Whats the fascination with trailers?

[john t]

I mean honestly, these are the things i dont mind getting to the movie late to miss, and most people fast forward thru on vhs. So can someone please explain to me the big deal about a dvd not having COMMERCIALS on it? Because that is what we are really talking about here. I mean come on, youve got the movie, why do you need the commercials for it? Lets say youre watching tv and they somehow leave the commercials out. Are you gonna run to the bulletin board on the stations website and beg for your commercials, and then bitch if you dont get them?

Go ahead and mock if you like, but no one will ever make me believe that commercials on dvd's are a good thing

Thanks,

John

[orf]

TV spots, or "commercials" suck.
Trailers, on the other hand, rock. They're just little "movies in a capsule" and they're always enjoyable to watch.

[Oscar Antonio M]

Originally posted by orf
TV spots, or "commercials" suck.
Trailers, on the other hand, rock. They're just little "movies in a capsule" and they're always enjoyable to watch.

Also they get us in the mood to watch the movie, they are much better than tv spots.

[john t]

if you have the movie in hand, why do you need to be motivated to watch it? Why not just watch it? A mini movie in a capsule huh? Its still nothing more than an oversized commercial

[Naminator]

I think we're all movie fans, no?

Well, trailers help us a) Learn about upcoming films, and b) See first-hand what they can potentially look like.

We can find a lot of things from trailers - the cinematography, dialogue, possibly even the basic jist of the plot. Usually, the main reason I check out a trailer is to see the cinematography. I think I saw Dreamcatcher based on how beautiful the trailer looked. Sometimes, though, it backfires (Case in point: Cast Away), but I happen to think of a trailer as an awesome hype machine.

They also help support an industry we love. I don't really see them as commercials, but I guess that's all up to perspective.

I still remember seeing the theatrical trailer for Matrix Reloaded at X2, and the crowd was absolutely nuts. In all of the money shots, people were going "Holy shit" under their breath. If that's not the perfect way to drive hype, and to get people off of their asses and go see a movie instead of watching sitcoms on their television sets, then that is perfectly fine by me.

Go trailers.

[FurryHumanBeing]

I dig trailers I usually watch them first on DVD to get a hint of what to expect. I like all promotional items on DVD Poster galleries, Trailers, Even TV Spots. But I especially love teaser trailers! Too bad most movies don;t have them and those that do are rarely on the disk.
I like seeing them in theaters like, I see the trailer for Matrix and I say holy shit that's gonna rock! And it did. I watch the trailer for T3 and I'm not expecting mutch.

[JFelix]

The growing numbers of trailers including footage in them that isn't in the movie is also a concern. (There better be a director's cut DVD of 'Willard'. There was like 10 minutes of character developmen tossed aside that, of course, ended up in the trailer.)

[John Yaya]

Trailers are pretty cool...it's always fun to see a sneak preview at what's coming five-six months down the line

My favorites? Batman & The Phantom Menace

and I wasn't dissapointed with either of those films

as for recent ones I've seen... Hollywood Homicide (with Harrison Ford), The Hulk & Pirates Of The Caribbean look like a lot of fun to me

[asphodel5]

I like to see how a film was originally marketed after seeing it. It amazes me to see how many key plot points are often spoiled, how good movies can look horrid and bad movies can look appealing.

I try to watch the majority of the trailers on quicktime.com (good and bad). It's a good way to keep from missing good new films. I rarely watch the trailers for other films on a DVD. I hate when you are forced to skip through them (Buena Vista).

Trailers can prepare you for a piece of crap or they can inspire you to see a masterpiece. For instance, I now have three reasons NOT to see Pirates of the Caribbean after seeing the trailer. The trailer will usually tell you several things about the movie. First, who made and produced the movie is usually revealed in the first couple of seconds of the trailer. Pirates of the Caribbean was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, a known maker of crap films. Second, the trailer will tell you if the movie has bad special effects, namely CGI pirates, dinosaurs, Yodas, or mummies. Thirdly, a trailer will prepare you for how the actors look. Johnny Depp, sadly, looks like a transvestite pirate with bad mascara. I’ll never see Pirates of the Caribbean and thankfully I will always remember Depp as Raoul from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and not some fancy pirate with makeup.

The quick time trailer for Winged Migration nearly made be crap my pants. Enough said. I’ll probably have to make a trip out to the nearest IMAX to see this.

Most Trailers are CRAP. But occasionally you’ll see a good one. Amores Perros, The Duellists and Barry Lyndon all had had trailers of such gravitas as to encourage a blind buy. The Coen brothers have great trailers for all of their films. The Last Picture Show, Adaptation, Dead Man (Depp looks kick ass in this trailer!) and Richard III will probably be my next DVD purchases solely due to how much I love the trailers.

[Monterey Jack]

While most modern-day trailers I can live without on DVD, the omission of the brilliantly edited Catch Me If You Can trailer on that film's disc was unforgivable.

It's mainly just nostalgia, however. Many lines of dialogue take on a near-talismanic quality after you've heard them in a trailer or TV ad enough times, and it's interesting to see how various unrelated parts of the movie are butted together to make new "scenes".

[JFelix]

Originally posted by grassjd
First, who made and produced the movie is usually revealed in the first couple of seconds of the trailer. Pirates of the Caribbean was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, a known maker of crap films.

Okay, I CAN'T argue against this.

Second, the trailer will tell you if the movie has bad special effects, namely CGI pirates, dinosaurs, Yodas, or mummies.

Come on, who cares about the CGI when you have an AMAZING concept such as ZOMBIE PIRATES. THEY'RE TWO GREAT TASTES THAT TASTE GREAT TOGETHER, MAN!

Thirdly, a trailer will prepare you for how the actors look. Johnny Depp, sadly, looks like a transvestite pirate with bad mascara.

...and I fail to see the problem with this

I’ll never see Pirates of the Caribbean and thankfully I will always remember Depp as Raoul from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and not some fancy pirate with makeup.

I just have to say that it looks so much better than what I originally thought it was going to be, so I will defend its tepid blockbuster action because it isn't a buddy buddy pirate movie featuring Johnny Depp and Fill-in-the-ethnic-type-here. It gets points alone for that

[Unicorn]

I think the real question here - and the original poster can disagree with me if I'm wrong - is "WHY DO PEOPLE GET UPSET WHEN THE TRAILER FOR FILM RIO LOBO ISN'T ON THE DVD FOR RIO LOBO?" (or insert name of any other film in place of Rio Lobo.)

When I was enticed into seeing a film due to an outstanding trailer, it is really nice to have that available on the DVD so I can re-live and enjoy the trailer that got me so worked up about the film to begin with.

Case in point: After Star Trek: The Motion Picture failed to mesmerize me (and many others), we all had doubts about the sequel film. And at the time I wasn't spending much time in theaters, so I didn't get to see the theatrical trailer to ST2:TWoK which is present on the DVD release.

But I *did* see the TV spots which started out "Somewhere, in the darkest reaches of the universe, a battle is about to begin..." and concluded by saying "...for some, this will be their first mission. For others, it will be their last."

Those were some exciting-ass commercials, let me tell you! I dearly wish that Paramount had seen fit to include them in either DVD release. But alas, I will NEVER get the joy of re-living those spots.


As to older films that were before my time (like Rio Lobo): once you accept the above as a given, then doesn't it pique your curiousity even more to see what the trailer was like on a favorite old film that you only got accustomed to on Sunday morning TBS?

The point of "how did they market this film?" may sound somewhat cold, distant, and academic. But there is a genuine interest there.


Finally, it is a minor and inexpensive way to help distinguish the DVD release from a VHS release. It's not a "commercial", since it's not advertising something you don't own yet. It's a supplement...and DVD's are supposed to have supplements, dammit. At least they can give us this minor one. For anyone who enjoys films and film history, it's the least the studios can do for us!


Instead, Paramount tends to give us no trailers on catalog titles lately, and Columbia gives us "commercials" instead (trailers for films other than the one featured on the DVD you bought...that would be more tolerable if, like Disney, the proper trailer were ALSO included!).

[Nexus 6]

I would agree with asphodel in that including the trailer for a film on the DVD for that film allows to see how the film was marketed. A true "supplemental" item. Also, because it has been such a standard feature on most DVDs since the inception of the format, and because it's such an easy thing to include that it doesn't make sense not to.

I also agree with Unicorn in that in can be great for nostalgia. I loved looking at the TV spots for Willow, because I remember seeing them in 1988, and being so jazzed to see the film (I was 10 at the time). Another example is the trailer for Dark City, which I think is a brilliant piece of marketing which gives you an idea of the tone of the movie without giving too much of the story away.

It just escapes me why such a simple thing to include is being left off more and more nowadays. I hope the studios re-think this start including them again.

[bendermac]

@ john_t

did you watch the new trailers of "the matrix reloaded", "terminator 3" or "hulk"? if not you should check them out because they simple awesome and makes us thrilling to see the movie.

[decaffish]

good trailer on dvd=only way i can get a film novice to watch a great movie they wouldn't normally see (like my roommates)

[Velvet G]

I think a lot of the posters who replied didn't really get what John was asking in his original post. I can understand the need for trailers in the theater, but he was specifically asking about having them on a DVD .

Personally, I like having them on the DVD for the reasons that Unicorn stated, but I won't have a cow if it isn't there. The main problem I have with them (at times) is that they tell the whole damn story. I had never seen the movie One Night Stand (it was a recommendation) and I watched the trailer and found that they put the entire movie in the trailer! I was really pissed off about this and noticed that too many companies are doing this. I felt the same way with the trailer for Say Anything.

The trailer isn't always that way though. The trailer for Predator was (IMO) poor, but the movie itself went on to be my most watch movie to date.

On the DVD format, I really don't see a reason for the trailer NOT to be on there, but I have to agree with John in that if you own the movie already, you shouldn't need to watch the trailer to get you in the mood so to speak.

[mlemmond]

I'm beginning to get frustrated with trailers, while i love to watch and have to watch them more and more they are ruining movies.

Examples:

Reign of Fire - [spoiler]the trailer showed the crowsbow bolt being fired into the dragons mouth. It ruined the damn ending.[spoiler]

X2 - [spoiler] jean gray stopping the water, while you are watching the movie and not having seen that happen yet you figure out the ending [spoiler]

Matrix Reloaded [spoiler] almost all of the fight scenes were shown in the trailers so when you watch the movie if you've seen the trailer you've seen it already. I mean it's the matrix sequal people are going to see it you don't have to show them everytthing [spoiler]

There are many others but you get my point whoever is putting these trailers together is killing these movies.

[manigrasso]

Geez, john t, I hate to sound like a total dick, but WHY bother asking such a question if

Originally posted by john t
no one will ever make me believe that commercials on dvd's are a good thing

If your mind's made up, why would you bother asking? It makes it sound you think WE'RE assholes for liking and wanting trailers on DVDs, and you're examining us like a scientist would a new mutation of stink bug. It's more than a little condescending.

Most commentaries to me wind up being boring as shit. I don't even get through them. But I don't get all pissy and ask why do people want them. Some people do give a shit, they don't cost that much to produce, so when they're on a disc, I don't complain,m and when they're not, I STILL don't complain.

You may as well go to your local theater and ask them why they carry so many types of snacks you don't like to eat. "I only want popcorn, Mr. Pibb, & Sno-Caps! Everything else is a waste of space!"

Maybe a trailer for Movie X on the DVD FOR Movie X seems like a waste. And quite frankly, if the trailer's not included, I wouldn't understand someone saying "Then I'm not buying that DVD." Quite frankly, I'd rather see trailers of other movies on the DVD for Movie X. Because a well-made trailer is a great fucking tease. It's the cake in the window that looks so damn good. It's the gorgeous girl on the subway that seems to be making eye contact and doesn't have a wedding-ring-tan-line. It makes you think "Dear God, please let this be as good as it seems to be." And trailers are probably one of the main ways people find out about movies. Most people tune out when it comes to commercials on TV. Print is dead. A lot of people go to the movies not even to see something specific, but because it's something to do, and that's even more true in the more suburban & rural areas where there may be few things to do other than going to the movies. People go to a movie, or watch a DVD, and those trailers often influence what they'll want to see next.

So again, if people loving trailers on a DVD really pisses you off that much that you have to vent, then I'm glad we were here for you to vent. But don't ask a question if in advance you know you won't accept our answers, kay? Thanks.

[Velvet G]

well said.

[mrcoaster]

Add another well said to that.

I like having the trailers on the DVDs. Especially for some older movies, I don't remember what the trailer was, so it's interesting to me to see how they marketed the movie and what they selected for the trailer. Even some movies in the last 10 years, I couldn't recall what the initial trailers were, so it's fun to look at them and see what they were.

Would I not buy a dvd because it didn't have a trailer? No, but they're nice to have as an extra.

Have to agree with the post further up that too many trailers are giving away the endings any more. They're trying to squeeze so many great moments or action-filled moments on the screen, they give it all away in the preview.

[ceeece]

In the case of "Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles" all you had to do is watch the trailer and get every funny bit from the movie without paying $8-$10 to see it in the theater.

Trailers are like cheerleaders. They hype you up and get you excited about the movie. They even make bad movies look good.

There could be a market for DVDs with just trailers. Maybe I am on to something here.

My DVD is not complete if it doesn't have at least the trailer for the movie. They are just as much part of the package as the movie is, IMO.

[Squid Lips]

It is real simple : read how many posts here discuss how important the DVD covers are to some of the people. Now, I find that to be pretty strange, but I can't argue as just as there is a love for "the art" of the poster, there is also a love for "the art" of the trailer.

And there is an art to it. That is why you can get a bad trailer and a good trailer. It takes skill to get you pumped up in two minutes to see a movie. In fact, anytime you see a trailer and say "I'm going to see that movie" the trailer did it's job. I just saw the trailer last night for Freddy Vs. Jason and my girlfriend looked over and said, "I have to see that" and she is not even into the slasher films. It was followed by a new T3 trailer which in my mind, finally made me really want to see the film. So, there you go.

If you aren't into them, I understand as I am not overly concerned with DVD covers myself. But, I do understand that as with film posters, trailers have a real art to them and can be quite a "beauty" to behold.

[Damitol]

If you are talking about trailers for non-related films, then I doubt anyone here is going to bitch if "Matrix:Reloaded" doesn't come with a "Down With Love" trailer under "Extras".

No - if I bitch about no trailers, I am specifically talking about the trailers used to promote the film I just paid $20 for. I look to a DVD to be a scrapbook of a film, containing extras that enhance my enjoyment of the film itself, as well as give me for all time, as much ancillary material that was originally associated with the films I love.

A trailer is a no-brainer extra on any DVD because it already exists. Sure some are fluffy marketing pieces, but many bigger movies use a number of trailers, from mysterious teasers to full blown jaw droppers to hype the film. If a film purchased on DVD doesn't include such trailers, a part of the build up and excitement of the film's opening is lost for all time.

It's not like there is a production cost associated with including the trailer on DVD (except transfer costs of course), and at 2-10 minutes (for multiple trailers) the bit cost to the disc is quite small to negligible, so there is no reason NOT to include the trailers.

Will I watch the trailers over and over? Of course not, no more than I will watch the end credits on each viewing, but if it's a film I enjoyed enough that I was willing to pay hard earned money to actually own, I want the trailer (and end credits) there to refer back to if I so desire.

[limacharliewhiskey]

For me, trailers only have significance if I actually saw it ahead of time and it influenced me to watch the movie. If I am seeing the trailer for the 1st time on the DVD, I don't care about them as much.

Most trailers or teasers, I don't even remember at all, but for my favorite movies, they have sentimental value in reminding me about how excited I was to see that movie. One of the most memorable ones for me was the T2 teaser, which showed an assembly line of Terminators being created, and then when one of them is pressed in a mold and opens up to reveal Arnold, that was one of the best teasers I ever saw.

And it's footage that isn't in the movie, so it's great to get added stuff like that. Most teasers tend to be created before or during principal photography of a film, so there is often original material in the teaser that won't appear in the final film.

My ideal DVD has 1 teaser trailer, 2 theatrical trailers, and maybe 1 or 2 TV spots. It gets kind of ridiculous when some DVDs have 15 TV spots. I can live with just 1 or 2 TV spots on my DVDs.

[hawkeye]

I don't care about trailers on DVds 99% of the time, but some stand out as utterly beautiful or extremely powerful creations. I like to see the marketing behind some of my favorite movies. Some memorable trailers that I am glad I got to see on the DVD, having never seen them anywhere else previously:

The Big Lebowski: beautifully done artistic little trailer. Totally fits with the movie. Good stuff.

The Exorcist: Anyone who got to see the "Captain Howdy" trailer where its all black and white clips in-between flashes of that hideous demon face can attest to this trailer's greatness. Creepy as all hell and totally fun to watch.

Alien: This is a great trailer all around. A little long though...

A bunch of Kubrick's trailers are great as well.

Without these being on the DVD, I would have never gotten to see them. Yes, 90% of trailers are complete cookie-cutter trash, but there are some absolute gems out there. I'm sorry you can't enjoy them and instead write them off as just commercials. Your loss.

[sub780lime]

i hate DVDs with trailers, especially Universal disc with there stupid intro which i have to go through the trouble of skipping the track, such hard work but i bought a dvd for a reason, for the movie on it, now in a theater its entirely different, though im going to see a certain movie, i may be seeing the first peek at an upcoming blockbuster, with dvds, they just put trailers for the upcoming dvds, who cares!

[C Roberts]

I've never watched any of the trailers on any of my DVD's. Its nice that they put in the original marketing materials, but I don't feel any desire to view them once I've seen the movie.

[Dehrian]

I'm always pissed when trailers aren't on a disc. They're the things that initially get me excited about seeing a film, so it's nice to have them to look back to. Some of them suck, but there are also some really great ones. Sometimes, the trailers are better than the movie they're advertising.

[ElCuCuy2000]

I felt like a slave while watching "Matrix: Reloaded" because they put 30 minutes (NO SHIT!!) of commercials before the feature started. I guess I shouldn't be whining since they were movies that I actually plan on watching at the theater this summer..starting to look good!

[john t]

Originally posted by manigrasso
Geez, john t, I hate to sound like a total dick, but WHY bother asking such a question if



If your mind's made up, why would you bother asking? It makes it sound you think WE'RE assholes for liking and wanting trailers on DVDs, and you're examining us like a scientist would a new mutation of stink bug. It's more than a little condescending.

Most commentaries to me wind up being boring as shit. I don't even get through them. But I don't get all pissy and ask why do people want them. Some people do give a shit, they don't cost that much to produce, so when they're on a disc, I don't complain,m and when they're not, I STILL don't complain.

You may as well go to your local theater and ask them why they carry so many types of snacks you don't like to eat. "I only want popcorn, Mr. Pibb, & Sno-Caps! Everything else is a waste of space!"

Maybe a trailer for Movie X on the DVD FOR Movie X seems like a waste. And quite frankly, if the trailer's not included, I wouldn't understand someone saying "Then I'm not buying that DVD." Quite frankly, I'd rather see trailers of other movies on the DVD for Movie X. Because a well-made trailer is a great fucking tease. It's the cake in the window that looks so damn good. It's the gorgeous girl on the subway that seems to be making eye contact and doesn't have a wedding-ring-tan-line. It makes you think "Dear God, please let this be as good as it seems to be." And trailers are probably one of the main ways people find out about movies. Most people tune out when it comes to commercials on TV. Print is dead. A lot of people go to the movies not even to see something specific, but because it's something to do, and that's even more true in the more suburban & rural areas where there may be few things to do other than going to the movies. People go to a movie, or watch a DVD, and those trailers often influence what they'll want to see next.

So again, if people loving trailers on a DVD really pisses you off that much that you have to vent, then I'm glad we were here for you to vent. But don't ask a question if in advance you know you won't accept our answers, kay? Thanks.

i didnt ask for anyone to convince me of anything. i simply was interested in your reasons for wanting them

[Riedenschneider]

You've obviously never seen the trailers for Buffalo 66, Dr. Strangelove, Psycho, Raging Bull, Bananas, Storytelling and The Shining...

[Avid]

I love trailers!

Since I don't watch much TV, trailers and lobby posters are generally the way I make up my mind if I want to see a movie.

On the DVD I don't want trailers for other movies, I do want the trailer for the movie I just bought. A good trailer puts me in the mood to watch the film. After watching Apollo 13, listening to both commentaries and watching all the extras I played the trailer which made me want to watch the film again.

Have I skipped DVDs because they don't include the trailer? Yes. These are generally films I wouldn't mind owning but are not must owns. If I'm on the fence for a movie, having a trailer on or not is usually the deciding factor.

[manigrasso]

Originally posted by john t
i didnt ask for anyone to convince me of anything. i simply was interested in your reasons for wanting them

Yeah, I know you didn't ask anyone to convince you, because you flat-out SAID nobody could make you believe commercials on DVDs are a good thing. Remember?

My point is that the whole "I think trailers on DVD are really fucking stupid...so why do YOU like them?" basis of your question is condescending, hostile and insulting. And since last I checked, nobody pantsed you or made a crack about your mom, perhaps you could have phrased it in a more civil way, one that would have invited dialogue instead of putting people on the defense to explain their tastes and preferences. It's like a heckler going to a comedy club, arms folded, DARING the comedian to even TRY to make him laugh..then honestly believing his belligerent tone SHOULD'VE made the comedian do a better job.

Besides, like I said before, if nobody can make you believe commercials on DVD are a good thing, then why bother asking why we like them? It's like asking why some people like jazz; if you gotta ask, you'll never know. But because we have nice people on the forum who are willing to ignore the confrontational nature of your question, you now have some various reasons as to why people like trailers. Accept them or not, but you got what you wanted.

I have to go with the "It's interesting to see how they marketed this movie" crowd on this. Have you ever seen the trailer for the first Star Wars movie? Jeez did it suck. It was boring and lifeless and had the tag line "The story of a boy, a girl and a galaxy." Fox had no idea what to do with it...

I was really surprised at the trailer on The Thin Man disc. I thought it was imaginitive how MGM used a split screen technique to have William Powell's Thin Man character Nick Charles, talking to his Philo Vance character. Since both were based on literary characters, they kind of popped out of oversized books for a chat. Pretty cool. That's why I'm glad there's trailers on DVDs.

Back off. Trailers rule.

Every DVD movie should come with all of its official trailers.

[docF94]

Originally posted by Riedenschneider
You've obviously never seen the trailers for Buffalo 66, Dr. Strangelove, Psycho, Raging Bull, Bananas, Storytelling and The Shining...

Very nice picks, Riedenschneider. (Though I haven't seen Bananas yet...). I'd throw in Rushmore and Superman, and maybe Citizen Kane. Those last two, of course, feature footage not seen in the films at all.

Iimwamiar.

trailers are great......they get you in the mood for a movie. They show you haw a movie was marketted (sometimes very funny) and one thing I love is when a scene is in a trailer and not in the film.....sometimes its the only serviving glimpes at these scenes.

[Master Gandhi]

Originally posted by john t
I mean come on, youve got the movie, why do you need the commercials for it? Lets say youre watching tv and they somehow leave the commercials out.

If that's your real attitude, then I wouldn't be surprised if you felt that "bonus features" in general were just part of marketing PR. It's not like you hear us complaining that they left off the Pepsi commercials on the E.T. DVD (most of us anyways). We just want those finely tuned hype generators/short artistic representations to be included with our favorite movies. They're called trailers, not commercials. You're being very un-PC, man. But maybe that was the idea.

I understand that trailers don't float everyone's boat. They're not usually earth shattering, but there are many exceptions. I'm quite fond of the American Beauty theatrical trailer.

If I may ask a question of you (assuming you've read this far): John t, what added content on a DVD does turn you on (and I don't mean sexually)?

For me, trailers are the greatest form of cinematic foreplay imaginable. But what turns me off is a long, drab, generic cast biography. My turn-ons include deleted scenes and well-done documentaries. Featurettes, most commentaries, and all interactive games are completely worthless.

Also, I really hate it when a DVD that I’m foolin' around with turns out to only have a web link when she's clearly labeled "packed with exciting DVD-ROM content."