Trailer Watchers Anonymous

[pr0xyt0xin]

I know it's a little early, but my New Year's resolution is giving up watching trailers and teasers for upcoming movies.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, i didnt care about movie trailers. I'd go to a movie, perhaps see a few of the trailers for upcoming movies, then a few months later i'd go to that movie, rinse and repeat. Then came the Nolan Bat-movies and the MCU and I started rewatching them, I started picking them apart. Suffice it to say...

Nowadays, I can honestly admit, a trailer has never once made a movie-going experience better for me. I can also say, without a doubt, it has several times made the experience worse. And knowing a thing or two about the source material only exacerbates the problem. Two specific examples: Iron Man 3 and both Amazing Spider-Man movies.. My expectations those movies and many others were tragically skewed. And now you have Age of Ultron and the upcoming BvS, which I feel was wrong in showcasing Vision and Doomsday, respectively, in the trailers, when they couldve just as easily gone without.

I'm ready to swear off them for good. I've heard of people on this site doing it as well, i'm looking for some advice, anecdotes and horror stories. GO.

 

[James]

Yes indeed, you're preaching to the choir! Not watching trailers, in fact avoiding as much promotional material as humanly possible, is something I've been doing for a long time. I should say, something I do for movies I *know* I'm going to see.

For example, I'll see the next Marvel movie, the next Star Trek and so on. I don't want to know anything going in, I literally don't even want the jokes spoil. Heck, if I could avoid the synopsis altogether, I would. Actually, come to think of it, I'm not even sure what Civil War is about (outside of the comic) and I'm still very excited for it.

Trailer are so long, and they give away so much. The trailer for Creed tells you the entire film, the trailer for How to Train Your Dragon 2 gave away (what would have been) a huge reveal. The movie studios absolutely play to the audience who wants every last scrap of information -and there's nothing wrong with that if that's your thing, but it's not my bag baybee.

That being said, I will still watch trailers for movies I'm not sure about or haven't heard of. I do like a good, exciting trailer. The Revenant is a recent one, I'd never heard of it until seeing the trailer in cinema and it was a great trailer! Very exciting, made me want to see the film right away -buuuut, now that I've seen the trailer, I definitely don't need to know anything else. I'm sold.

And I guess that's the overall point I'm trying to make. Once I'm sold, sure maybe there will be a stinker here and there, but there's no point in me ruining half the movie for myself when I'm already committed to going.

I hope your media-blackout works well for you and highly improves your future movie-going experiences!

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

Yeah, thanks! I'll defer to you if I ever have urges. This thread is my trailer-holic sponsor.

The first couple movies I will end up seeing trailer free (hopefully) are War for the Planet of the Apes, and then a little later next year, Doctor Strange and Star Wars: Rogue One.

Honestly, I'm pretty stoked about it. Like I said, trailers never make things better. They actually inflame the hype making the wait even harder. So here's hoping I can quit cold turkey.

How do you deal with trailers in the theater?

 

[James]

How do you deal with trailers in the theater?

If I happen to see a trailer in the cinema, it's just a case of 'oh well now I've seen it'. There was a brief period in which I'd close my eyes and put my hands over my ears, but I ended up looking like a lunatic, which is totally an option if you don't mind doing it. Ultimately I don't seek stuff out at all, and tend to do a pretty good job of avoiding things -but trailers in the cinema are, mostly, unavoidable.

Although, having said that, I guess if you timed it correctly you could dart into the theater as soon as the trailers are done.

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

There was a brief period in which I'd close my eyes and put my hands over my ears, but I ended up looking like a lunatic,

I know what you mean I usually try to look in a different direction these days, and just try to ignore the voices.

Sounds like we're discussing mental disorders.

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

HAHA. Oh i thought of another big one. Terminator: Genisys.

Not that that movie was any good, but man, if the John Connor Reveal had been a surprise? That wouldve been a big step up for me.

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

It's like revealing that Darth Vader is Luke's father in the trailer.

Or that Bruce Wayne is in reality Slade Wilson in BvS!

(Joke)

 

[Mandon Knight]

HAHA. Oh i thought of another big one. Terminator: Genisys.

Not that that movie was any good, but man, if the John Connor Reveal had been a surprise? That wouldve been a big step up for me.

It utterly baffles me why a studio would 'give up' it's one major reveal like that, knowing it needs as much help as possible to make the film some $$$$, such a major mistake for Genisys.

 

[James]

Genisys, such a major mistake.

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

Starting my resolution off right, I managed to pass up watching the new Deadpool trailer. Feelsgoodman.


Here's an article about how Star Wars Ep 7 did marketing correctly:

http://screenrant.com/star-wars-7-force-awakens-marketing-franchises-trailer/

 

[jerkhero]

I think I'll end up watching the first one or two full trailers, but avoid everything beyond that. So no teasers, leaks, clips, tv spots, international trailers etc. for me from now on.

I enjoy watching trailers and getting hyped, but you make a good point that they never make the actual movie experience any better.