Baywatch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKgkiiprtKw
Karis: The first thing that comes to my mind when watching the trailer is 21 Jump Street. I haven’t seen the original TV series with David Hasselhoff, so I can’t compare the two or judge how the movie will strike fans of the original series. The trailer fails to really capture my interest. It has a few mildly humorous jokes, a few explosions and action scenes, attractive actors in bathing suits, and no real storyline. It may be entertaining, but I have no real motivation to go see it in theater. I’ll probably spare myself the price of an AMC ticket and wait for it to premiere on HBO.
Mary: It’s hard to find enough enthusiasm for Baywatch—especially with this Super Bowl spot. I doubt even fans of the classic TV series will be vying for tickets on opening night. Perhaps the comedy is just simply not to my taste, but I feel like we’ve seen too many of these moderately amusing and substance-lacking films. Having been an avid Zac Efron fan from the High School Musical days, I am disappointed to see that he has been typecast into the same characters. His roles in Neighbors and Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates are virtually indistinguishable, and I fear that his portrayal of Matt Brody in Baywatch is no exception. As for the trailer itself, it seems to only focus on the star-studded cast and their perfect physiques. In addition, while I am all for The Notorious B.I.G’s “Hypnotize” in the background, I find that it just contributes to the contrived nature of the film.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dwrh5cObgSw
Karis: It’s a Marvel movie. Obviously it’s going to be entertaining and wildly successful. All of our favorite characters are back in action, and the new character, Mantis, will likely be a welcomed addition. I think it’s safe to say that this movie will look similar to the first: straightforward plot, a fun and upbeat vibe, lots of jokes, a cameo by Stan Lee, and an appearance by a Marvel character from another film. Not only am I excited for more Drax, but I also can’t wait to see what songs will be on this soundtrack. I am definitely looking forward to this movie.
Mary: I haven’t seen the first Guardians of the Galaxy, so I am not really sure what to expect from Vol. 2. However, that being said, Marvel usually does not fail to deliver in terms of excitement and entertainment. The diverse characters, crazy visuals, and plentiful comedic elements in this TV spot hint at a promising film. It also doesn’t get much better than Chris Pratt and Baby Groot. At the same time, part of me feels like I probably will not need to see this movie more than one time; like many other Marvel franchises, there is pretty much only action and adventure. However, I definitely look forward to letting loose and enjoying all the nuttiness Guardians of the Galaxy has to offer.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqftOTvYYd8&t=2s
Karis: I had heard a while ago that there would be another Pirates of the Caribbean movie, but this was my first time seeing a trailer for it. I have mixed feelings about this sequel. I was intrigued by the trailer. The music (“Ain’t No Grave” by Johnny Cash) and the special effects do a great job of creating a dark, mysterious setting and capturing my interest in this film. The trailer played to my nostalgia for Pirates of the Caribbean movies very well. I’m glad to see Orlando Bloom will be reprising his character and I’m sure Javier Bardem will do a great job as his character. Also, we see Barbossa out of his customary outfit and with a new wig. Maybe we’ll be going back in time and see him pre-curse. The trailer’s caught my interest and I want to have high hopes for the movie, but this film series has let me down before. The sequels have failed to live up to the hype. The first film was awesome. The second and third were less great. I honestly don’t even remember what the fourth film was about. After watching this trailer, I am cautiously optimistic about this sequel.
Mary: This trailer does its job well, and it sets a relatively high expectation for the film. The visuals are stunning and there is just the right amount of information revealed. I may not know much about the general storyline, but I am already willing to give the film a chance. In the past, the only Pirates of the Caribbean movie that had any affect on me was the first one. The other three all seemed to morph together, as there was nothing particularly impressive or standout about them. I hope the same cannot be said about Dead Men Tell No Tales. With any luck, the refreshing and original cinematography, coupled with the appearances of Will Turner and Jack Sparrow, will make for a great fifth addition.
The Fate of the Furious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9FU7Ia-BKg
Karis: Full disclosure: I am not a fan of The Fast & Furious franchise. I have nothing against it, I just haven’t watched the movies. I have only seen the commercials for the many movies in this franchise, and every time I see one I think, “Really? They’re making another one?” It’s impressive; people must really like these movies for there to be an eighth one. I am always fascinated to see the intensity increasing in each movie. The cars are faster, the guns are bigger, the stunts are crazier. This time, cars are falling out of buildings, dodging wrecking balls, and driving across tundras. I’m not entirely sure what’s going on, but this movie is action-packed and seems very fun and entertaining. If you liked the first seven movies, I see no reason why you wouldn’t like this one.
Mary: Oh boy. Prior to watching this trailer, I was not even aware that we had more than three films in The Fast & Furious franchise, let alone eight. These films aren’t on my radar because I don’t find big explosions or flashy car races very compelling. While I do admit that my opinions are backed by very limited knowledge, I don’t feel the need to rewatch any/all of these movies. My philosophy is as follows: If you’re like me and had trouble getting through that one minute trailer, definitely don’t bother with the actual movie.
Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNfZr-qa9Co
Karis: Hmm. At the beginning, I found the trailer really interesting. The music and the darkness of the scene built suspense. As the trailer progressed, I thought, “Wait, didn’t someone do this movie already?” It seems to just be a 2017 remake of Alien. A crew is trapped with a dangerous extraterrestrial life form in space (where no one can hear them scream). Hopefully there’s more to this story, but right now this TV spot isn’t giving me much to be excited about. I will probably wait to see this when it comes out on Netflix and watch it when I feel like procrastinating on work.
Mary: When it comes to science fiction-horror films, I am pretty neutral. Life does nothing to change my stance. The pounding beat and screaming characters in the TV spot are not particularly refreshing. Like Karis, I find the familiarity of the storyline to be a let-down. I am also not particularly drawn to the visuals and the settings, probably because of the numerous outer-space movies that have come out in the past few years (Interstellar, Gravity, and The Martian). Although Life may be much more thrilling for those actually interested in science fiction and horror movies, I would not be completely opposed to seeing it. The 30 second trailer may have not have provided the best representation, and I wouldn’t mind learning more. At worst I would be mildly disinterested, and the reputable cast including Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds still has a chance at saving the film.
This post has been updated to reflect the removal of a contributor.
