The Trailer Park: With or without Spandex?

With the end of 2016 right around the corner, movie fans are being bombarded with trailers for blockbuster features in the upcoming year. This batch showcases another year of superheroes, some in spandex while others in helmets.

‘Logan’

Based on the ‘Old Man Logan’ storyline from ‘X-Men’ comics, the last and (allegedly) final appearance of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine promises to go out with a bang. The role essentially made Jackman the star he is today, but he’s been playing the grumpy, ill-tempered mutant for the last two decades. As a retirement present to all his loyal fans, Jackman once again joins forces with ‘The Wolverine’ director James Mangold for what looks like an awesome continuation of the ‘X-Men’ series. Though it’s not clear how exactly this installment fits into the continuity, it seems like it takes place in another post-apocalyptic future following the events of ‘Days of Future Past’. In any case, I’m excited. The preview looks very promising and I can’t wait to see the movie in the theater.

‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’

How in tarnation is it possible for a trailer to commence with such splendid promise and enthusiasm, and then, suddenly, nosedive into a pit of embarrassment and utter stupidity? It’s enough to leave us worrying that the sequel to ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ might turn out horribly bad.

At first, the trailer looks like a marvelous follow-up with a hilarious back-and-forth sequence between Rocket Raccoon and Baby Groot. Yes, it’s also very cute, especially the scene with some dude running away in fear from a tiny little shrub. The rest of the action promises more of the same death-defying hijinks and witty humor as before. However, the final seconds with Drax the Destroyer turning into a giddy little schoolgirl leave me shaking my head, covering my eyes, and praying to the comic book gods: Please don’t let that scene actually be in the movie!

‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’

Striking a new deal between Sony and Marvel (and Disney), we arrive at a historic milestone in cinema: a second reboot of an established franchise within a fifteen-year time span. Once again, it looks like we have another origin story on our hands, though the filmmakers swear this one will be different. Because, look! It has Tony Stark/Iron Man in it! See, it’s totally different…

Except we’re back in high school again, where Peter Parker tries to balance school life with his nighttime superhero shenanigans. Our teenage hero drools over another popular girl at school. This time, it’s Liz Allan, and unless you’re a comic nerd, you don’t know who she is or how she’s connected to anyone else. And oh, dear dog! Again, we have three supervillains for Spider-Man to deal with.

Ignoring those worrisome concerns, I’ll admit that the preview makes this sixteenth installment to the Marvel Cinematic Universe look like a good deal of fun, and it takes place after the events of ‘Civil War’. However, much of this mild anticipation comes from Tom Holland’s great performance and seeing Michael “Batman/Beetlejuice/Birdman” Keaton suit up as Vulture. At this moment, these two things keep my hope alive.

‘Power Rangers’

Although I would immediately jump at the fact that this movie is thirty years too late, I have to admit the trailer has piqued my interest. However, I’ll have to reserve judgment until I see more.

For more of the latest movie trailers, check out our trailers page.

3 comments

  1. Bolo

    I found the first ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ moderately amusing. I know most people seemed to gush over it as this brilliantly subversive blockbuster, but for me it was just pretty good. I might rent the second one, or if mates are going to see it, I’ll go along. That gag with the mindreader revealing Pratt’s affection for Zoe Saldana seemed weird to me, because I thought he hit on her the whole first movie and their romance was realized by the end of the film, but maybe I’m not remembering it correctly.

    ‘Power Rangers’, much like the ‘Baywatch’ trailer, seems to be a fairly faithful update of a very corny show. I have some nostalgia for the property, but not enough to pay to see it. If it’s showing on an airplane, I might check it out there.

  2. Logan looks like it might be one of the best movies of 2017.

    The Spider-man trailer looks good too, but I’m not as crazy about the Guardians trailer as everyone else it, although I’ll see the movie regardless.

    I’ve never seen a single episode of Power Rangers, and I think that streak will continue…the movie looks awful.

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