The Double Edged Sword Known As Movie Trailers

I love movie trailers. I might even go so far as to say that movie trailers are one of my favorite aspects of the theater. Exciting previews of the newest thrills to spend my money on the next time I visit. However, there are several movie trailer habits that I've begun to notice that have me thinking twice before buying into the hype. I post them here in the hopes that I'm not the only one left perking an eyebrow at these shenanigans.

-Showing all of the funny moments in the preview: You see the trailer and it's hilarious. You know that it's a movie you have to see. However, when you get there you realize the movie is just a slightly more plot driven sequence for the jokes you've already seen to be shown again. Take Shrek 3 for example. I went to that movie knowing that it would be as funny as the first two because the trailer told me it would be. Then, total letdown. I realize that movie studios feel the need to make money, but when tickets are around $8 a person, don't they owe it to us to show some of the not-so-funny scenes so we can be warned of what we're getting ourself into? I think so.

-Previews totally misrepresenting the movie: My mind instantly goes to The Village on this one. The trailer told me I was going to see a movie about a small village that lives in fear of horrifying creatures. Instead, I was treated to *lame spoiler alert* a slow examination of people running away from the real world. Where were my monsters? Gone after the first 40 minutes or so. I might have liked this movie a lot more if I hadn't felt so cheated by the trailer.

-Including alluring scenes that aren't really in the film: Two examples of this are The Love Guru and Wanted, though I'm sure it's fairly common. In both cases, the previews show suggestive scenes including the attractive female leads undressed or making advances on the male lead. Get to the movie, and those scenes are nowhere to be found. I'm not particularly interested in those scenes (seeing other guys getting action doesn't do it for me), don't advertise things that aren't there.

If there are other things that drive you nuts about movie trailers, let Danny and I know in the Movie segment of the forums. Keep your eye out for this week's movie review: Hellboy 2: The Golden Army.