a known answer. The only thing worse then having to wait three months for the answer is that I’m 99% certain the mystery of the answer will be a major marketing ploy to promote the 3rd season. I predict that by the middle of July TV ads will air with the following slogan: “Last season Betty had to choose who she would end up with: Henry or Gio. This September, find out who she chose. The season premier of Ugly Betty, only on ABC.”
Thus ends my summery and feelings on the second season finale of Ugly Betty. I only hope that this week’s finale of Lost is much better, because I won’t be able to take another disappointing season finale.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Opening Statement
Thus begins my new career in blogging. This blog will reflect my love of all things, or almost all things, entertainment. Mostly it will be about aspects related to movies and television, although there are times it will also branch off into books, music and theatre also.
And that is it for now. Tune in tomorrow for a longer and far more interesting entry.
And that is it for now. Tune in tomorrow for a longer and far more interesting entry.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)